Is it a complete sentence, a fragment, or a run-on?
Key Notes:
| Complete Sentence ✅ |
A complete sentence expresses a complete thought.
- Has a subject (who/what) 🌿
- Has a predicate (what the subject does or is) ⚡
- Starts with a capital letter and ends with . / ? / !
Examples:
- 🌞 The sun rises in the east. ✅
- 🐶 The dog barked loudly. ✅
- 🎂 My sister is baking a cake. ✅
| Fragment ❌ |
A fragment is not a complete sentence.
- Missing a subject, a predicate, or a complete thought
- Often cannot stand alone
Examples:
- 🌧️ Because it was raining. ❌
- 🍎 Eating a juicy apple. ❌
- 🚗 When we reached the station. ❌
| Run-On Sentence ⚡ |
A run-on sentence is two or more complete sentences joined incorrectly
- Missing punctuation or conjunctions
- Often too long or confusing
Examples:
- 🌳 I went to the park I saw my friend. ⚡ (Needs a period or “and”)
- 🐦 The birds are singing the sun is shining. ⚡
- 🎒 She packed her bag she forgot her lunch. ⚡
| Tips to Identify |
| Type | Question to Ask | Emoji Clues |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Complete Sentence | Does it have a subject + predicate + complete thought? | 🌿 + ⚡ + 🌈 |
| ❌ Fragment | Missing subject/predicate or incomplete thought? | ⚠️ Missing something |
| ⚡ Run-On | Two or more sentences joined incorrectly? | 😵 Too long, missing punctuation |
| Examples for Practice |
| Sentence | Type | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 🐱 The cat slept on the sofa. | ✅ Complete | Subject + predicate complete |
| 🍫 Because I wanted chocolate. | ❌ Fragment | Missing main action |
| 🚗 I went to the store I bought some milk. | ⚡ Run-On | Two complete thoughts joined incorrectly |
| 👦 John played football. | ✅ Complete | Subject + predicate complete |
| 🏫 After school | ❌ Fragment | Incomplete thought |
| Quick Tips 💡 |
- ✅ Complete Sentence = Full idea 🌈
- ❌ Fragment = Incomplete idea ⚠️
- ⚡ Run-On = Two or more sentences joined incorrectly 😵
- Fix Run-Ons: Use a period, semicolon, or coordinating conjunction (and, but, or)
Let’s try some problems! ✍️

