November 2026 - Complete Sentences Study Guide for nursing students in
A complete sentence needs a subject, a verb and a complete thought. A fragment is missing one of those; a run-on joins two independent clauses without the punctuation to hold them. Two complete thoughts joined by only a comma is a comma splice, and it is the error tested most often.
Try 4 short questions throughout this guide. Check each answer to learn from the explanation.
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The three requirements
A subject — who or what the sentence is about.
A verb — what the subject does or is.
A complete thought — it can stand alone and make sense.
The third is what catches people out. Because the ward was short-staffed has both a subject and a verb, and is still a fragment.
The three errors
Error
What it is
Example
Fragment
Missing a subject, a verb or a complete thought
Running down the corridor with the chart.
Run-on
Two independent clauses with no punctuation at all
The alarm sounded she went to check.
Comma splice
Two independent clauses joined by only a comma
The alarm sounded, she went to check.
Question 1 of 4
Which of the following is a complete sentence?
Choose one answer, then check it.
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Correct answer: C. The ward was short-staffed.
It has a subject, a verb and a thought that stands on its own. The first and last are dependent clauses left hanging by "because" and "which", and the second has no subject at all — nobody is identified as waiting.
Independent and dependent clauses
An independent clause can stand as a sentence: she checked the chart. A dependent clause cannot, because a subordinating word has left it hanging: because she checked the chart, although she checked the chart, when she checked the chart.
Words such as because, although, since, when, if, while, after and unless create dependent clauses. Attach one to an independent clause and you have a sentence; leave it on its own and you have a fragment.
Question 2 of 4
Which sentence contains a comma splice?
Choose one answer, then check it.
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Correct answer: B. The alarm sounded, she went to check the monitor.
Two complete thoughts are held together by nothing but a comma. The others each supply what is missing: a coordinating conjunction, a subordinating word that makes the first clause dependent, and a semicolon.
Four ways to fix a splice or a run-on
The exam offers all four as answer choices, and usually more than one is grammatically correct — pick the one that fits the relationship between the ideas.
Full stop — The alarm sounded. She went to check.
Semicolon — The alarm sounded; she went to check. Best when the ideas are closely linked.
Comma plus a coordinating conjunction — The alarm sounded, so she went to check.
Subordination — When the alarm sounded, she went to check. Best when one idea depends on the other.
However, therefore, moreover and consequently are not conjunctions. They cannot join two independent clauses with only a comma: The ward was busy, however she stayed late is still a splice. Use a semicolon before them and a comma after.
Testing a string of words
Worked example
Is this a complete sentence? Although the medication was administered on time.
Find the subject: the medication.
Find the verb: was administered.
Test the thought: "Although the medication was administered on time" — and then what? The reader is left waiting.
"Although" is a subordinating word, which makes this a dependent clause.
A fragment. It has a subject and a verb but not a complete thought. Remove "although", or attach an independent clause: Although the medication was administered on time, the patient's pain persisted.
Terms to know
Subject
Who or what the sentence is about.
Predicate
The verb and everything that follows it.
Independent clause
A clause that can stand alone as a sentence.
Dependent clause
A clause that cannot stand alone, introduced by a subordinating word.
Fragment
An incomplete sentence.
Run-on
Two independent clauses joined with no punctuation.
Comma splice
Two independent clauses joined by only a comma.
Coordinating conjunction
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so — the seven that join equals.
Subordinating conjunction
because, although, when, if, since — words that create dependent clauses.
What the TEAS asks most
The same core ideas appear in different wording. If you can answer these without stopping to think, you have what this section requires.
Which of these is a complete sentence?
The one with a subject, a verb and a complete thought. Watch for a subordinating word at the front.
Which sentence contains an error?
Usually a comma splice — two complete thoughts held together by a comma alone.
How should this sentence be corrected?
Full stop, semicolon, comma plus conjunction, or subordination. Choose by the relationship between the ideas.
Question 3 of 4
Why is Although she checked the chart twice. a fragment?
Choose one answer, then check it.
View the Answer and Explanation
Correct answer: C. It has a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought.
"She" is the subject and "checked" the verb, but "although" turns the clause into one that depends on something else to complete it. Length has nothing to do with it — She left. is a complete sentence in two words.
Key points
Subject, verb and complete thought — all three are required.
A dependent clause has a subject and verb and is still a fragment.
Two independent clauses joined by a comma is a comma splice.
Fix with a full stop, a semicolon, a comma plus conjunction, or subordination.
However and therefore are not conjunctions and cannot fix a splice on their own.
Question 4 of 4
How should this be corrected? The results were delayed, however the treatment began on schedule.
Choose one answer, then check it.
View the Answer and Explanation
Correct answer: A. The results were delayed; however, the treatment began on schedule.
"However" is a conjunctive adverb rather than a conjunction, so it needs a semicolon before it and a comma after when joining two independent clauses. Moving the comma or adding words at the end leaves the underlying splice untouched.
TEAS · Complete sentences
Knowledge Check Results
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