Fragments
•What is a sentence fragment?
– An incomplete sentence
REMEMBER:
A sentence has a subject, verb and a complete
thought – a fragment is missing one or more of
these things.
What causes us to create fragments? #1 of 2
• Dependent clauses – primarily when we
read an independent clause followed by
dependent clause, it sounds like a complete
thought.
• Poor: You won’t pass the exam. Unless
you study.
What causes us to create fragments? #2 of 2
• You must be able to say each sentence by itself and
it must make perfect sense. The most common way
to correct fragments is to attach the dependent
clause to the independent clause. If the dependent
clause comes first, you’ll need a comma.
• Better: Unless you study, you won’t pass the exam.
OR You won’t pass the exam unless you
study.
A second cause for fragments #1 of 3
• Verbal phrases [to, ing, or ed/en fragments]
Primarily when we read an independent
clause followed by a verbal phrase, it sounds
like a complete thought.
• Poor:
Eric was often seen at the beach.
Surfing the big waves.
A second cause for fragments #2 of 3
The easiest way to correct this fragment
is to attach it to the independent clause.
• Better: Eric was often seen at the beach,
surfing the big waves.
A second cause for fragments #3 of 3
• However, you could also correct it by adding
a subject /verb to the sentence.
• Better: Eric was often seen at the
beach. He loved surfing the big
waves.
Special note on to/ed/en/ing
fragments #1 of 2
• ‘to’ –ed & -en fragments attached at the
beginning of a sentence require a comma,
but they don’t need one if attached at the
end.
• ‘ing’ fragments must always have a comma
whether they come at the beginning or end!
Special note on to/ed/en/ing
fragments #2 of 2
• Better: To order the text, a student should
use the website.
Or: A student should use the website
to order the text.
• Better: Laughing at his friend, Tom
snorted his milk.
Or: Tom snorted his milk, laughing
at his friend.
Another cause for fragments
• Missing subject fragments – are missing
a subject. They can be corrected by adding a subject or
connection to an independent clause.
Poor: The commuters were staring hopefully down the track. Just
wanted to get to work on time.
Better: The commuters were staring hopefully down the track. They
just wanted to get to work on time.
Yet another cause for fragments #1 of 2
• Example & Exception fragments
• [such as, including, for example & unless, without]
Poor: Thom and Jerry enjoy many sports.
Such as hiking, biking, and rock
climbing.
Remember, you must be able to say each sentence by itself, and it
must make perfect sense. If it is missing something, you must
add what is missing [subject/verb]
Yet another cause for fragments #2 of 2
• Better: Thom and Jerry enjoy many sports.
They like hiking, biking and rock
climbing.
OR: You can connect the dependent clause to an
independent clause.
• Better: Thom and Jerry enjoy many sports, such as
hiking, biking, and rock climbing.
Still more causes for fragments #1 0f 2
• Prepositional Phrase Frags – Remember
Prepositions often show place [what a
marble can do to a mountain – go over,
under, through etc...]
• The most common way to correct this is to
attach the prepositional phrase to the
independent clause.
Still more causes for fragments #2 0f 2
• If the prepositional phrase comes first, you’ll
need a comma.
Poor:
Under the bush. A small dog was
hiding.
Better: Under the bush, a small dog was
hiding. OR
A small dog was hiding under
the bush.