SENTENCE VS FRAGMENTS

SENTENCE• A sentence has two characteristics:• 1. It has a subject and predicate• 2. It expresses a complete and independence

thought.• If either of these characteristics is missing

from a group of words written as a “sentence”, the result is an error called a sentence fragment .

FRAGMENTS A word group that lacks a subject or

a verb or does not express a complete thought.

Fails to be a sentence in the sense that it cannot stand by itself.

EXAMPLE OF FRAGMENTS

Incomplete ThoughtAfter he went to work .No Sentence SubjectGoing to school .No Sentence PredicateThe young, attractive woman .

TYPES OF FRAGMENTS

• Dependent-Word Fragments• –ing and to Fragments• Added-Detail Fragments• No Sentence Subject• No Sentence Predicate•

Dependent-Word Fragments

• Some word groups that begin with dependent words are fragments: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, how, if, in order to, since, so that, that, unless, until, what, whatever, when, whenever, where, whereas, wherever, whether, which, whichever, while, who, whoever, whose

• EXAMPLE:• We do research on the Internet. Whenever we plan to make a

major purchase.

Correcting Dependent-Word Fragments

• Attach it to the sentence that comes before or after it.

We do research on the Internet. Whenever we plan to make a major purchase.

We do research on the Internet whenever we plan to make a major purchase

Correcting Dependent-Word Fragments

If the dependent-word group comes first, use a comma.

While some students work very hard. Others try to get by with a minimum of effort.

While some students work very hard, others try to get by with a minimum of effort.

Correcting Dependent-Word Fragments

o Eliminate the dependent word by rewriting the sentence

On his way to work, Bill took a shortcut. Which he thought would enable him to avoid traffic lights and get him to the office faster.

On his way to work, Bill took a shortcut to avoid traffic lights and to get to the office faster.

–ing and to Fragments

–ing word at or near the start of the word group - often a participial phrase

The astronomer gazed intently through the telescope. Hoping to catch a glimpse of the meteor.

to + verb at or near the start of the word group - often an infinitive phrase

In an effort to get to the airport on time. We left the house at four o’clock in the morning.

Correcting –ing and to Fragments

Attach the fragment to the sentence that comes before or after it

The astronomer gazed intently through the telescope. Hoping to catch a glimpse of the meteor.

The astronomer gazed intently through the telescope, hoping to catch a glimpse of the meteor

Correcting –ing and to Fragments

• Add a subject or verb to the fragment to make it a sentence

He works eight hours a day. Then going to class for three hours.

He works eight hours a day. Then he goes to class for three hours.

A Note on –ing and to Fragments

-ing words may be sometimes be gerunds (verb forms used as nouns)

Writing good essays can be challengingto + verb’ may be an infinitive (or infinitive

phrase) that serves as the subject To achieve our goals, we work hard…

Added-Detail Fragments

Lack a subject and verb Some common words and phrases lead to these

fragments: especially, except, for example, including, not even, particularly, such as.

All software in the store is on sale. Except video games.

Several basic courses are required for graduation. Among them, English Composition, an introductory math course, and one general science course.

Correcting Added-Detail Fragments

Attach the fragment to the sentence that comes before or after it

All software in the store is on sale except video games.

Add a subject or verb to the fragment to make it a sentence

Correcting No Sentence Subject

Add on a subject (person, place, thing, or idea), i.e.

the “do-er” to act on the verb in the sentence.

Change the verb form to fit with the subject.Running fast down the hall. He was running fast down the hall

Correcting No Sentence Predicate

Add on a verb (physical or mental action or a state of being)

to “do” the action of the “do-er,” i.e. the subject

Mainly, the passage of time.Mainly, the passage of time quickened