EFFECTIVE SENTENCE

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.

❑usually missing a subject

❑usually missing a verb
❑do not express a complete thought
❑while it may be punctuated to look like a complete sentence,
a fragment cannot stand on its own.
Distinguishing Features of a Sentence Fragment

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

Fragment: With the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.

Possible Revisions:
• Remove preposition: The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.
No Subject

Fragment: By paying too much attention to polls can make a political

leader unwilling to propose innovative policies.

Possible Revisions:
• Remove preposition: Paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader
unwilling to propose innovative policies.
No Subject

Fragment: For doing freelance work for a competitor got Juan fired.

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

It is missing a verb or has the wrong verb form

Fragment: My favorite history teacher.

(What did the teacher do or say?)

My favorite history teacher discussed the Hundred Years War yesterday.
No main verb

Fragment: A story with deep thoughts and emotions.

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

Fragment: Toys of all kinds thrown everywhere.

Possible Revisions:
• Complete verb: Toys of all kinds were thrown everywhere.
• Direct object: They found toys of all kinds thrown everywhere.
No main verb

Fragment: A record of accomplishment beginning when you were first

hired.

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.

(What is better or worse? What is it modifying?)

She pursued her passion for better or worse.
Distinguishing Features of a Sentence Fragment

It is an abandoned clause
Example: When my mother married my father.

(What happened when “my mother married my father?”)

The second world war broke out when my mother married my father.
 Distinguishing Features of a Sentence Fragment

It is a misuse of “such as, for example, especially,” etc.

Example: Such as, my brother was practicing martial arts.

(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: MMSU offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical,

chemical, and electronics engineering.

Possible Revision: MMSU offers many majors in engineering, such as

electrical, chemical, and electronics engineering.
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…

Fragment: The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which

is why we believe the proposed amendments should be passed.

Possible Revision: Because the current city policy on housing is incomplete as

it stands, we believe the proposed amendments should be passed.
 Three Ways to Turn a Fragment into a Complete
Sentence
1. Attach
Attach the fragment to a nearby complete sentence

Incorrect: I forgot to eat breakfast. On the morning of my driver’s test.

Correct: I forgot to eat breakfast on the morning of my driver’s test.

Incorrect: If the front door is locked. Use the back entrance.

Correct: If the front door is locked, use the back entrance.
 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: Loves to lie around in the sun all day.

(A subject is missing. Who loves to lie around?)

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: Joe to train every day.

(A verb is missing. Also, “to train” is the wrong verb form. Joe does what every
day?)

Correct: Joe trains every day for the marathon next month.
Correct: Joe is training every day for the marathon next month.
(Observe tenses)
 Three Ways to Turn a Fragment into a Complete
Sentence
3. Rewrite
Rewrite the fragment or the entire passage that contains the fragment.

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.