The GMAT Sentence Correction commonly tests run-on sentences and fragments. Let’s review some of the definitions so you can quickly spot them.
A clause is a group of words with a verb and a subject.
An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. When two or more independent clauses are inappropriately joined, it is called a run-on.
A dependent or subordinate clause lacks either a subject or a predicate verb, or does not express a complete thought. When a dependent clause is not attached to an independent clause it is called a fragment.
An easy way to think of run-ons and fragments is that a run-on sentence has too much information while a fragment doesn’t have enough.
Run-on: I have been studying for the GMAT for three months, I hope to score a 750+.
Fragment: Hoping to do well on my test.
The run-on example is called a comma splice. Two sentences have been improperly joined with a comma.
The fragment is a dependent clause. It is missing a subject and predicate verb. To fix the fragment, we would need to add an independent clause or the missing information.
Hoping to do well on my test, I went to sleep early the night before.
Sheila hopes to do well on her test.
To fix the run-on, we have three options. The most concise (and often the most correct) way is to change the comma to a semicolon.
I have been studying for the GMAT for three months; I hope to score a 750+.
We can also add a coordinating conjunction after the comma.
I have been studying for the GMAT for three months, and I hope to score a 750+.
Or we can make one clause dependent.
Hoping to score a 750+, I have been studying for the GMAT for three months.
Make sure that when one clause becomes dependent, it doesn’t introduce a modification error into the sentence. “Hoping to score a 750+” correcting modifies “I” so this sentence is correct.
Occasionally a run-on may be fixed by adding either a colon (:) or a dash (-). A colon is used to introduce a list, an explanation, or a quote. If the first independent clause is acting as an introduction, then adding a colon is acceptable.
I had everything I needed to start studying: my pen, scratch paper, and computer all sat on my desk.
A dash (-) indicates a sudden change in thought:
The GMAT was a piece of cake – or so I thought!
Once you spot a fragment or a run-on sentence on the GMAT, look for the answer choice that corrects the error without introducing a new one. Two answer choices may correctly fix a fragment, however one of them may be wordier, use passive voice, or introduce a new error. Make sure you are always choosing the best answer choice out of the options given, not just the first one that corrects the error!
