In this lesson, you will be learning about sentence fragments. Ever written something that looks like a sentence but feels incomplete? That’s a sentence fragment! It may start with a capital letter and end with punctuation, but something crucial is missing—like a subject, a verb, or a complete thought. These sneaky little fragments can confuse readers and weaken your writing.
You’ll explore common types of sentence fragments, see real examples, and learn simple ways to turn them into strong, complete sentences.
What is a Sentence Fragment?
A sentence fragment is a group of words that resembles a sentence. It will start with a capital letter and have ending punctuation. The best way to fix a sentence fragment is by adding what is missing from the sentence or joining it to another sentence. So, a sentence fragment is a group of words that resemble a sentence.
Examples of Sentence Fragments and Corrections
Let’s look at some examples of sentence fragments and how to fix them.
1. Missing Subject
- Fragment: Slammed the door and left.
Correction: Paul slammed the door and left.
Here, the fragment doesn’t tell us who slammed the door. Adding “Paul” fixes the problem.
2. Missing Subject
- Fragment: Walking down the lane and into the forest.
Correction: The moose was walking down the lane and into the forest.
This fragment doesn’t tell us who is walking. Adding “The moose” completes the sentence.
3. Missing Subject
- Fragment: Discovered the cure for the disease.
Correction: The researcher discovered the cure for the disease.
This fragment doesn’t say who discovered the cure. Adding “The researcher” completes the sentence.
4. Missing Subject
- Fragment: Gave many reasons but no logical ones.
Correction: Our boss gave many reasons but no logical ones.
This fragment doesn’t say who gave the reasons. Adding “Our boss” completes the sentence.
Dependent Clauses as Fragments
Some sentence fragments are dependent clauses that cannot stand alone. Here are examples:
- Fragment: Because it was raining.
Correction: We canceled the picnic because it was raining.
- Fragment: After I finished the project.
Correction: I will get a bonus after I finish the project.
- Fragment: “Since she never saw the movie.
Correction: “We should invite her since she never saw the movie.
- Fragment: Such as drama, music, and dance.
Correction: I like the arts, such as drama, music, and dance.
Sentence Fragments with a Subject but No Verb
Some sentence fragments have a subject but no verb. Here are examples:
- Fragment: A time of wonder and amazement.
Correction: That was a time of wonder and amazement.
- Fragment: Clothes and shoes scattered around the house.
Correction: Clothes and shoes were scattered around the room.
- Fragment: The elected official for our district.
Correction: The elected official for our district was unpopular.
- Fragment: The answer to our prayers.
Correction: The inheritance is the answer to our prayers.
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