Because Harriet did not attend the meeting last night.

1. What is a Fragment? One kind of fragment looks a lot like a complete sentence: Click to begin If If I knew the answer to the last algebra problem. after although as as long as because before even if even though if now that since so that though until unless when whenever whereas wherever while Click here to see some common dependent words While While Mike was waiting for the downtown bus. Because Because Harriet did not attend the meeting last night. Good. The highlighted part in the fragments above are subject-verb pairs. But don’t be fooled into thinking these fragments are complete sentences! If not for these dependent words at the beginning, we would have three complete sentences. Instead, we have three dependent clauses, and each one is a fragment. Each of these fragments has a subject and a verb, just like a normal sentence would. . . . Click on the subject of the first fragment. Each of these dependent words, when placed in front of a complete sentence, creates a fragment. In this case, the fragment is called a dependent clause; in other words, it is no longer capable of standing alone. Click here to learn why these “sentences” are really fragments Click here to learn how these fragments are like sentences Click here to learn one way to fix these fragments. That is not correct. Please try again. Skip this demo

2. Fixing Dependent Clause Fragments Here are the same three fragments from the first slide: A second way to fix these fragments is to complete them by adding an independent clause to the end; in other words, you can add a comma and finish the sentence: One way to fix them is to remove the dependent word at the beginning Click here to learn the first way to fix dependent clause fragments , If I knew the answer to the last algebra problem . I would explain it to you. (Click on the period at the end of this fragment) (Click on the dependent word in this fragment) Good. We replace the period with a comma and then add an independent clause to complete the sentence. Correct! Without the word “if” at the beginning, this dependent clause becomes independent, turning the fragment into a complete sentence. , While Mike was waiting for the downtown bus he finished the crossword puzzle. . (Click on the period at the end of this fragment) (Click on the dependent word in this fragment) Good. We replace the period with a comma and then add an independent clause to complete the sentence. Correct! Without the word “while” at the beginning, this dependent clause becomes independent, turning the fragment into a complete sentence. , . Because Harriet did not attend the meeting last night she did not cast a vote. (Click on the period at the end of this fragment) (Click on the dependent word in this fragment) Good. We replace the period with a comma and then add an independent clause to complete the sentence. Correct! Without the word “because” at the beginning, this dependent clause becomes independent, turning the fragment into a complete sentence. But what if we want to keep the dependent word? Click here to learn the second way to fix dependent clause fragments Click here to practice fixing dependent clause fragments. That is not correct. Please try again. Skip this demo

3. Fixing Dependent Clause Fragments In the following examples, click on the dependent word that creates the dependent clause fragment. If the example is a complete sentence, however, click on “Correct.” 1. Unless Michael failed to install the new water heater earlier this morning. Correct DONE! Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again. Good! The dependent word “unless” makes this clause a fragment. 2. Because the flu vaccine did not effectively prevent the disease last winter. Correct DONE! Good! The dependent word “because” makes this clause a fragment. Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again. 3. After the movie was over, we had some buffalo wings and watched the game. Correct DONE! Good! Even though this sentence starts with a dependent clause, an independent clause comes after it. Actually, this sentence is complete. “After” does start an dependent clause, but “we” starts an independent one. 4. When seventeen inches of snow accumulates over a twelve-month period. Correct DONE! Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again. Good! The dependent word “when” makes this clause a fragment. 5. If either of the boys had noticed the ice on the road while driving home. Correct DONE! Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again. Good! The dependent word “if” makes this clause a fragment. 6. Because my younger sister is sick, we had to cancel our trip to the beach. Correct DONE! Good! Even though this sentence starts with a dependent clause, an independent clause comes after it. Actually, this sentence is complete. “Because” does start an dependent clause, but “we” starts an independent one. 7. After we saw the movie last Thursday night and came back to the house. Correct DONE! Good! The dependent word “after” makes this clause a fragment. Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again. 8. While Theodore and Ally were updating their Facebook accounts last week. Correct DONE! Good! The dependent word “while” makes this clause a fragment. Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again. Please pick a dependent word or click “Correct” Do More Practice

4. Fixing Dependent Clause Fragments In the following paragraph, click on the number in front of each dependent clause fragment. For each fragment you find, click on the best correction from the choices that appear in the grey box below the paragraph. 1 A Mighty Wind is a movie about a fictitious singing group from the 1960s. 2 It was directed by Christopher Guest after he directed Best in Show, an absolutely over-the-top spoof of dog shows. 4 A Mighty Wind stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara. 5 Although these two actors have worked together before, they have never been as funny as they are in this film because the script and the comic situations are so hilarious. 7 This movie made me laugh so hard that I almost fell off my futon when I was watching it. Even though the major actors are superb 10 the supporting cast members play the most memorable roles. 11 Famous actors such as Jennifer Coolidge, Parker Posey, and Fred Willard steal the show. 12 I will definitely watch the next movie by Christopher Guest if and when he ever directs again. 1 2 3 After . 4 5 7 6 Because . 8 9 When . 10 11 , . The 12 13 If . Good! Now click on the option below that would best fix the fragment you found: a. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . By Christopher Guest; if and when he ever. . .”) b. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . By Christopher Guest, if and when he ever. . .”) c. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . By Christopher Guest if and when he ever. . .”) Good! Now click on the option below that would best fix the fragment you found: a. Combine with following sentence (“. . . actors are superb, the supporting cast . . .”) b. Combine with previous sentence (“When I was watching it, even though the . . .”) c. Combine with following sentence (“. . . actors are superb; the supporting cast . . .”) Good! Now click on the option below that would best fix the fragment you found: a. Combine with following sentence (“When I was watching it, even though the . . .”) b. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . fell off my futon when I was watching it.”) c. Combine with following sentence (“When I was watching it even though the . . .”) Good! Now click on the option below that would best fix the fragment you found: a. Combine with following sentence (“ . . . are so hilarious this movie made me. . .”) b. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . in this film, because the script. . .”) c. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . in this film because the script. . .”) Good! Now click on the option below that would best fix the fragment you found: a. Combine with following sentence (“ . . . dog shows, A Mighty Wind stars . . .”) b. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . Christopher Guest after he directed Best . . .”) c. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . Christopher Guest; after he directed Best . . .”) Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “The supporting cast members” is the subject, and “play” is the verb. Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “Famous actors” is the subject, and “steal” is the verb. Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “A Mighty Wind” is the subject, and“is” is the verb.) Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “This movie” is the subject, and “made” is the verb. Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “I” is the subject, and “will definitely watch” is the verb. Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “A Mighty Wind” is the subject, and“stars” is the verb.) Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “It” is the subject, and“was directed” is the verb.) Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It does start with a dependent word (“although”), but an independent clause follows the introduction, so the item is a complete sentence. The first subject-verb pair cannot stand on its own, but the second one can. “They” is the subject, and “have never been” is the verb. Try again, please Please choose a number from the passage Please make a choice in the grey box Click Here to Exit!