Sentence Fragments
To be complete, every sentence must include:
1. A “doer” a person or thing to perform the action (SUBJECT)
2. An action being performed (MAIN VERB)
3. A complete thought
All the students in Mr. Loncke’s class love learning about grammar.
In a sentence fragment error, the writer has left out either the SUBJECT or a MAIN VERB, or
the thought is incomplete. Look over the sentences below. Some are ok and require no revision, and
some are sentence fragments that need to have something added. Write new sentences below each.
1. In the morning, near all the grasshoppers.
2. Reaching in to the side pocket of her coat.
3. Jethro the dog, with his indomitable will and ironclad determination.
4. Feeling distrustful towards the government.
5. Advancing at a snail’s pace.
6. Hey, did you smell the top of that baby’s head?
7. The most exciting day.
8. Wears glasses, a suit coat and a pocket watch.
9. Joey was feeling so jumpy.
10.
But it’s not inside the dog, it’s outside.
11.
Driving down the runway in a golf cart.
12.
Ghetto cruising, like my grandma taught me.
13.
Wow, did you see that squirrel?
14.
I really like songbirds. They’re delicious.
Sentence Fragments
To be complete, every sentence must include:
1. A “doer” a person or thing to perform the action (SUBJECT)
2. An action being performed (MAIN VERB)
3. A complete thought
All the students in Mr. Loncke’s class love learning about grammar.
In a sentence fragment error, the writer has left out either the SUBJECT or a MAIN VERB, or
the thought is incomplete. Look over the sentences below. Some are ok and require no revision, and
some are sentence fragments that need to have something added. Write new sentences below each.
1. MISSING SUBJECT and MAIN VERB
In the morning, near all the grasshoppers, I like to look for
potato bugs.
2. MISSING SUBJECT
Lady Macbeth was reaching in to the side pocket of her coat.
3. MISSING MAIN VERB
Jethro the dog, with his indomitable will and ironclad
determination, ate all the potato bugs I found for him.
4. MISSING SUBJECT
After the fixed election, many citizens were feeling distrustful
towards the government.
5. MISSING SUBJECT
That snail is advancing at a snail’s pace.
6. THIS ONE IS FINE
7. INCOMPLETE THOUGHT, MISSING SUBJECT, MISSING
MAIN VERB
Today is the most exciting day since yesterday.
8. MISSING SUBJECT
Mr. Peanut wears glasses, a suit coat and a pocket watch.
9. INCOMPLETE THOUGHT
Joey was feeling so jumpy that he got in trouble in math class.
10.
INCOMPLETE THOUGHT
It’s not inside the dog, it’s outside.
11.
MISSING SUBJECT
Driving down the runway in a golf cart is not smart.
12.
MISSING SUBJECT
I’m going ghetto cruising, like my grandma taught me.
13.
THIS ONE IS FINE
14.
BOTH OF THESE SENTENCES ARE FINE
I really like songbirds. They’re delicious.
Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
Every sentence must include: a doer or the action (SUBJECT) and an action
(MAIN VERB). A sentence cannot have more than one subject, or more than one
main verb. If this happens, the error is called a comma splice (is a comma is used
instead of ending a sentence), or a fused sentence (if no comma is used). The
sentence in question has to be split up.
The students are in Mr. Loncke’s class, they love learning about grammar.
Correct the sentences below, if necessary.
1. I hope it snows tomorrow, I want to sleep in.
2. That’s not Leigh’s hair, he has a giant, fuzzy brain.
3. I’m going to walk the dog the children will be in the trunk.
4. Hey, I need the fireworks and two raccoons, don’t ask me why.
5. I’ll try being nicer, you try being smarter.
6. My drummer, Joey, is a dynamo, he focuses his energy like a laser.
7. Don’t put salt in your eye I can’t believe I have to tell you that.
8. OK, fine, put salt in your eye, when you’re blind, don’t come crying to me.
9. In the morning, I eat scorpions in a bowl of milk.
10. I eat my scorpions and milk with a side of broken glass, you should not mess with me.
11. Yo, that song sounds like a jet plane made entirely of biceps, can you tell me the chords?
12. Hey Karl, do you think Mr. Loncke can come up with any more sentences it seems to me like
he’s running out of idears.
Now, come up with three of your own. Trade with a partner, and try to solve them.
1.
2.
3.
Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
Every sentence must include: a doer or the action (SUBJECT) and an action
(MAIN VERB). A sentence cannot have more than one subject, or more than one
main verb. If this happens, the error is called a comma splice (is a comma is used
instead of ending a sentence), or a fused sentence (if no comma is used). The
sentence in question has to be split up.
The students are in Mr. Loncke’s class, they love learning about grammar.
1. I hope it snows tomorrow. I want to sleep in.
2. That’s not Leigh’s hair. He has a giant, fuzzy brain.
3. I’m going to walk the dog. The children will be in the trunk.
4. Hey, I need the fireworks and two raccoons. Don’t ask me why.
5. I’ll try being nicer, if you try being smarter.
6. My drummer, Joey, is a dynamo. He focuses his energy like a laser.
7. Don’t put salt in your eye. I can’t believe I have to tell you that.
8. OK, fine, put salt in your eye. When you’re blind, don’t come crying to
me.
9. NO CORRECTION NEEDED In the morning, I eat scorpions in a bowl
of milk.
10.
I eat my scorpions and milk with a side of broken glass. You
should not mess with me.
11.
Yo, that song sounds like a jet plane made entirely of biceps. Can
you tell me the chords?
12.
Hey Karl, do you think Mr. Loncke can come up with any more
sentences? It seems to me like he’s running out of ideas.