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?

   • Neither “the bell rang” nor “we lined up at the door” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
   • 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.
   • A lone comma joins “the bell rang” and “we lined up at the door”, so it is a comma splice.
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.
   • 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.
   • Neither “our team won” nor “we celebrated with fruit” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
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.
   • A lone comma joins “the pool opened” and “the swimmers jumped in”, so it is a comma splice.
   • Neither “the pool opened” nor “the swimmers jumped in” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
   • Nothing joins “the pool opened” and “the swimmers jumped in”, so it is a run-on.
4. 4.

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

   • A joining word links “the lights went out” and “the band kept playing”, so it is correct.
   • Nothing joins “the lights went out” and “the band kept playing”, so it is a run-on.
   • 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.

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

   Noah proofreads a pool schedule. Which sentence is correct?

   • The pool closes at six the lifeguards go home.
   • The pool closes at six the lifeguards go home early.
   • The pool closes at six, the lifeguards go home.
   • The pool closes at six, and the lifeguards go home.
8. 7.

   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 and, it started to rain.
   • I forgot my umbrella, it started to rain.
   • I forgot my umbrella, and it started to rain.
9. 8.

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

   • 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.
   • The path was muddy; but the hikers kept going.
10. 9.

    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; so the lights came on.
    • The movie ended, the lights came on.
    • The movie ended; the lights came on.
11. 10.

    The bus was late. We missed the start. Zee joins two short sentences into one. Which choice does it correctly?

    • The bus was late; so we missed the start.
    • The bus was late, so we missed the start.
    • The bus was late, we missed the start.
    • The bus was late so, we missed the start.