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Run-on Sentences Exercise.

In the following exercise, you will be presented with a series of sentences. Put a tick by the run-on sentences.

1

a) Greece is a fantastic country it has lovely people and great food.
b) Despite a long flight, arriving in Athens is always a good feeling.
c) She gave me a withering stare I was really scared.
d) There is nothing better for a cold than a hot whisky and a big box of chocolates.
a) Well done. This is definitely a run-on sentence. a) This is definitely a run-on sentence. It needs some punctuation between the two ideas. b) Correct. This is not a run-on sentence. The comma sets off the initial part of the sentence. b) This is not a run-on sentence. The comma sets off the initial part of the sentence. c) Well done. This is definitely a run-on sentence. c) This is definitely a run-on sentence. It needs some punctuation between the two ideas. d) Correct. Although this is a long sentence, it does not contain more than one idea. d) Although this is a long sentence, it does not contain more than one idea.
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2

a) The chest contained large amounts of gold, rubies, saphires and other precious stones.
b) She ran out of the room the shadows in the corner had scared her.
c) I will never fly again it is far too polluting.
d) She always recycles her bottles they are collected twice a month.
a) Well done. Although this is a long sentence, it contains only one idea and is not a run-on sentence. a) Although this is a long sentence, it contains only one idea and is not a run-on sentence. b) Correct. This is a run-on sentence.b) This is a run-on sentence.c) Correct. This is a run-on sentence.c) This is a run-on sentence.d) Correct. This is a run-on sentence.d) This is a run-on sentence.
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3

a) I hate kippers the smell puts me off.
b) Bill rushed to his mate's house there was cold beer in the fridge.
c) She never walks anywhere she is really lazy.
d) Tim loves jelly strawberry is his favourite flavour.
a) Correct. This is a run-on sentence. a) This is a run-on sentence. b) Correct. This is a run-on sentence. b) This is a run-on sentence. c) Correct. This is a run-on sentence. c) This is a run-on sentence. d) Correct. This is a run-on sentence. d) This is a run-on sentence.
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4

a) The meal was a huge success despite his lack of skill in the kitchen.
b) The meal was a disaster he is useless in the kitchen.
c) Given his ineptitude with a food mixer, the meal was a surprising success.
d) I really enjoyed the smoked kippers that he had prepared the night before.
a) Well done. This is not a run-on sentence. Although it is long, the two ideas are separated by the conjunction 'despite'. a) This is not a run-on sentence. Although it is long, the two ideas are separated by the conjunction 'despite'. b) Correct. Although short, this sentence contains two ideas that need to be separated. b) Although short, this sentence contains two ideas that need to be separated. c) Correct. The initial part of the sentence is set off with a comma. c) The initial part of the sentence is set off with a comma. d) Well done. This is not a run-on sentence. The two ideas in the sentence are separated by the relative pronoun 'that'. d) This is not a run-on sentence. The two ideas in the sentence are separated by the relative pronoun 'that'.
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5

a) 'Give me that pencil it's mine.'
b) She found the wallet he found the money.
c) Pirates sailed the seas during the warmer months.
d) Leaving the house early, Bill found the roads empty.
a) Correct. This is a run-on sentence. a) This is a run-on sentence. b) Correct. This is a run-on sentence. b) This is a run-on sentence. c) Well done. This is not a run-on sentence. The word 'during' connects the ideas in this sentence. c) This is not a run-on sentence. The word 'during' connects the ideas in this sentence. d) Correct. The comma offsets the initial idea from the rest of the sentence.d) This is not a run-on sentence. The comma offsets the initial idea from the rest of the sentence.
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6

a) Tim left his job because he could not stand his boss.
b) Tim left his job he could not stand his boss.
c) Tim left his job; he could not stand his boss.
d) Tim left his job, as he could not stand his boss.
a) Well done. The conjunction 'because' separates the two ideas in this sentence. a) The conjunction 'because' separates the two ideas in this sentence. b) Well done. This is a run-on sentence. b) This is a run-on sentence. c) Well done. The semicolon separates the two ideas in this sentence. c) The semicolon separates the two ideas in this sentence. d) Well done. The conjunction 'as' separates the two ideas in this sentence. d) The conjunction 'as' separates the two ideas in this sentence.
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7

a) She threw down the bottle she hates wine anyway.
b) I love wine the French reds are definitely the best.
c) Tim prefers a nice pint of bitter, but sometimes likes a lager on warm days.
d) She uncorked the new bottle that she had bought in France the previouse summer.
a) Correct. This is a run-on sentence. The two ideas need something to separate them. a) This is a run-on sentence. The two ideas need something to separate them. b) Correct. This is a run-on sentence. The two ideas need something to separate them. b) This is a run-on sentence. The two ideas need something to separate them. c) Correct. The conjunction 'but' connects the two ideas in the sentence. c) The conjunction 'but' connects the two ideas in the sentence. d) Correct. This is not a run-on sentence as the relative pronoun 'that' connects the two ideas.d) This is not a run-on sentence as the relative pronoun 'that' connects the two ideas.
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8

a) Tim rushed out of the house; he desperately needed another pint of milk.
b) Tim rushed out of the house he desperately needed another pint of milk.
c) Tim rushed out of the house because he desperately needed another pint of milk.
d) Tim rushed out of the house, as he desperately needed another pint of milk.
a) Well done. The semicolon here avoids a run-on sentence. a) The semicolon here avoids a run-on sentence. b) Correct. This is a run-on sentence. There is nothing to separate the two ideas.b) This is a run-on sentence. There is nothing to separate the two ideas.c) Correct. The conjunction 'because' links the two ideas in this sentence. c) The conjunction 'because' links the two ideas in this sentence. d) Correct. The conjunction 'as' links the two ideas in this sentence. d) The conjunction 'as' links the two ideas in this sentence.
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Find out more about run-on sentences.

See a list of other grammar exercises.