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7th grade Fix run-ons and comma splices worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

Level: Building Confidence · On Level · Challenge Me

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Fix run-ons and comma splices

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  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.
    • Neither “the bell rang” nor “we lined up at the door” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
    • 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.
  2. Our team won, we celebrated with fruit. Bo brackets two clauses in a sentence. Which statement describes the sentence correctly?

    • Neither “our team won” nor “we celebrated with fruit” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
    • 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.
    • Nothing joins “our team won” and “we celebrated with fruit”, so it is a run-on.
  3. The pool opened, and the swimmers jumped in. Esme brackets two clauses in a sentence. Which statement describes the sentence correctly?

    • A lone comma joins “the pool opened” and “the swimmers jumped in”, so it is a comma splice.
    • 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.
  4. The lights went out the band kept playing. Jun brackets two clauses in a sentence. Which statement describes the sentence correctly?

    • 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.
    • Neither “the lights went out” nor “the band kept playing” can stand alone, so it is a fragment.
    • 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. 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. Luz proofreads a garden club page. Which sentence is correct?

    • The seeds sprouted, we watered them daily.
    • The seeds sprouted we watered them each day.
    • The seeds sprouted; we watered them daily.
    • The seeds sprouted we watered them daily.
  8. 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. 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. I forgot my umbrella. It started to rain. Pia joins two short sentences into one. Which choice does it correctly?

    • 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.
    • I forgot my umbrella, and it started to rain.
  11. 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, we missed the start.
    • The bus was late; so we missed the start.
    • The bus was late, so we missed the start.
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7th grade Fix run-ons and comma splices worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Fix run-ons and comma splices. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can bracket two clauses and say what sits between them: nothing, a lone comma, or a correct joint.
  • I can fix a run-on or comma splice with a period, a semicolon, a comma plus a joining word, or a link word like because or although.
  • I can tell a long but correct sentence from a run-on.

Words to know

run-on: Two complete ideas run together with nothing between them.

comma splice: Two complete ideas joined by only a comma.

joint: The place between two clauses, and whatever sits there.

joining word: A word like for, and, nor, but, or, yet or so, used after a comma.

link word: A word like because or although that makes one idea depend on the other.

transition word: A word like however, therefore, otherwise or meanwhile that connects two ideas.

semicolon: A mark (;) that can join two complete ideas that belong together.

Common mistakes

When naming what joins two clauses, your child called the sentence a comma splice when the joint is something else. Have your child bracket both clauses and look at exactly what sits between them.

When naming what joins two clauses, your child called the sentence a run-on when something does join the clauses. Have your child bracket both clauses and look at exactly what sits between them.

When checking a sentence, your child called it correct when the two ideas are not joined properly. A correct joint is a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a joining word.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with fix run-ons and comma splices?

When naming what joins two clauses, your child called the sentence a comma splice when the joint is something else. Have your child bracket both clauses and look at exactly what sits between them.

Are these 7th grade reading worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 7 reading

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