Sentence Fragments

1. Sentence Fragments • A fragment fails to be a sentence because it cannot stand by itself—does not contain an independent clause. • Does not have subject + verb + complete thought • Fragments include: • Dependent clauses by themselves • When the boy got home from school. • Descriptive phrases that don’t have subjects and/or verbs • Working hard to make good grades in the class. • Clauses with only part of a verb phrase • Some of the athletes playing on the court.

2. Correcting Sentence Fragments • To correct sentence fragments, simply insert the missing parts of the sentence (subject, verb, and/or complete thought). • Examples: • When the boy got home from school. When the boy got home from school, he lay down on his bed. • Working hard to make good grades in the class. Working hard to make good grades in the class, Johnny learned that hard work pays off. • Some of the athletes playing on the court. Some of the athletes were playing on the court.

3. Practice: Correcting Fragments Add to these fragments to make them complete sentences. • Even though the bus was late. • Running and ducking for cover. • Tiffany’s project, which she completed in three hours.

4. Practice: Possible Answers Add to these fragments to make them complete sentences. • Even though the bus was late, Jeremy still made it to school on time. • The soldiers were running and ducking for cover. • Tiffany’s project, which she completed in three hours, lacked some details.