SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

What is a complete sentence?

Must have:
 a Subject
 an Action
 Phrases or Dependent Clauses
Expressed a Complete Thought
 What is a Sentence Fragment?

A sentence fragment is a sentence that:

Does not express a complete thought
Is lacking a subject
Is lacking an action
Is a dependent clause,
standing alone
 Sentence Fragments
• Cannot stand alone
• Lack a subject and a verb
• Are grammatically incorrect
• Need to be corrected
Examples of sentence fragments
• In so many ways
• Once we leave for the movie
• To respond to your mother in a rude
tone
• Since I like fishing
• Which is why I cried
• Eating the entire bowl of ice cream
• Built a sandcastle for her
Why are Fragments incorrect?

Subject
(explicit or Verb
implied)

Independent Clause
(Complete Sentence)
 Types of Sentence Fragments

Subordinating Clauses

Participle Phrases

Infinitive Phrases

Verb Phrases

Appositives
Subordinating Clauses
 Examples:
• Although I thought I knew the answer
Although I thought I knew the answer, I
hesitated to answer the question.
• Worrying that she would be robbed
She locked the car, worrying that she would
be robbed.

• To explain why that happened

He neglected to explain why that
happened.
Participle Phrases
 Example:
• Eating the entire bowl of ice cream
 I was so annoyed with my brother, eating the entire
bowl of ice cream.

• Lost in the woods

 Lost in the woods, the dog could not find its owner.

• Fond of brushing her hair

 Fond of brushing her hair, Kelly always
had smooth and silky locks.
Infinitive Phrases
Example:

• To prevent theft
 I will lock the door to prevent theft.
• To respond to your mother in a rude tone
To respond to your mother in a rude
tone is disrespectful.
• To write
I like to write in English.
Verb Phrases
 Example:

• Makes a good impression

 He makes a good impression.
• Built a sandcastle for her
Grandfather built a sandcastle for her.
• Have woken up
You have woken up everyone
in the neighborhood.
Appositives
Example:
• The one with the wagging tail
 I like that dog – the one with the wagging
tail.
• My favorite person
Mary, my favorite person, is visiting this
weekend.
• The gardener
Mark, the gardener, planted
new flowers.
 “Sentence fragment is a
sentence that lacks some
essential component.”
 Intentional Use of Sentence
Fragments
• I’m home, but the house is gone. Not a
sandbag, not a nail or a scrap of wire.
• Late afternoon. The sky hunters down,
presses, like a lover, against the land.
Small sound. A far sheep, faint barking.
Time to drive on, toward Strathpeffer,
friends, a phone call from my father.
1. Lawrence's huge house on
Maple Street.
2. The turkey dinner.
3. None of this year's
applicants.
4. The flowers in the
garden.
5. Managing to balance
on one foot.
6. Ran all the way to the
twenty yard line.
7. While the recipe calls
for flour, eggs, sugar, salt,
and vanilla.
8. The party of the
children.
9. With two tires
spinning.
10. Politicians must restore