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?

   • 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.
   • 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.
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.
   • 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.
   • Nothing joins “our team won” and “we celebrated with fruit”, so it is a run-on.
3. 3.

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

   • 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 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.
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.
   • Neither “the lights went out” nor “the band kept playing” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
   • Nothing joins “the lights went out” and “the band kept playing”, so it is a run-on.
   • 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 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 each day.
   • The seeds sprouted we watered them daily.
8. 7.

   Milo proofreads a park flyer. Which sentence is correct?

   • The kite rose quickly, it caught the wind.
   • The kite rose quickly it caught the wind.
   • The kite rose quickly. It caught the wind.
   • The kite rose quickly, it caught a strong wind.
9. 8.

   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 early.
   • The pool closes at six the lifeguards go home.
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; but the hikers kept going.
    • The path was muddy, the hikers kept going.
    • The path was muddy but, the hikers kept going.
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, we missed the start.
    • The bus was late; so we missed the start.
    • The bus was late, so we missed the start.
    • The bus was late so, we missed the start.