Sentence Fragments

Sentence Fragments

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Multiple Choice

What is the subject of this sentence?

Kira writes short stories.

• Kira

• writes short stories.

Multiple Choice

What is the predicate of this sentence?

Kira writes short stories.

• Kira

• writes short stories.

Multiple Choice

What is the predicate of this sentence?

Mrs. Rizo loves her dogs.

• Mrs. Rizo

• loves her dogs.

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of this sentence?

Mrs. Rizo loves her dogs.

• Mrs. Rizo

• loves her dogs.

Multiple Choice

What is missing from this fragment?

Kira.

• Subject.

• Predicate

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.

Some fragments are incomplete because they lack either a subject or a verb, or both.

Fill in the Blank

A sentence fragment is a(n)

The fragments that most students have trouble with, however, are dependent clauses—they have a subject and a verb, so they look like complete sentences, but they don’t express a complete thought.

They’re called “dependent” because they can’t stand on their own (just like some people you might know who are SO dependent!).

Multiple Select

A dependent clause

• can't stand on its own

• is not a complete thought

• is not a complete sentence

• never has a verb

• never has a subject

Look at these dependent clauses. They’re just begging for more information to make the thoughts complete:

• Because their car was in the shop

• After the rain stops

• Since you asked

• If you want to go with me

Multiple Select

Which option(s) make this a complete sentence?

Because their car was in the shop,

• they had to take the bus.

• it broke a

• the ice cream.

• they had to walk home.

• the bus was.

Multiple Select

Which option(s) make this a complete sentence?

After the rain stops,

• we can.

• it will.

• we can go outside to play ball.

• come over to my house.

• at the park.

Multiple Select

Which option(s) make this a complete sentence? Since you asked,

• I will tell you the answer.

• he will say yes.

• the dog.

• ever will

• ice cream is.

Multiple Select

Which option(s) make this a complete sentence?

If you want to go with me,

• you have to do your chores first.

• never say.

• to the park.

• you will have to ask your mom if you can.

• just say so.

Because their car was in the shop... After the rain stops... Since you asked... If you want to go with me... When you finally take the test...

Does each of these examples have a subject? Yes. Does each have a verb? Yes. So what makes the thought incomplete?

It’s the first word (Because, After, When, Since, If). These words belong to a special class of words called subordinators or subordinating conjunctions.

If you know something about subordinating conjunctions, you can probably eliminate 90% of your fragments.

First, you need to know that subordinating conjunctions do three things:

• join two sentences together

• make one of the sentences dependent on the other for a complete thought (make one a dependent clause)

• indicate a logical relationship

Second, you must recognize the common subordinating conjunctions and the relationships they indicate

• Cause / Effect: because, since, so that

• Comparison / Contrast: although, even though, though, whereas, while

• Place & Manner: how, however, where, wherever

• Possibility / Conditions: if, whether, unless

• Relation: that, which, who

• Time: after, as, before, since, when, whenever, while, until

Third, you must know that the subordinator (and the whole dependent clause) doesn’t have to be at the beginning of the sentence. The dependent clause and the independent clause can switch places, but the whole clause moves as one big chunk.

Look at how these clauses switched places in each sentence:

• Because their car was in the shop, they took the bus.

• They took the bus because their car was in the shop.

Finally, you need to know that every dependent clause needs to be attached to an independent clause (remember, the independent clause can stand on its own).

How do you find and fix your fragments? Remember the basics: subject, verb, and complete thought. If you can recognize those things, you’re halfway there.

Then, scan your sentences for subordinating conjunctions. If you find one, first identify the whole chunk of the dependent clause (the subject and verb that go with the subordinator), and then make sure they’re attached to an independent clause.

Look at the examples:

• They took the bus. (Independent clause-Okay! It's a complete sentence because it has a subject and a verb and is a complete thought.)

• Because their car was in the shop. (Dependent clause alone-Fragment!)

• They took the bus because their car was in the shop. (Independent clause+dependent clause=complete sentence.)

Multiple Choice

Sentence or Fragment: Joined our Girl's Scout troop.

• Fragment

• Sentence

Multiple Choice

Sentence or Fragment: Crocodiles face danger everyday.

• Fragment

• Sentence

Multiple Choice

Sentence or Fragment: Early in the morning

• Fragment

• Sentence

Multiple Choice

Sentence or Fragment: Mrs. Chismark is the beautiful one.

• sentence

• fragment

Multiple Choice

Is the following a complete sentence or a sentence fragment?
Once roamed across North America.

• Sentence
• Sentence Fragment

Multiple Choice

Is the following a complete sentence or a sentence fragment?
Didn't kill all those bison.

• Sentence
• Sentence Fragment

Multiple Choice

Is the following a complete sentence or a sentence fragment?
Bison were difficult to hunt on foot.

• Sentence
• Sentence Fragment

Multiple Choice

Is the following a complete sentence or a sentence fragment?
Now, more than thirty thousand.

• Sentence
• Sentence Fragment

Multiple Choice

Select the complete sentence.

• When I get my driver's license next year.

• By the lake near the old home place.

• If I can save enough money for a new car.

• I lost my new watch at the park yesterday.

Multiple Choice

Select the complete sentence.

• The balloon floated up.

• Although I have six dollars.

• Running up the street as fast I could.

• On the top shelf in the back of the closet.

Multiple Choice

Select the complete sentence.

• The cat gingerly stepped onto the new snow which blanketed the ground.

• Laughing and squealing with delight in the winter wonderland.

• In the snow up to our knees.

• As soon as we lost the feeling in our finger and toes.

Multiple Choice

Select the FRAGMENT in each group of words.

• The car turned over.

• The cool breeze felt good to my sunburned face.

• Watching television and eating snack foods every day all summer long

• I cut the grass this summer to earn the money to buy a car.

Sentence Fragments Overview

• A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.

• It is missing one or more of the requirements of a sentence.

• A complete sentence has a subject, verb, and a complete thought.

• Sentence- When I was three, I loved my Elmo doll.

• Fragment- When I was three.

Examples of Fragments

• There are usually multiple ways to fix fragments. You can add what is missing or take something out, and sometimes, you can join it to a sentence around it.

• Fragment- A novel that causes fear and horror.

• Correction- Frankenstein is a novel that causes fear and horror.

• Correction- A novel that causes fear and horror is Frankenstein.

• Fragment- Toys of all kinds thrown everywhere.

• Correction- Toys of all kinds were thrown everywhere.

More Types of Fragments

• Fragment- With the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.

• Correction- The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.

• Fragment- Because of the rain.

• Correction- I was late because of the rain.

• Correction- Because of the rain, I was late.

• Not a fragment- I ran.

• Although it is short, it has a subject, a verb, and it doesn't have to have more explanation.

Multiple Choice

Have you listened to the music of Charles Mingus?

Sentence or Fragment?

• Sentence

• Fragment

Multiple Choice

According to my aunt, the rutabaga, a tasty vegetable.

Sentence or Fragment?

• Sentence

• Fragment

Multiple Choice

This nectarine, for example, will give you quick energy before the game.

Sentence or Fragment?

• Sentence

• Fragment

Multiple Choice

Unfortunately, this cottage cheese will have to be thrown away.

Sentence or Fragment?

• Sentence

• Fragment