Sentence Fragments, Complete Sentences and Run-On Sentences Worksheet for 13-Year-Olds

Instructions

1. Read each sentence carefully.
2. Label sentences as F for fragment, C for complete sentence, or RO for run-on sentence.
3. Remember:
   • A complete sentence has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
   • A fragment is missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.
   • A run-on sentence incorrectly joins two or more complete thoughts.
4. For correction questions, rewrite each sentence so it is clear and correct.
5. Check your work by asking: Who or what is this about? What are they doing? Is the thought complete?

Quick Review

Complete sentence: The students built a model rocket.

Fragment: After the science experiment.

Run-on sentence: The students built a model rocket it flew across the field.

A run-on sentence can often be fixed by:

• Separating the ideas with a period.
• Joining the ideas with a comma and a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, so, or, yet, for, nor.
• Using a semicolon.

Part 1: Identify the Sentence

Write F, C, or RO on each line.

1. _____ Because the bus arrived late.

2. _____ Maya packed her lunch before school.

3. _____ The dog barked loudly the mail carrier walked away.

4. _____ Running through the sprinklers on a hot afternoon.

5. _____ Our class planted vegetables in the garden.

6. _____ I finished my homework, and I watched a movie.

7. _____ While we waited for the concert to begin.

8. _____ The rain stopped the sun came out.

9. _____ Jordan carefully measured the ingredients.

10. _____ After the final bell rang.

Part 2: Choose the Best Answer

Circle the best choice.

11. Which sentence is complete?

• A. During the basketball game.
• B. The crowd cheered loudly.
• C. Because the team won.
• D. Running across the court.

12. Which sentence is a fragment?

• A. The chef prepared a delicious meal.
• B. We visited the museum on Saturday.
• C. When the lights suddenly went out.
• D. The children laughed at the puppet show.

13. Which sentence is a run-on?

• A. The computer froze, so I restarted it.
• B. My brother plays the guitar.
• C. The puppy chased the ball it rolled under the couch.
• D. We brought umbrellas because it looked cloudy.

14. Which is the best correction for this run-on sentence?

The store was crowded I waited patiently.

• A. The store was crowded, I waited patiently.
• B. The store was crowded. I waited patiently.
• C. The store was crowded because, I waited patiently.
• D. The store crowded I waited patiently.

15. Which is the best correction for this fragment?

Although the trail was steep.

• A. Although the trail was steep, we kept hiking.
• B. Although the trail was steep.
• C. The trail although was steep.
• D. Steep the trail was although.

Part 3: Sort and Explain

Read each sentence. Label it F, C, or RO. Then explain what is wrong or right.

Example: Because the puppy was tired. — F — It begins with “because” and does not finish the thought.

1. The library closes at six o’clock.

Label: __

Explanation: ____

2. When the team reached the finish line.

Label: __

Explanation: ____

3. The wind became stronger the flags snapped in the air.

Label: __

Explanation: ____

4. Nora practiced the piano every afternoon.

Label: __

Explanation: ____

5. Walking along the beach at sunset.

Label: __

Explanation: ____

Part 4: Repair the Fragments

Rewrite each fragment as a complete sentence. You may add words before or after the fragment.

Example: After the movie. → After the movie ended, we went home.

1. Before the game started.

2. The large box near the front door.

3. Because the alarm rang.

4. Hoping to win the contest.

5. While my friends waited outside.

Part 5: Repair the Run-Ons

Rewrite each run-on sentence in two different ways. Try using a period for one correction and a conjunction or semicolon for the other.

Example: The sun set the sky turned orange.

• The sun set. The sky turned orange.
• The sun set, and the sky turned orange.

1. I wanted to ride my bike it began to rain.

• Correction 1: __

• Correction 2: __

2. The recipe looked simple the dessert took an hour to make.

• Correction 1: __

• Correction 2: __

3. We could take the train we could walk to the stadium.

• Correction 1: __

• Correction 2: __

4. The phone battery was low I brought a charger.

• Correction 1: __

• Correction 2: __

Part 6: Real-World Editing Challenge

A student wrote this message about preparing for a community clean-up. Edit the message by correcting every fragment and run-on sentence. Rewrite the complete paragraph.

On Saturday morning. My friends and I met at the park we brought gloves and trash bags. Because the playground was covered in litter. We worked for two hours the park looked much cleaner afterward.

Part 7: Create Your Own

Write one example of each type of sentence.

1. Fragment: __

2. Complete sentence: _____

3. Run-on sentence: ___

Now correct your run-on sentence in one way.

Optional Challenge

Write a short paragraph of 4–5 sentences about planning a weekend activity. Include:

• At least three complete sentences.
• One sentence beginning with because, although, or when.
• One correctly joined sentence using a comma and a conjunction.
• No fragments or run-ons.

Answer Key

Part 1

1. F
2. C
3. RO
4. F
5. C
6. C
7. F
8. RO
9. C
10. F

Part 2

11. B
12. C
13. C
14. B
15. A

Part 3

1. C — It has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
2. F — It begins with “when” and does not finish the thought.
3. RO — It contains two complete thoughts joined without correct punctuation or a conjunction.
4. C — It has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
5. F — It begins with an -ing verb but does not state a complete thought.

Part 4

Answers may vary. Possible answers include:

1. Before the game started, the players stretched.
2. The large box near the front door belongs to my neighbor.
3. Because the alarm rang, everyone left the building.
4. Hoping to win the contest, I practiced every day.
5. While my friends waited outside, I found my jacket.

Part 5

Answers may vary. Possible answers include:

1. • I wanted to ride my bike. It began to rain.
   • I wanted to ride my bike, but it began to rain.
2. • The recipe looked simple. The dessert took an hour to make.
   • The recipe looked simple, but the dessert took an hour to make.
3. • We could take the train. We could walk to the stadium.
   • We could take the train, or we could walk to the stadium.
4. • The phone battery was low. I brought a charger.
   • The phone battery was low, so I brought a charger.

Part 6

One possible corrected paragraph:

On Saturday morning, my friends and I met at the park. We brought gloves and trash bags. Because the playground was covered in litter, we worked for two hours. The park looked much cleaner afterward.

Part 7

Answers will vary. Check that:

• The fragment is not a complete thought.
• The complete sentence has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
• The run-on contains two complete thoughts joined incorrectly.
• The corrected sentence uses proper punctuation or a conjunction.

Optional Challenge

Answers will vary. Check that the paragraph contains complete sentences, a correctly completed dependent clause, and at least one correctly joined sentence.