VocabularyFragments

Pasco-Hernando Community College

Tutorial Series

Vocabulary - Fragments

These are the vocabulary words for the module on fragments.

Read through carefully and print out if possible. 

Don't be overwhelmed.  The information will be repeated throughout

the module, and there will be practice exercises.

Vocabulary - Fragments

sentence - a group of words with a subject and a predicate and a complete thought.

subject - the doer of the action in a sentencepredicate - the action, the verb.  Cannot be

an -ing word alone or an infinitive (to + verb)complete thought - a finished thought;

something or someone doing something

Vocabulary - Fragments

fragment - a group of words that is less than a sentence; a group of words that is missing either a subject, a predicate, or a complete thought

phrase - a group of words without a subject and predicate; a phrase standing alone is a fragment since it does not have a subject and predicate or a complete thought.

Vocabulary - Fragments-ing fragment - a group of words beginning with an -ing

word and which does not have a predicate or complete a thought: standing on the corner, running down the block, dancing in the street.  Also called an -ing phrase.

infinitive fragment - a group of words beginning with an infinitive (to + verb) and which does not have a predicate or complete a thought: to drive a bus, to blend the ingredients. An infinitive can be a subject, but it cannot be a predicate.

appositive fragment - a group of words that identifies something or someone and does not have a predicate: the flowers in summer, the house on the corner.

Vocabulary - Fragmentsclause - a group of words that has a subject and a

predicate; clauses are sentences when they have  a subject, predicate, and a complete thought.

independent clause - a group of words with a subject, a predicate, and a complete thought; independent clauses can stand alone as a sentence.

dependent clause - a group of words with a subject and predicate but which does not complete a thought because it begins with a conjunction: a word that joins parts of a sentence.

Vocabulary - Fragmentscoordinating conjunctions - for, and, nor,

but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS).  A clause beginning with any of these words cannot stand alone as a sentence because there would not be a complete thought.

coordinating conjunction fragment - a clause (a group of words with a subject and predicate) that begins with a coordinating conjunction: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS). 

Vocabulary - Fragmentssubordinate conjunction - a group of words

used before a clause that subordinates (makes dependent upon) the main clause.  While there are many subordinate conjunctions, the most common can be remembered with the following: ITS AA BB WW - if though since, although after, because before, while when: If the wind blows, Although it was raining, Because she was hungry.

subordinating conjunction fragment - a clause that begins with a subordinate conjunction. Also, called a subordinate clause fragment.

Vocabulary - Fragmentsrelative pronoun - a group of pronouns that

relate to another part of the sentence: whose that which whichever, who whoever, whom whomever, what whatever (WWTW WW WW WW).

relative clause fragment - a clause that begins relative pronoun (also called a relative pronoun clause or a relative conjunction clause):  who went with the crowd, which was the most advanced, that showed the best improvement