This unit covers some common grammatical errors that occur when writing sentences:
the creation of sentence fragments
Sentence fragments lack some vital component of a sentence.
This ungrammatical sentence is the result of a punctuation error.
| The whole idea failed. Possibly because they were trying to achieve the impossible. | This non-sentence is incomplete because it is a dependent clause and cannot stand on its own. It belongs to the first sentence and should be joined to it with a comma, instead of seperated by a full stop. |
the creation of run-on sentences
Incorrect punctuation can result in run-on sentences.
| Team leaders should be aware of group norms, they should try to find out which norms are task related and which are counter productive. | The two parts of this single sentence should be separated to make two complete sentences or should be joined by a semi-colon instead of a comma. |
a lack of subject-verb agreement
To be a fully grammatical sentence, the subject and
the verb in the sentence need to agree in number and person.
| The article by Smith and Jones discuss the impact of the internet on society. | The singular subject of this sentence, 'the article' requires the 3rd person singular verb 'discusses' if the subject and the verb are to be in agreement. |
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