Fragment Study Sheet for English 21
Be ready for the quiz on fragments. Study chapter 5 on fragments starting on page 97 in Sentence Skills with
Readings 5th Edition.
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About fragments: Know the different types of fragments in your textbook. Be able to see the difference
between a to-fragment, which is a infinitive verb, and a to-prepositional phrase fragment which as a noun
as the object of the preposition. The key to Fragments is to know when to use a comma and when to not
use a comma when attaching the fragment to the independent clause.
Be able to tell the difference between a fragment and an independent clause, know the different types of
fragments, and know when to join fragments to an independent clause with a comma or without a
comma
Always use a comma if the fragment comes before the independent clause. In most cases, you should not
use a comma if the fragment comes after the independent clause. For the purpose of the study sheet,
well call that the common way.
1. Prepositional-phrase fragments work the common way. (Know your prepositions on page 78.)
2. Dependent-clause fragments work the common way. (Know your dependent words on page 98.)
3. To-fragments work the common way. (know your infinitives.)
4. Ing-fragments do NOT work the common way. Ing-fragments get commas if the fragment comes before the
independent clause, and they usually get commas if the ing-phrase comes after the independent clause, too.
(Know your present participles.)
5. Ed-fragments do NOT work the common way. Ed-fragments always get commas if they come before the
independent clause, and usually get commas if they come after the independent clause. (Know your past
participles.)
6. Added detail fragments do NOT work the common way. They get commas whether they come before or after
the independent clause. The exception is the word "except," which doesn't have to get a comma if it comes after
the independent clause. The choice is yours when the except-added detail comes after. (Know your added-detail
words "also," "except," "including," "especially," "for example," and "such as" on page 105)
7. The missing subject fragments usually only come after the independent clause and do not get commas when
joining with a FANBOYS like "and." However, they do get commas if joined by an transitional word (adverbial
conjunction) like "then."
We sat through a movie. And went to dinner.
We sat through a movie and went to dinner.
We sat through a movie. Then went to dinner.
We sat through a movie, then went to dinner.