Card 0 of 20
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Thomas had always struggled with trigonometry, he thought that circles should remain circles and let triangles and squiggles be their own shapes. No error
This sentence is an example of a run-on or comma splice. It has two independent clauses separated only by a comma. One way to fix this is to change the comma to a semicolon; if this were to be done, the corrected sentence would read, "Thomas had always struggled with trigonometry; he thought that circles should remain circles and let triangles and squiggles be their own shapes."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The kids at the pumpkin patch screeched and spun around in circles all day, they bothered their teacher tremendously. No error
This is an example of a comma splice. The two independent clauses should be separated by a period, a semi-colon, or a comma and a conjunction, not by just a comma, which is used to separate independent and dependent clauses.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Car, bicycle, and bus are the only means of transportation in this city, there is no metro system available yet. No error
A comma should only be used to separate an independent clause from a dependent clause: here it is separating two independent clauses, so a period or semi-colon is more appropritate.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Anna, questioning her decision, looked to her brother, however he wouldn't meet her eye. No error
The clause, "however, he wouldn't meet her eye," is an independent clause and must be separated by a semicolon or a coordinating conjunction.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I stayed up late last night baking chocolate chip cookies, this morning when I woke up the house smelled so good that it made me hungry. No error
This is a run-on sentence. The two independent clauses need to be split into two separate sentences, or separated by a semicolon.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The eldest male dog became awfully selfish during feeding time, he would not even let his own pups get a scrap of food. No error
Two independent clauses that can each stand alone must be separated by either a period or a semicolon, or connected by a comma followed by a conjunction. Because this sentence doesn't include a conjunction like "and" after its comma, it is incorrect. (This error, where two independent clauses are incorrectly connected by a comma, is known as a "comma splice.")
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
How many times do I have to tell you, you have to tie the garbage bags securely or we will have animals in our trash. No error
The first clause of this sentence, "How many times do I have to tell you," is actually a rhetorical question. It is an independent clause and therefore must be separated with stronger punctuation than just a comma. In this case, it would be appropriate to set it off as its own sentence, ending in a question mark, but regardless, the comma splice in "you, you" is what makes this sentence ungrammatical.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a truly useful substance, it can be used for cooking, baking, and cleaning. No error.
A comma cannot be used by itself to join two independent clauses, so "substance, it" contains this sentence's error. The first independent clause in this sentence is "Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a truly useful substance." The second independent clause is "It can be used for cooking, baking, and cleaning." Two independent clauses can be joined into a compound sentence in one of two ways: by using a comma followed by a conjunction or by using a semicolon.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Cal, with his good looks and smug tone, came off as arrogant to Sarah, she refused to speak with him for longer than necessary. No error
The clause, "she refused to speak with him for longer than necessary" is an independent clause and therefore must be separated from the sentence's initial independent clause ("Cal, with his good looks and smug tone, came off as arrogant to Sarah") with a semicolon, a comma followed by a conjunction, or a period, not just a comma.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I don't remember many Saturday morning cartoons, but May and John can name pretty much all of them, they were such huge fans of those shows. No error
The clause following "them" ("they were such huge fans of those shows") is an independent clause. It therefore needs to be joined to the first part of the sentence, the compound independent clause "I don't remember many Saturday morning cartoons, but May and John can name pretty much all of them") using a semicolon, a comma followed by a conjunction, or a period, not just a comma. (Note the correct use of a comma followed by the conjunction "but" in the sentence's initial compound independent clause.)
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The toughest subject for me has always been Spanish, I have struggled mightily to achieve any fluency in any language other than English. No error
This sentence features a common error of punctuation known as a comma splice. Both clauses, separated here by a comma, are independent. Independent clauses can be separated by a semicolon, a period, or a comma with a conjunction after it. Any of those three options would fix the comma splice error in this sentence, and all three options are equally grammatically correct in this instance.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Asking the kids for help filling the water balloons proved to be a bad idea, they couldn't resist the urge to throw them at each other and the floor was quickly covered in water. No error
This sentence contains a comma splice. Two independent clauses, like the two in the example, cannot be separated by just a comma. Instead, they should be linked using a period, a semicolon, or a comma with a conjunction.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined portion of the sentence that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Molly's sister's apartment is quite spacious, the high ceilings give it a very comfortable feel. No error
This is an example of comma splice. The two clauses (separated here by a comma) are both independent clauses (each is a grammatically complete clause that could stand alone as a full sentence). If they are linked with a comma and no conjunction, as in this example, it is a comma splice. They should be linked with a comma and a conjunction, a period, or a semicolon.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It is nearly dawn, there is simply no way we will make it to Minnesota before noon. No error
There are several acceptable ways to separate independent clauses, but simply using a single comma by itself is not one of them. To do so is to make an error known as the comma splice. The sentence above contains such a splice, and it should be corrected. The options to make this correction would be to add a coordinating conjunction after the comma, replace the comma with a period, or replace the comma with a semicolon.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The brilliant surgeon had steady hands, she was an incredible pool player in her youth. No error
There are several acceptable ways to separate independent clauses, but simply using a single comma by itself is not one of them. To do so creates an error known as the comma splice. The sentence above features a comma splice after "hands." The first clause, "the brilliant surgeon had steady hands," is a grammatically complete independent clause, as is the second clause, "she was an incredible pool player." The options for separating these two clauses are to place a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction and a comma between them. All three of these options are equally grammatically correct, whichever you choose is a matter of style.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I have traveled all over the world, England is my favorite place. No error
There are several acceptable ways to separate independent clauses, but simply using a single comma by itself is not one of them. That is an error known as the comma splice. The three options available to correct such an error are a period, a conjunction with a comma, or a semicolon. These three options are all equally grammatically correct, which one you choose is a matter of style. The example sentence contains two independent clauses, so rather than a comma after "world" one of those three options needs to be inserted.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My friend Matt is an incredible computer programmer, my friend Sally is the best dancer I know. No error
Both clauses in the example sentence are independent clauses (grammatically complete clauses that could stand on their own as sentences). When two independent clauses are connected into one sentence it is called a compound sentence. The correct ways to punctuate compound sentences are either a conjunction and a comma or a semicolon. The other option in this instance would be to simply replace the comma with a period.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
There are a lot of problems with the new dinosaur movie, it is riddled with factual inaccuracies. No error
There are several acceptable ways to separate independent clauses, but simply using a single comma by itself is not one of them. To do so creates an error known as the comma splice. The example sentence, by using a comma instead of a period, coordinating conjunction and a comma, or a semicolon, contains such an error.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jordan had a terrifying dream in which he was attacked by piranhas, he decided to skip his swimming lesson the following day. No error
This is an example of a comma splice. The two clauses here are both independent clauses, meaning each could stand on its own as a full sentence. Commas cannot be used to separate such clauses. A semicolon would be appropriate here. Another alternative would be to add a conjunction after the comma, such as "...attacked by piranhas, so he decided..."
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Laura wanted to attend her high school's ten-year reunion, it was only the possibility of seeing her ex-boyfriend that made her hesistate. No error
The error in this sentence is that two independent clauses ("Laura wanted to attend her high school's ten-year reunion" and "it was only the possibility of seeing her ex-boyfriend that made her hesitate") are being joined by a comma, which is an incorrect use of a comma. Since independent clauses could be seperate sentences, there needs to be a stronger form of punctuation than a comma to join them, such a semicolon, a period, or a coordinating conjunction followed by a comma.
Compare your answer with the correct one above