---
title: "Fixing Fragments & Run-Ons"
description: "Recognise and correct sentence fragments (incomplete sentences lacking a subject or predicate) and run-on sentences (two or more independent clauses joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions)"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/fixing-fragments-and-run-ons-mt_7oZ2YenzhX
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/fixing-fragments-and-run-ons-mt_7oZ2YenzhX.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Fixing Fragments & Run-Ons

Recognise and correct sentence fragments (incomplete sentences lacking a subject or predicate) and run-on sentences (two or more independent clauses joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions)

Subject: English · Area: Grammar & Punctuation · Ages 9 to 10
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/fixing-fragments-and-run-ons-mt_7oZ2YenzhX

## Ready when they can

- Identify a sentence fragment by checking whether it has both a subject and a predicate, e.g. recognise 'Running through the park' as a fragment and correct to 'The dog was running through the park'
- Identify a run-on sentence where two independent clauses are fused without punctuation or a conjunction, e.g. 'I like cats I also like dogs' and correct using a full stop, comma + conjunction, or semicolon
- Edit a paragraph to fix fragments and run-ons, choosing the most effective correction strategy for each error

## Lesson: Fixing Fragments and Run-Ons

A sentence needs two things: a subject (who or what) and a predicate (what happens). You already know how to build sentences with both parts. When one part is missing, you get a fragment, a piece of a sentence, not the whole thing.

**Example.** Look at 'Running through the park.' It has an action, but no subject telling us who is running. That makes it a fragment. Fix it by adding a subject: 'The dog was running through the park.'

Sometimes two complete sentences get squished together with no break between them. That's called a run-on. Your eyes see one sentence, but really there are two separate ideas hiding inside it.

**Example.** 'I like cats I also like dogs.' fuses two complete ideas with no break. You can fix it three ways: 'I like cats. I also like dogs.' or 'I like cats, and I also like dogs.' or 'I like cats; I also like dogs.'

**Tip.** To fix a run-on, pick one break: a full stop for two separate sentences, a comma plus a joining word like 'and' or 'but', or a semicolon between two closely related ideas. Read your sentence out loud. If you hear two complete ideas with no breath between them, add a break.

**Recap.** A fragment is missing a subject or predicate, and a run-on jams two complete ideas together with no break, so fix each with the right punctuation or joining word.

## Practice

24 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Building sentences](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/building-sentences-mt_N8CpN1EJrP)
- [Subordinate clauses](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/subordinate-clauses-mt_wq-1OJ_8s5)

## Opens up

- [Types of Sentences](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/types-of-sentences-mt_T9IXrlxfx2)