Sentence Fragments

What is a sentence fragment? Basically, a sentence fragment is part of a sentence that acts as a whole sentence. Simply put, a fragment is an incomplete sentence that thinks it is a complete sentence.

So how do you know if you’ve written a fragment? Well, one way to find out is to proofread your writing; however since that has proved itself to be a daunting task, we’ll start from the beginning.

A sentence must have two things: a subject and verb. Period. Yes, and a period too, but make sure you have the subject and verb before it. Consider this example:

I ran.

Believe it or not, that is a sentence. It really is. Iis the subject and ran is the verb.

Question: “What did you do when you saw that herd of zombies staggering their way towards you?”

Answer: “I ran.” Or rather, “I ran!” See how that works?

Here’s another example: “The Astroslost.” Astros is the subject and lost is the verb.

As mentioned above, most students can avoid fragments by simply proofreading. Often, teachers see sentences like this:

She beautiful in her evening gown.

If one read this aloud, one would discover that the sentence lacks a verb—is, looks, feels, etc. Those types of fragments are easy to fix. All one has to do is proofread. Here is the sentence written correctly:

She is beautiful in her evening gown.

She looks beautiful in her evening gown.

She feels beautiful in her evening gown.

The most common fragments teachers see are pretty tricky for students to avoid. These are the ones where a subordinate clause[1] is left alone to serve as its own sentence. Take the three ideas below:

In gut-wrenching, heart-breaking fashion

The Astros lost game four

After blowing a four run lead

We can see how these three ideas can be put together to form a nice complex sentence, yet English teachers see students write out these three ideas like this:

After blowing a four run lead, the Astroslost game four. In gut-wrenching, heart breaking fashion.

Or like this:

After blowing a four run lead. In gut-wrenching, heart-breaking fashion, the Astros lost game four.

“…the Astros lost game four” is a complete sentence. Astros is the subject and lost is the verb. “After blowing a… is a subordinate clause that begins with the subordinate conjunction after. In many cases (BUT NOT ALL CASES) the error can be fixed by combining the fragment with the sentence:

After blowing a four run lead, the Astroslost game four in gut-wrenching, heart-breaking fashion.

Or like this:

In gut-wrenching, heart-breaking fashion, and after blowing a four run lead, the Astroslost game four. (Notice two things: 1. the insertion of and. 2. The rearrangement of the clauses)

Here’s another example:

Throwing cups, plates, and chicken wings at the television. I became furious when the Royals retook the lead in the eighth inning.

There are several ways one could fix this; however ONE way is syntactically wrong. Remember (as mentioned above) most of the time you can combine the fragment with the sentence, BUT NOT ALL OF THE TIME. This is an example of “not all of the time.” All three sentences below are punctuated correctly; however, one is syntactically wrong:

  1. I became furious when the Royals retook the lead in the eighth inning, throwing cups, plates, and chicken wings at the television.
  1. Throwing cups, plates, and chicken wings at the television, I became furious when the Royals retook the lead in the eighth inning.
  1. When the Royals retook the lead in the eighth inning, I became furious, throwing cups, plates, and chicken wings at the television.

______is incorrect because of the misplaced modifier (more on misplaced modifiers in another lesson).

How would you fix these fragments below? Keep in mind that you may have to add or remove words. It’s ok to do that. It’s called revising, and revising is our friend.

“Human beings who perfume themselves” followed by “They are not much different from other animals”

______

Now proofread your correction and ask yourself if your correction “sounds” good. Try the next one, and don’t be afraid to move words or phrases around:

“Some sources say that humans began using perfume to cover up the smell of burning flesh” followed by “During sacrifices to the gods”

______

Does your revision make sense to you? Ah-ha, but does it make sense to someone else?

JUST REMEMBER THIS: IF YOU’RE GOING TO BEGIN A SENTENCE WITH A SUBORDINATE CLAUSE, MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU END THAT SENTENCE, YOU’RE ACTUALLY ENDING A COMPLETE SENTENCE. HERE IS A LIST OF COMMONLY USED SUBORDINATE “WORDS”:

After / Finally / Over / Until / Whether
Although / Furthermore / Rather / Unless / Which
As / However / Since / Whatever / While
Around / If / Than / When / Who
Because / In / That / Whenever / Whoever
Before / Like / Therefore / Where / Whom
By / Moreover / Though / Whereas / Whomever
Even though / Nevertheless / Through / Wherever / Within

IF YOU BEGIN A SENTENCE WITH ONE OF THESE WORDS, MAKE SURE IT BECOMES AN ACTUAL SENTENCE!

[1] A subordinate clause is often called a dependent clause. Some teachers use the term “dependent.” Both terms are acceptable.