Avoiding sentence errors

WELCOME, STUDENTS! In last week’s lesson, we looked at the parts of a sentence and the different types of sentences. This week, we are going to explore sentence errors.

Consider the paragraph below.

When he left the room. We were so relieved. We loved our cousin he could be so annoying sometimes we preferred to see him when he wasn’t being annoying. Once we certain he was gone for good. My sister began to tell me about her time in Florida. She looked so rested, she seemed to have shed the sadness. That had terrorized her months ago.

As you read, you will notice that several mistakes are present.

Error # 1: Sentence fragment – When he left the room. We were so relieved.

Error # 2: Run-on sentence – We loved our cousin he could be so annoying sometimes we preferred to see him when he wasn’t being annoying.

Error # 3: Comma splice – She looked so rested, she seemed to have shed the sadness.

Errors like these occur when sentences are not punctuated as they should be. Proofreading plays a big part in avoiding errors like these. It also helps to pay attention to how well-written pieces are punctuated.

Note the corrected paragraph below.

When he left the room, we were so relieved. We loved our cousin, but he could be so annoying sometimes. We preferred to see him when he wasn’t being annoying. Once we certain he was gone for good, my sister began to tell me about her time in Florida. She looked so rested, and she seemed to have shed the sadness that had terrorized her months ago.

Let us explore these kinds of errors some more. Since improving your written expression is key to getting the ideal grade, we need to do all we can to achieve it.

TYPES OF SENTENCE ERRORS SENTENCE FRAGMENT

This is an incomplete sentence because it is only part of an idea and it is not complete by itself. It is usually a dependent clause.

EXAMPLE

Incorrect: When she graduates. She hopes to get a job. Correct: When she graduates, she hopes to get a job.

RUN-ON/FUSED SENTENCE

This is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses without any mark of punctuation to separate them.

EXAMPLES

1) Yvette spent the whole day watching movies she did not do her homework.

2) Everybody was excited about the trip it would be adventurous.

CORRECTIONS

1) Yvette spent the whole day watching movies, so she did not do her homework.

2) Everybody was excited about the trip because it would be adventurous.

COMMA SPLICE

This error occurs when one sentence contains two or more independent clauses, and they are incorrectly separated by a comma.

EXAMPLES

1) Mary stayed up all night waiting for her husband, he did not come home.

CORRECTIONS

1) Mary stayed up all night waiting for her husband, but he did not come home.

2) Jessica will have to apologise, he will not forgive her.

Correction: Jessica will have to apologise, or he will not forgive her.

NON-PARALLEL STRUCTURE

Parallelism concerns the balance of a sentence, or the similarity of words, phrases, or clauses in a list or series within a sentence. When two or more parts of a sentence are doing the same thing, they must have matching structures, or parallel structures.

Look at the examples below.

Incorrect: She doesn’t like ironing clothes, mopping the floor or to dust the furniture.

Correct: She doesn’t like ironing clothes, mopping the floor, or dusting the furniture.

Incorrect: He doesn’t like washing clothes or housework.

Correct: She doesn’t like washing clothes or doing housework.

Incorrect: Jamie loves to ride her bike, swimming, and to dance.

Correct: Jamie loves to ride her bike, to swim, and to dance.

MISPLACED MODIFIERS

This is a modifier that is placed too far from the word or words it modifies. Misplaced modifiers make the sentence awkward and sometimes unintentionally humorous.

Incorrect: She wore a bicycle helmet on her head that was too large.

Correct: She wore a bicycle helmet that was too large on her head. Incorrect: The patient was referred to the doctor with stomach pains.

Correct: The patient with stomach pains was referred to the doctor.

As you go through these errors, consider if you are guilty of making any of them. If you are, be more mindful of how you put your ideas on paper. Also, proofread your work.

Please complete the activities below.

ACTIVITY # 1

Instruction: Identify the sentence error that is present in each sentence. You can then correct them and share your corrections with your peers or teacher.

1. We returned the wine to the waiter that was sour.

2. Tiffany will have to pay the fine she will be arrested.

3. After he saw his mother at the airport. He screamed happily.

4. Tourists love to swim, sunbathe and going on tours.

5. The moment he entered the room. He knew that something was wrong.

6. I heard that there was a robbery on the evening news.

7. Pastor Bent’s sermon was very powerful, it caused many people to repent.

8. That restaurant sells very delicious food it is too expensive.

9. My father had to be hospitalised he was having kidney problems.

10. His wife promised him honesty, respect and to be romantic.

11. The passenger asked the driver to turn down the music, she could answer the phone.

12. The police will close down your party. If you do not get a permit.

ACTIVITY # 2

Instruction: Rewrite the paragraph below correctly by avoiding the sentence errors.

Dorothy often marvelled at how much she

loved the sea she loved the smell of the salty air the wind that sometimes whipped her hair this moment and caress it the next was thrilling. At a very tender age. Her father had nurtured this love. She remembered sitting in his arms. Looking out at sea and listen to his deep voice as he described the aquamarine wonder of the ocean that stretched before them. She remembered him digging his broad, work-worn hands into the sand when he released the sand. It was the most mesmerising sight. It never mattered that he had died while he had been out fishing, he had always made it clear that the sea was like the land – unpredictable. Work through the activities with your peers and seek feedback from your teachers. I will share my answers to a few of them in the next lesson. See you next week!

Answers for last week’s activity: simple, compound, complex, complex, compound-complex, simple, complex, compound-complex, complex, complex, compound, simple