Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER 3
Objectives
At the end of this chapter, the students must have:
• constructed grammatically-correct sentences with unity and
consistency, coherence and emphasis;
• corrected run-on sentences
• demonstrated ability to construct sentences of varied patterns
• improved sentence structure through parallelism, position of words,
and correct modification
A. AVOIDING SENTENCE
FRAGMENTS
What is a Sentence Fragment
It is a group of words that looks like a sentence, but actually isn’t a complete
sentence. Usually, these are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected
from the main clause.
It is missing a subject
Fragment: Ran to the store faster than a rabbit.
(Who ran?)
Lita ran to the store faster than a rabbit.
No Subject
Possible Revisions:
• Remove preposition: The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.
No Subject
Possible Revisions:
• Remove preposition: Paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader
unwilling to propose innovative policies.
No Subject
Possible Revisions:
• Remove preposition: Doing freelance work for a competitor got Juan fired.
• Rearrange: Juan got fired for doing freelance work for a competitor.
Distinguishing Features of a Sentence Fragment
Possible Revisions:
• Direct object: She told a story with deep thoughts and emotions.
• Appositive: Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," a story with deep
thoughts and emotions, has impressed critics for decades.
No main verb
Possible Revisions:
• Complete verb: Toys of all kinds were thrown everywhere.
• Direct object: They found toys of all kinds thrown everywhere.
No main verb
Possible Revisions:
• Direct object: I've noticed a record of accomplishment beginning when
you were first hired
• Main verb: A record of accomplishment began when you were first hired.
Distinguishing Features of a Sentence Fragment
It is a leftover phrase
Example: For better or worse.
It is an abandoned clause
Example: When my mother married my father.
(It is unclear; did something happen when my brother was practicing martial arts?)
We were all busy when our mother called us for lunch such as, my brother was
practicing martial arts while I am reviewing my lessons.
Other examples…
Fragment: Coach Reyes exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in
the middle of a game. Leaving her team at a time when we needed her.
Possible Revision: Coach Reyes exemplified this behavior by walking off the
field in the middle of a game, leaving her team at a time when we needed her.
Other examples…
Fragment: I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't
working out too well.
Possible Revision: I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now
isn't working out too well.
Other examples…
Correct: My roommate’s pug loves to lie around in the sun all day.
Three Ways to Turn a Fragment into a Complete
Sentence
2. Revise
Revise the fragment by adding whatever is missing – subject, verb, complete thought.
Incorrect: Our new landlord was expected to make changes. Such as fixing the
plumbing, installing a new washer, and replacing the security gate. Has not done
any of it yet and weeks have passed.
Correct: Our new landlord was expected to make changes, such as fixing the
plumbing, installing a new washer, and replacing the security gate lock. Weeks
have passed, and he still has not done any of it yet.
References
• https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/
sentence_fragments.html
• https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/sentence-fragments#:~:text=A
%20sentence%20fragment%20is%20a,cannot%20stand%20on%20its
%20own.