A Fragment …

1. A Fragment … is a part of a sentence. It does not express a complete thought.

2. Fragments are just pieces of a sentence. They do not give the reader the whole picture.

3. For example: Hides under the bushes Who or what is hiding? A little girl? A kitten? A rabbit? The reader does not know because the writer has not completed the thought. The subject is missing.

4. More Examples of Missing Subjects • Listens to his Ipod. • Sneezes into the Kleenex. • Searches for the deer. Who is doing these actions? Add a subject to the fragment to complete the sentence.

5. Another example of a type of fragment: In the basket a small brown dog What is the dog doing? looking very sad? sleeping? waiting to play? The reader does not know because the writer has not completed the thought. The predicate is missing.

6. More Examples of Missing Predicates • The carrots. • A yellow car. • Four children. What are these subjects doing? Add a predicate (or helping verb) to the fragment to complete the sentence. The carrots are on the table. The yellow car stopped by the side of the road. Four children are sleeping soundly.

7. Third example of a type of fragment: At my door yesterday. Who is at my door? What are they doing? The package was delivered at my door yesterday. The neighbor’s cat was sleeping at my door yesterday. The salesman was knocking at my door yesterday. The reader does not know because the writer has not completed the thought. The subject AND predicate are missing.

8. More Examples of Missing Subjects & Predicates On the branch in the rain. In the country on Tuesday. Who is the subject? What are they doing? Add a subject AND a predicate (or helping verb) to the fragment to complete the sentence. The young man is running in the country on Tuesday. The bird is perched on the branch in the rain. Harriet goes riding in the country on Tuesday. The snake slithered on the branch in the rain.

9. When you are writing, be sure to write in complete sentences. Use both parts of the sentence: subject and predicate. Don’t write in fragments. Give your reader the complete picture.

10. Writing Assignment: An Apple Is my favorite fruit. Round in shape. Tastes sweet, but sometimes sour. Many colors like red, green, and even yellow. My lunch with a sandwich and a glass of milk. Baked in pies or apple crisp. The best way eating it raw. Rewrite the paragraph above by adding subjects and predicates. Eliminate all the fragments! Do this on your own paper and turn this rewriting into Mrs. Johnson. Include your name and class period.