Fragments and run-ons worksheets
Aligned with Common Core L.4.1f
Printable fourth-grade fragments and run-ons worksheets: a complete sentences chart, sentence or fragment, finding what a fragment is missing, fixing fragments, sentence or run-on, fixing run-ons, a mixed sentence, fragment or run-on page and a paragraph to edit.
The worksheets
- See it all
Complete Sentences Chart
The three parts of a complete sentence with a marked example, three kinds of fragments and how to fix them, and three ways to fix a run-on.
Sentence or Fragment
Complete sentences and fragments mixed together, to circle S for sentence or F for fragment. Fewer, Standard or More give 8, 10 or 12. Includes an answer key.
What's Missing
Fragments missing a subject, a predicate or the rest of the thought, like "When the bell rang." Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 10. Includes an answer key.
Fix the Fragment
Fragments to turn into complete sentences, with lines to write on. Fewer, Standard or More give 5, 6 or 7. The answer key shows one way to fix each one; other complete sentences work too.
Sentence or Run-On
Run-ons and complete sentences mixed together, including long sentences joined the right way with a comma and and, but or so. Fewer, Standard or More give 8, 10 or 12. Includes an answer key.
Fix the Run-On
Run-ons with no punctuation and run-ons joined with only a comma, with lines to write the fixed sentence. Fewer, Standard or More give 5, 6 or 7. The answer key shows both ways to fix each one.
Sentence, Fragment or Run-On
Complete sentences, fragments and run-ons mixed together, to sort by circling S, F or R. Fewer, Standard or More give 9, 12 or 15. Includes an answer key.
Edit the Paragraph
Six short paragraphs, like "The Bird Feeder" and "The School Play," each with 2 fragments and 2 run-ons to find and fix. The answer key marks them and shows one way to write the fixed paragraph.
Print the whole packet
One copy of every sheet above, in order. Tap + for more copies (up to 10).
For the parent or teacher
What it is
A complete sentence has a subject, a predicate and a complete thought. A fragment is missing one of those parts, like "Ran to the bus stop." A run-on joins two sentences with no stop between them, or with only a comma, like "The rain stopped we went outside." Fourth graders write longer sentences, so both mistakes show up often.
What comes next
The 3rd grade Parts of speech and Subject and verb agreement topics cover nouns, verbs and sentence parts, if your student needs a refresher.
How to teach it
- Teach in order or jump to whatever your student needs. A student may spot fragments easily and still be building their run-on skills.
- Ask two questions about each sentence. Who or what is it about? What happened?
- Read sentences out loud. A fragment often sounds unfinished, and a run-on sounds like two ideas with no breath between them.
- Practice fixing run-ons both ways, with a period and a capital or with a comma and and, but or so.
- Look for fragments and run-ons in your student's own writing after practicing on the worksheets.
Common mistakes
- Thinking a long sentence must be a run-on. A long sentence can be correct if it is joined the right way.
- Fixing a run-on with only a comma, like "I wanted pizza, my brother wanted tacos."
- Starting a sentence with because, when or after and never finishing the thought.
- Thinking a short sentence must be a fragment. "Maya laughed." is a complete sentence.