Avoiding Sentence Fragments
Getting Your
Sentences Right!

Because my cat loves it.
(so what ?)

Since he came to New York.
(what has been doing?)

Before you see me.
(what will happen?)

The boy with the blue jeans.
(what about him?)
These have incomplete ideas and end too
quickly. They are called sentence fragments.
Sentence fragment
Sentence fragment is a part of a sentence, not
a complete sentence. It is a fragment because
it lacks a subject or a verb and/or does not
have a complete idea.
A sentence fragment consists of one or all of the
following:
1. Dependent Clause
Because I was quite busy.
2. Phrase
I like ice cream. Especially chocolate.
3. Word
Finally, schools.
Example # 1:
The increase in the cost of renting a house.
It is missing a main verb

The cost of renting a house has increased.
Example # 2:
After he finishes work.
It is a dependent clause only
 After
he finishes work, he will meet
his friend at the café.
Example # 3:
Walking in the park alone this morning
It is a participle phrase only

I was walking in the park alone this morning.

Walking in the park alone this morning, I felt
so refreshed and energized.
Example # 4:
Second, pollution.
It is one word only, not a complete sentence

Second, pollution is harmful to both
people and the environment.
Example # 5:
To visit Cairo during summer.
This is infinitive phrase, not a complete sentence


To visit Cairo during summer can be very exhausting.
It can be very exhausting to visit Cairo during
summer.
1. Decide if it is a fragment or a sentence and correct the fragments
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Before I learned to speak English well.
Every night, after I finish my homework.
As soon as we heard the crash.
The bicycle racers stopped to rest before
they started up the mountain.
Wait until you hear the bell.
Whenever my children have a school
holiday.
I work at night while my husband stays
home with the children.
2. Correct the following sentence fragments:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Hundreds of people in the streets.
If your parents think you are not doing your homework.
Having no money and being lonely in the city.
When you drive in the city during the evening rush hour.
To apply for a job at the new store in the mall.
As soon as Frank found out how expensive the cleaning
job would be.
Many customers coming back three or four times over
the summer.
Having very little time for anything else.
Because she didn't want to tell where she had bought the
strange shirt.
For example, in the restaurant.
My mother’s cousin owned a hotel, and I
worked there as a young woman. I enjoyed
doing this work very much. Met many
interesting people. One time a family came to
stay in the hotel. They a daughter and she was
my age. often met and talked about our lives. I
invited her to my house to meet my family. We
shared our customs with her. Later my mother
told me something unforgettable. She said, “I
know that you are going to live in America.”
My mother a very smart woman, and she was
right. I came to America to search for my
friend. I still looking.
My mother’s cousin owned a hotel, and I
worked there as a young woman. I enjoyed
doing this work very much. Met many
interesting people. One time a family came to
stay in the hotel. They a daughter and she was
my age. often met and talked about our lives.
I invited her to my house to meet my family.
We shared our customs with her. Later my
mother told me something unforgettable. She
said, “I know that you are going to live in
America.” My mother a very smart woman,
and she was right. I came to America to search
for my friend. I still looking.
After I had gotten up. I ate my
breakfast. While I was eating breakfast. I heard
a squeaking sound at my door. It was a little
kitten that was crying. It was really cute. I
picked her up and took her inside and gave her
a big bowl of warm milk and a soft blanket. I
took the day off so that I could take her to the
vet. The vet told me she was fine. Because I
had given her what she needed: milk and a
warm blanket. She still needed a home. I asked
all my friends to take her. They all wanted the
little kitten. However, couldn't keep pets in
their apartments. Now, she is my pet and
friend.
After I had gotten up. I ate my
breakfast. While I was eating breakfast. I
heard a squeaking sound at my door. It was a
little kitten that was crying. It was really cute. I
picked her up and took her inside and gave her
a big bowl of warm milk and a soft blanket. I
took the day off so that I could take her to the
vet. The vet told me she was fine. Because I
had given her what she needed: milk and a
warm blanket. She still needed a home. I
asked all my friends to take her. They all
wanted the little kitten. However, couldn't
keep pets in their apartments. Now, she is
my pet and friend.