Chapter Twenty-Two Fragments

1. Chapter Twenty-TwoFragments Prepared by Professors Rita Perkins and Paul Harris Camden County College

2. Sentence Fragments • A sentence fragment is a group of words that is punctuated as a sentence but is not grammatically correct. • A sentence fragment may lack a subject, a verb, or an independent clause. • The wind velocity in hurricanes and monsoons. • The winds raging in hurricanes and monsoons.

3. Checking for Sentence Fragments • Locate the subject. • Locate the verb. • Inspires many poets and song writers.(This lacks a subject.) • The pleasant weather of May.(This lacks a verb.)

4. Phrases Lack a Subject or Verb • Verb phrase: • To take advantage of sunlight in photography. • Prepositional phrase: • Within the eye of the hurricane.

5. Phrases Lack a Subject or Verb • Noun phrase: • Various theories for weather forecasting. • Appositive phrase: • One popular weather topic, el Niño.

6. Look for Subordinate Conjunctions • A clause that begins with a subordinator (ordependent word) is adependent clause. • These examples are notindependent clauses. • If a tornado sweeps across the plains. • Because snow is beautiful in the moonlight.

7. Checking for Sentence Fragments • Look for relative pronouns. • Relative pronouns introduce clauses that modify nouns or pronouns (who, which, that). • The instructor who argued against class cancellations for snow. • Revised:The instructor who argued against class cancellations for snow was very unrealistic.

8. Relative Clause Fragments • Although relative clause fragments have both a subject and a verb, they cannot stand alone. • Bob who intends to buy a small tractor and a plow. • Revised:Bob, who intends to buy a small tractor and a plow, thinks he will earn money removing snow this winter.

9. Correcting Sentence Fragments • Combine the fragment with the sentence that precedes it or with the sentence that follows it. • Dramatic weather conditions do not always cause disasters. But at times create beautiful situations as well. • Correction:Dramatic weather conditions do not always cause disasters but at times create beautiful situations.

10. Revise Compound Predicate Fragments • The jet stream can pull cold air down from Canada. Or bring warm air up from Mexico. • The jet stream can pull cold air down from Canada or bring warm air up from Mexico.

11. Correct Dependent Clause Fragments • Dependent clause fragments begin with a subordinating conjunction (because, since, before). • Although air traffic controllers regulate flight patterns. • Corrected:Although air traffic controllers regulate traffic patterns, they cannot control the weather.

12. Be aware of situations that can lead to sentence fragments. • Examine a sentence that begins with a subordinating word. • Because hail fell on the peach blossoms. • Carefully select transitional words or phrases which introduce examples or a list. • For example, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

13. Sentence Fragments Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. (Click to see the answer.) Fragment My Aunt Marie being a good cook.

14. Sentence Fragments Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. Correct She can spend hours reading a cook book.

15. Sentence Fragments Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. Although she says that she doesn’t like to read. Fragment

16. Sentence Fragments Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. Special desserts such as pecan pies, chocolate cheese-cakes, and pumpkin cake roll. Fragment

17. Sentence Fragments Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. Aunt Marie’s desserts are not for those who are watching their diet. Correct

18. Sentence Fragments Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. Filled with cream and sugar, these delicacies contain hundreds of calories. Correct

19. Sentence Fragments Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. It often seems that any food item that tastes good is fattening. Correct

20. Sentence Fragments Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. For example, ice cream and chocolate cake. Fragment