Complete Sentences - The Whole Idea

A complete sentence needs 5 things.

1. It begins with a CAPITAL letter.

2. It ends with a mark.?!

3. It has a subject.

4. It has a verb.

5. It makes sense!

A complete sentence states a complete thought.

A fragment is an incomplete sentence.  

A fragment is just part of a sentence; it's missing:

• a subject

• a verb

• a complete thought.

A run on is more than one sentence that hasn't been combined correctly.

A run on is usually missing a conjunction to properly 

join the 2 ideas together.

EX:  I went to the game the Mavericks won.

This sentence has 2 sentences combined 

with no conjunction.

        SN   V

My mom went to the store yesterday. 

- complete!

 V

Went to the store yesterday. 

- WHO went? My grandma?

It's missing the subject

                                       SN

At the store yesterday, my mom.  

- What did my mom do?  

 ...slipped and fell? ...bought me an apple?

It's missing the verb.

                SN   V

After my mom went to the store. 

- What happened after?  

Not a complete thought. 

It's missing a clause (an idea).  

Starting sentences with subordinate conjunctions 

means the sentence needs a second half.  

It leaves you hanging.