Login as parent/teacher to assign this.
Fragments
What Is a Fragment?
- A fragment is only a piece of a complete thought that has been punctuated like a sentence.
- Fragments can be phrases or dependent clauses or any incomplete word group.
- We often think in fragments and use them when we speak, but they are not appropriate in formal writing.
- Some expert writers use fragments in their writing to show a certain tone or style, but it is technically incorrect.
How to Identify a Fragment?
- If a sentence is missing either a subject or a verb, it is considered a fragment.
For example:
This is a fragment because there is no subject.
If we add a subject, it is a complete sentence.
This is a fragment because there is no verb.
- Loves eating vanilla ice cream! (Who loves eating vanilla ice cream?)
- My dog loves eating vanilla ice cream!
- Delicious vanilla ice cream!
- Vanilla ice cream is delicious.
If we add a verb, it is a complete sentence.
- It's also important that a sentence contain a complete thought. You need to add more information to finish what you are saying.
For example:
This is a fragment because it doesn't finish the thought - you are left wondering: What does the dog do when he eats vanilla ice cream?
- When my dog eats vanilla ice cream.
- When my dog eats vanilla ice cream, he gets it all over his face!
Now this is a complete sentence.
How to Correct a Fragment?
1. Connect the fragment to a complete sentence.
For example:
- Brian was reading his book.
- In the library.
Here, "In the library" is a fragment. It can be corrected to:
- Brian was reading his book in the library.
2. Remove words to make a complete sentence.
For example:
- Since we never do our chores.
- Our mom always yells at us.
Here, "Since we never do our chores" is a fragment. If you remove "since," it becomes a complete sentence:
- We never do our chores. Our mom always yells at us.
3. Add words to make a complete sentence.
For example:
- Because they practice a lot.
- They win all their games.
Here, "Because they practice a lot" is a fragment. If you add a few words, it will become a complete sentence:
- The baseball team is well-prepared because they practice a lot. They win all their games.
Fragments
- A fragment is only a piece of a complete thought that has been punctuated like a sentence.
- How to identify fragments:
- If a sentence is missing either a subject or a verb, it is considered a fragment.
- It's also important that a sentence contain a complete thought. You need to add more information to finish what you are saying.
- We can correct fragments in the following ways:
- Connect the fragment to a complete sentence.
- Remove words to make a complete sentence.
- Add words to make a complete sentence.
