Comma Splice and Run-on Sentence Quiz for ESL with Answer Key

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 📝 A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma. Incorrect: I went to the store, I bought milk.
• 💡 A run-on sentence (also called a fused sentence) occurs when two independent clauses are joined without any punctuation or conjunction. Incorrect: I went to the store I bought milk.
• ✅ To correct a comma splice or run-on sentence, you can:
  • ➕ Use a period to make two separate sentences.
  • 🤝 Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet).
  • ✂️ Use a semicolon.
  • ✏️ Subordinate one of the clauses.
• 🔑 Independent Clause: A group of words that can stand alone as a sentence.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences is a comma splice?
   1. I went to the park, I flew a kite.
   2. I went to the park and flew a kite.
   3. I went to the park; I flew a kite.
   4. I went to the park because I wanted to fly a kite.
2. Which of the following sentences is a run-on sentence?
   1. She loves to sing she practices every day.
   2. She loves to sing, she practices every day.
   3. She loves to sing, but she practices every day.
   4. She loves to sing; she practices every day.
3. Which of the following correctly fixes the comma splice: "He was tired, he went to bed early."?
   1. He was tired he went to bed early.
   2. He was tired, but he went to bed early.
   3. He was tired; but he went to bed early.
   4. He was tired, and went to bed early.
4. Which of the following correctly fixes the run-on sentence: "The sun was shining birds were singing."?
   1. The sun was shining, birds were singing.
   2. The sun was shining, and birds were singing.
   3. The sun was shining; and birds were singing.
   4. The sun was shining because birds were singing.
5. Identify the error (if any) in the following sentence: "I like coffee and tea, but I prefer tea."
   1. Comma Splice
   2. Run-on Sentence
   3. Both
   4. No Error
6. Identify the error (if any) in the following sentence: "She studied hard she got a good grade."
   1. Comma Splice
   2. Run-on Sentence
   3. Both
   4. No Error
7. Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
   1. It was raining, so I took my umbrella.
   2. It was raining so I took my umbrella.
   3. It was raining, I took my umbrella.
   4. It was raining; so I took my umbrella.