Fix run-ons and comma splices

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   The bell rang we lined up at the door. Ari brackets two clauses in a sentence. Which statement describes the sentence correctly?

   • A lone comma joins “the bell rang” and “we lined up at the door”, so it is a comma splice.
   • A joining word links “the bell rang” and “we lined up at the door”, so it is correct.
   • Nothing joins “the bell rang” and “we lined up at the door”, so it is a run-on.
   • Neither “the bell rang” nor “we lined up at the door” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
2. 2.

   Our team won, we celebrated with fruit. Bo brackets two clauses in a sentence. Which statement describes the sentence correctly?

   • A joining word links “our team won” and “we celebrated with fruit”, so it is correct.
   • Neither “our team won” nor “we celebrated with fruit” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
   • Nothing joins “our team won” and “we celebrated with fruit”, so it is a run-on.
   • A lone comma joins “our team won” and “we celebrated with fruit”, so it is a comma splice.
3. 3.

   The pool opened, and the swimmers jumped in. Esme brackets two clauses in a sentence. Which statement describes the sentence correctly?

   • A comma and “and” join “the pool opened” and “the swimmers jumped in”, so it is correct.
   • Nothing joins “the pool opened” and “the swimmers jumped in”, so it is a run-on.
   • Neither “the pool opened” nor “the swimmers jumped in” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
   • A lone comma joins “the pool opened” and “the swimmers jumped in”, so it is a comma splice.
4. 4.

   The lights went out the band kept playing. Jun brackets two clauses in a sentence. Which statement describes the sentence correctly?

   • Neither “the lights went out” nor “the band kept playing” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
   • A lone comma joins “the lights went out” and “the band kept playing”, so it is a comma splice.
   • Nothing joins “the lights went out” and “the band kept playing”, so it is a run-on.
   • A joining word links “the lights went out” and “the band kept playing”, so it is correct.

5. Read this first

   Use this

   Check the joint between the two ideas in each sentence.

6. 5.

   Kira proofreads a class blog. Which sentence is correct?

   • The ferry left late we missed lunch.
   • The ferry left late we missed our lunch hour.
   • The ferry left late, we missed lunch.
   • The ferry left late, so we missed lunch.
7. 6.

   Luz proofreads a garden club page. Which sentence is correct?

   • The seeds sprouted we watered them daily.
   • The seeds sprouted, we watered them daily.
   • The seeds sprouted; we watered them daily.
   • The seeds sprouted we watered them each day.
8. 7.

   Noah proofreads a pool schedule. Which sentence is correct?

   • The pool closes at six, and the lifeguards go home.
   • The pool closes at six the lifeguards go home.
   • The pool closes at six, the lifeguards go home.
   • The pool closes at six the lifeguards go home early.
9. 8.

   I forgot my umbrella. It started to rain. Pia joins two short sentences into one. Which choice does it correctly?

   • I forgot my umbrella and, it started to rain.
   • I forgot my umbrella, it started to rain.
   • I forgot my umbrella, and it started to rain.
   • I forgot my umbrella; and it started to rain.
10. 9.

    The path was muddy. The hikers kept going. Ren joins two short sentences into one. Which choice does it correctly?

    • The path was muddy but, the hikers kept going.
    • The path was muddy, the hikers kept going.
    • The path was muddy, but the hikers kept going.
    • The path was muddy; but the hikers kept going.
11. 10.

    The movie ended. The lights came on. Tala joins two short sentences into one with a semicolon. Which choice does it correctly?

    • The movie ended and, the lights came on.
    • The movie ended; the lights came on.
    • The movie ended; so the lights came on.
    • The movie ended, the lights came on.