Download Sentence Fragments

Sentence Fragments
Fragments are incomplete sentences. Usually, they are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main
clause. You may notice fragments in the things that you read – novels, newspaper articles, online articles, magazines, etc.
Sometimes fragments are used stylistically in writing. In formal, academic writing, however, you should avoid fragments.
A Complete Sentence:
►Names a subject – the who or what that performs the action
►Has a complete verb that indicates tense, person, and number.
►Includes at least one independent clause and does not begin with a subordinating word (a word that connects
a dependent clause to an independent clause)
An Independent Clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete
though—an independent clause is a simple sentence.
Simple Sentence—subject, verb, predicate
Rebecca
Subject
studied
Verb
in the coffee shop for her chemistry quiz.
Predicate (expresses what is true about the subject)
Compound Sentence—at least two independent clauses connected by a coordinator/connector word
Rebecca
Subject
studied
Verb
in the coffee shop for her chemistry quiz,
Predicate
and later
Connecting
Word
she
Subject
wrote her paper.
Verb Predicate
Complex Sentence—one independent clause (main clause) and one dependent clause
Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours because
Subject Verb
Predicate
Subordinating
Word
she had a chemistry quiz the next day.
Dependent Clause
A Dependent Clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete
thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence. Often a dependent clause is marked by a connecting (conjunctive or
subordinating) word—see the “Connecting Word List” handout to learn what these words are.
Because Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours.
Although Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours.
And Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours.
(Thoughts are incomplete—they are fragments of thoughts.)
Examples of Fragments:
No complete subject or verb:
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For example, the library.
For example, MSU built the library.
No subject:
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Built the library, for example.
MSU built the library, for example.
Dependent clause only:
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Because students needed a place to do research.
MSU built the library because students needed a place to do research.
►Dependent Clause Fragments
These begin with a subordinating word. (See the handout on “Connecting Words” for examples.) They can be easily fixed
by attaching the fragment to nearby independent clause either with a comma (,) or by creating two sentences by deleting the
subordinating word at the beginning of the dependent clause.
Fragment:
Revision:
MSU offers many engineering majors. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.
MSU offers many engineering majors, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.
Fragment:
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I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn’t working out too well.
I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isn’t working out too well.
Fragment:
The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which is why we believe the new
plan should be passed.
The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands, which is why we believe the
new plan should be passed.
Because the current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands, we believe the proposed
amendments should be passed.
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Fragment:
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Our group did not work well together for two reasons. When members disagreed about priorities
or fought about how to divide the work.
Our group did not work well together for two reasons. Members disagreed about priorities or
fought about how to divide the work.
►Phrase Fragments
Often fragments are phrase fragments – groups of words that lack a subject or complete verb and are usually meant to be
modifiers or nouns. Phrase fragments usually begin with verbals, or words that come from verbs, like putting or to put.
Verbals
Gerunds—words that come from verbs that end in –ing. These function like nouns in sentences.
Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.
Subject
They do not appreciate my
My cat's favorite activity is
singing.
Direct Object
sleeping.
Subject Complement
The police arrested him
for speeding.
Object of Preposition
Infinitives—the simplest form of the verb, which includes the word “to.” They can function like nouns, adjectives,
and adverbs in sentences, so they can be confusing.
To wait seemed foolish when action was required.
Subject
Everyone wanted
to go.
Direct Object
His ambition is
to fly.
Subject Complement
He lacked the strength to resist.
Adjective
We must study to learn.
Adverb
Phrase Fragments Beginning with Verbals
One way to fix this is to transform the phrase fragment into an independent clause.
Fragment:
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Fragment:
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That summer we had so much fun. Fishing in the early morning, splashing in the lake after lunch,
exploring the woods before dinner, and playing Scrabble until bedtime.
That summer we had so much fun. We fished in the early morning, splashed in the lake after
lunch, explored the woods before dinner, and played Scrabble until bedtime.
Coach Smith exemplified bad behavior by walking off the field in the middle of the game. Leaving
her team at a time when we needed her.
Coach Smith exemplified bad behavior by walking off the field in the middle of the game. She left
her team at a time when we needed her.
Fragment:
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To run along the beach.
We run along the beach.
We love to run along the beach.
Fragment:
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Playing outside in the winter.
The children like to play outside in the winter.
The children like playing outside in the winter.
Another way to fix it is to attach the fragment to the part of the previous sentence that it modifies.
Fragment:
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Fragment:
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That summer we had so much fun. Fishing in the early morning, splashing in the lake after lunch,
exploring the woods before dinner, and playing Scrabble until bedtime.
That summer we had so much fun, fishing in the early morning, splashing in the lake after lunch,
exploring the woods before dinner, and playing Scrabble until bedtime.
Coach Smith exemplified bad behavior by walking off the field in the middle of the game. Leaving
her team at a time when we needed her.
Coach Smith exemplified bad behavior by walking off the field in the middle of the game, leaving
her team at a time when we needed her.
Phrase Fragments with No subject or Main Verb
Some fragments are not clearly pieces of sentences that have been left unattached to the main clause; instead, they are
written as main clauses but lack a subject or a verb.
(No main verb)
Fragment:
A record of accomplishment beginning when you were first hired.
Revision:
A record of accomplishment began when you were first hired.
(No subject or verb)
Fragment:
A story with deep thoughts and emotions.
Revision:
She told a story with deep thoughts and emotions.
(No main verb)
Fragment:
Toys of all kinds everywhere.
Revision:
Toys of all kinds were everywhere.
Mixed Constructions
These final three examples are known as mixed constructions – they start out one way (often with long prepositional
phrases) and then end with a regular predicate. Usually the object of the preposition (often a gerund, as in the last two
examples) is intended as the subject of the sentence. Therefore, removing the preposition at the beginning of the sentence is
usually the easiest way to fix the fragment error. Look for sentences that begin with prepositional phrases.
Remember that prepositions are words that show relationships between parts of sentences. A prepositional phrase includes
a preposition, a noun or pronoun, and any words that modify the noun or pronoun. Some common prepositional words and
phrases begin with:
about
above
across
after
against
among
around
among
at
because of
before
behind
(No subject)
Fragment:
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(No subject)
Fragment:
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(No subject)
Fragment:
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below
beneath
beside(s)
between
beyond
but
by
concerning
despite
down
during
except
excepting
for
from
in
in front of
inside
in spite of
instead of
into
like
near
of
off
on
onto
out
outside
over
past
regarding
since
through
throughout
to
toward
under
underneath
until
up
upon
up to
with
within
without
with regard to
with respect to
With the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.
The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product. (remove the preposition “with”)
By paying too much attention to disruptive students can make a teacher grumpy.
policies.
Paying too much attention to disruptive students can make teacher grumpy. (remove the
preposition “by”)
For doing photography for another newspaper got Phil fired.
Doing photography for another newspaper got Phil fired. (remove the preposition “for”)
Phil got fired for doing photography for another newspaper. (rearrange the sentence)
► Other Types of Fragments
Word Groups that Start with Transitions
Some fragments start with two- or three-word prepositions that function as transitions, such as as well as, as compared with,
except for, in addition to, in contrast with, in spite of, and instead of. (See the list of prepositional phrases above for more
examples.)
Fragment:
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For sixty-five years, the growth in consumer spending has been both steep and steady. As
compared with the growth in gross domestic product (GDP), which has fluctuated significantly.
For sixty-five years, the growth in consumer spending has been both steep and steady, as compared
with the growth in gross domestic product (GDP), which has fluctuated significantly.
Words and Phrases that Introduce Examples
It is always a good idea to check words groups beginning with for example, like, specifically, such as, etc.
Fragment:
Revision:
Elizabeth I of England faced many dangers as a princess. For example, falling out of favor with
her sister, Queen Mary, and being imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Elizabeth I of England faced many dangers as a princess. For example, she fell out of favor with
her sister, Queen Mary, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Appositives
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames a noun or pronoun.
Fragment:
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In 1965, Lyndon Johnson increased the number of troops in Vietnam. A former French colony in
southeast Asia.
In 1965, Lyndon Johnson increased the number of troops in Vietnam, a former French colony in
southeast Asia.
Charlotte Perkins Gillman wrote “The Yellow Wallpaper.” A story with deep thoughts and
emotions.
Charlotte Perkins Gillman wrote “The Yellow Wallpaper,” a story with deep thoughts and
emotions.
Lists
Usually, you can connect a list to the preceding sentence using a colon. If you want to emphasize the list, consider using a
dash (em dash) instead.
Fragment:
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In the 1930s, three great band leaders helped popularize Jazz. Louis Armstrong, Benny
Goodman, and Duke Ellington.
In the 1930s, three great band leaders helped popularize Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Benny
Goodman, and Duke Ellington.
Compound Predicates
A compound predicate is made up of at least two verbs as well as their objects and modifiers, connected by a coordinating
conjunction such as and, but, so, or, nor, for, and yet. The parts of the predicate have the same subject and should be together in
one sentence.
Fragment:
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The group gathered at dawn at the base of the mountain. And assembled their gear in preparation
for the morning’s climb.
The group gathered at dawn at the base of the mountain and assembled their gear in preparation for
the morning’s climb.
Ron and Tina packed their suitcases. And they packed some food as well.
Ron and Tina packed their suitcases and some food as well.