Correcting Fragments

Four types of fragmentsA fragment is an incomplete sentence, which means it is lacking something crucial.

It may lack a subjectIt may lack a verbIt has an incomplete verbIt begins with a conjunction, but the thought

or statement is incomplete.

Four types of fragments

It may lack a subject: After going for a walk.

Clearly, this group of words needs a subject to answer the question: WHO?

After going for a walk, Loretta took a shower.

Four types of fragments

It may lack a verb: The day after tomorrow Clearly, this group of words needs an answer to the question “What about it?”

The day after tomorrow is my

birthday.

The verb “is” completes the thought.

Four types of fragments

It may have an incomplete verb: The dog prancing around.

The “ing” verb form, prancing, needs a helping verb to complete the thought.

The dog was prancing around.

Four types of fragmentsIt may have a subject and a verb, but it may begin with a conjunction and not contain a complete statement or thought.

Before you go home.

“you” is the subject. “go” is the verb. “Before” is the conjunction that turns this into an incomplete statement.To fix this, finish the statement: Before you go home, turn off the lights.

Four types of fragmentsLet’s practice fixing fragments by adding the missing parts of the sentence:

Once dinner is served …Once dinner is served, we will start eating.

The dog with the bone…The dog with the bone growled at me.

Courses in math and science…Courses in math and science will help you succeed.

Four types of fragmentsLet’s fix some more fragments by adding the missing parts of the sentence:Looking for goldThe prospector was looking for gold.

Since he had closed his eyes at the flash, they had to retake the photo.

For over a monthWhile he looked for workFor over a month, he collected unemployment while he looked for work.

U3, L1 Graded AssignmentThe next two slides contain your graded assignment for this lesson.

Please download the slides and complete them. Turn them in with all of your Unit 3 work.

U3, L1 Graded AssignmentDirections: Underline the fragments in the following paragraph. There are 5 in all.

Samuel Adams gets little credit for his role in the American Revolution. Because he never became president. These days his name is well-known because of the beer named after him. Which is popular all over the country. But especially in New England.

To see so many people drinking a bottle of beer with his face on it. Sam Adams might have laughed. Or sued the company for trademark infringement.

U3, L1 Graded AssignmentDirections: Fix the fragments by turning them into complete sentences. Two of the questions are already complete sentences. Leave those alone.

1. On the ground beneath her nest2. Home is where the heart is3. Finding the way home4. Once you have chosen a good topic5. Matthew, the brother I never knew6. Because his car was not working7. After the rain stops8. Fix the fragments before you turn in your work. 9. My sister, who is also a teacher10. To mold your life the way you choose