HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND CORRECT SENTENCE FRAGMENTS
A fragment is an incomplete sentence. A sentence is considered to be incomplete if it:
(1) lacks a subject,
(2) lacks a verb,
(3) has an "-ing” verb without a helper as the main verb, or
(4) begins with a certain conjunction or pronoun, even though
there is a subject and verb.
(1) A sentence is a fragment if it lacks a subject.
Examples:
-Feeling very tired and discouraged.
-To discuss a new building proposal.
-After going from store to store.
(who was?)
(who?)
(who did?)
You may correct these by:
(a)connecting the fragment to the previous sentence.
(b)adding the missing subject.
-Herb was feeling very tired and discouraged.
(2)A sentence is a fragment if it lacks a verb.
Examples:
-The dog, proud of its prize.
(what did it do?)
-The day after tomorrow.
(what about it?)
-mainly courses in math and science. (what about them?)
You may correct these by:
(a)connecting the fragment-to the preceding or following sentences
(b)adding the missing verb.
-The dog, proud of its prize, wagged its tail.
-
(3)A sentence is a fragment if it has an "-ing” verb without a helper as the main verb.
Examples:
-The actor strutting across the stage.
-His arrogance showing with every step.
-Fathers working two jobs to support their families.
You may correct these by:
(a)Connecting the fragment to the preceding or following sentence.
(b)Adding a helping verb in the appropriate tense (present: is, are; have, has
past: was, were; had)
-The actor was strutting across the stage.
(4) A sentence may also be a fragment if it as a subject and correct verb but begins with
any of the following words:
before
after
until
since
when
whenever
while
ever before
because
since
so that
in order
if
unless
although
though
whereas
as
just as
as if
who*
(*Clauses
which*
beginning with
when*
these words
where*
will not be
fragments if
what*
whether* they are
questions.
that*
whichever*
Examples:
-After I went home.
-That he shouldn't drop the class.
-Unless he decides to come later.
You may correct these by connecting them to the preceding or following sentence.
-After I went home, I called the store.
For practice, go back and correct each of the uncorrected examples by adding what is
necessary to make it complete.