Please try the following exercises on your own or with the help of a. The worksheet includes a reminder description at the top of sentences and. Below see some sentence fragment examples and possible corrections, plus examples of how powerful an intentional use of fragments can be. A sentence fragment is a type of incomplete sentence that lacks the necessary grammatical elements to make an independent clause. Like an engine, the main clause powers a complete sentence, propelling the reader through the development of an idea. A sentence that does not have both a subject and a. While it may be punctuated to look like a complete sentence, a fragment cannot stand on its own. Frequently, you can attach the fragment either to the front or to the end of a nearby main clause. A sentence fragment can be very confusing for the reader, so usually, the best thing to do is to fix it by adding what is missing from the sentence or joining it to another sentence. On the other hand, a complete sentence contains a subject. For not correcting the sentence fragments in my paper. This printable sentence fragment run on sorting activity is perfect for literacy centers or for partner work. Sentence fragment examples a sentence fragment is a group of words that resembles a sentence. A runon sentence that has two independent clauses joined by a comma is called a comma splice.
The sat will give you sentence fragments so long that by the time youve read to the end of them, youll have forgotten where you started. Below you will find examples of different fragments and the revisions that they. The fragments appearing most frequently are either phrases or dependent clauses. Since every sentence needs a main clause, anything without one is a sentence fragment.
In order for a sentence to be complete, it must contain a complete verb in an independent clause. On its own, its an incomplete sentence, and so its sometimes called a fragment sentence. A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence because it. It usually starts with a relative adverb when, why, where or a relative. Each example below illustrates a different type of sentence fragment. Runon sentences and sentence fragments grammar academic. A sentence fragment is a piece or part of a sentence. Its an incomplete sentence, one thats missing a subject or a verb. Sentence or fragment worksheet teachers pay teachers. Any fragment can be corrected by linking the fragment to an independent clauseone which comes before or after it and which makes. A sentence fragment is a piece of information that is punctuated as a sentence but that lacks some of the characteristics of a complete sentence.
In the case of irregular verbs, an irregular past participle, like burnt or spoken, will begin the phrase. Often, a fragment is either missing a subject or a verb, or it consists of a dependent clause punctuated as a. Fix sentence fragments by adding missing elements, by. The subject identifies who or what is performing an action and the verb identifies the action being performed. In other words, it is only part of a sentence, not a complete one. Fix sentence fragments by adding missing elements, by incorporating the fragment into adjoining sentences, or by dropping the subordinating conjunction. Include a predicate or complete verb to form an independent clause. An adjective clause, which is also called a relative clause, is a type of dependent clause that functions as an adjective in a sentence. Except for a command with an implied or understood subject, a word group punctuated as a sentence without a subject is a sentence fragment. Sentence fragments only have half of the pieces of a puzzle. The one important difference is that a fragment does not contain a main clause. A sentence that does not have both a subject and a verb is a fragment. To be a sentence, groups of words need to have at least one independent clause. Students will cut and sort sentences, fragments, and runons into groups.
Complete sentences a sentence must contain both a subject and a verb. To avoid being a sentence fragments, every complete sentence must have, at a minimum, a subject and an object. It does not have every piece because it does not create the complete and whole picture. This exercise asks you apply your knowledge of sentence fragments by revising the sample paragraph. Writes if the group of words is a sentence or f if the group of words is a sentence fragment. However, an effective fragment is an incomplete sentence that readers understand to be complete. Sentence fragments are groups of words that look like sentences, but arent. The following sentence fragment does not tell who it is that the writer is talking about. A fragment is an incomplete sentence because it does not include an independent clause.
For each of the following, write s on the line if it is a complete sentence. Both groups of words begin with a capital letter and conclude with an end markusually a period. You have a number of different options when fixing a fragment. It will start with a capital letter and have ending punctuation. Common types of sentence fragments missing subject. And yawned loudly enough to make everyone in class turn around.
This missing component may be a subject usually a noun or a predicate verb or verb phrase andor when the sentence does not express a complete idea. Fragments in the spaces provided, write c if the sentence is correct or frag if the group of words is a fragment. Fraaggmmeennttss a fragment is an incomplete sentence punctuated as though a complete sentence. It is a fragment if one of these elements is missing, as in the following example. I have used the previous explanation of the 7 types of sentence fragments to help students understand the concepts, but in order for them to really get it and practice using fragments in their own writing, i developed some lessons. Although the passersby stopped at the scene of the accident. A sentence should contain a subject, a verb, and a complete thought which makes up an independent clause. In english grammar, a sentence fragment is a group of words that begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation point but is grammatically incomplete. This sheet was created for students to practice reading groups of words and deciding if they are a sentence or a fragment. In a formal sense, a sentence fragment is a group of words that is punctuated as a sentence but that cannot stand alone as a sentence. If the word group is a sentence, write s on the line provided.
A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence masquerading as a complete one. Exercise a decide whether each of the following word groups is a sentence or a sentence fragment. A sentence fragment lacks an essential element that completes a sentence such as a subject or verb or does not express a complete thought. A sentence fragment is a clause a group of words that does not express a complete thought. On the other hand, a complete sentence contains a subject, verb, and expresses a complete thought. Some understanding of grammar can help you to identify and fix sentence fragments. You will receive your score and answers at the end. Click the link at the bottom of the page to see the answers. A group of words written without a subject is a fragment. Sent handouts, when full of examples, can be helpful. Sentence fragments and runon sentences a sentence is a group of words that names something and makes a statement about what is named. A blog about creative writing, literacy, education and psychology. Sentence fragments a sentence fragment is a piece of information that is punctuated as a sentence but that lacks some of the characteristics of a complete sentence. The fragments appearing most frequently are either phrases or dependent.
In a formal sense, a sentence fragment is a group of words that is punctuated as a sentence but that cannot stand. Sentence fragments can be likened to a puzzle that is not complete. This fragment can be fixed by adding what is lacking. A sentence fragment is a group of words that is punctuated like a declarative, exclamatory sentence, imperative sentence, or interrogative sentence. At first glance, a sentence fragment may look like a sentence because it begins with a capital letter and ends with a period. A sentence expresses a complete thought or idea and contains a subject and a predicate a verb. A sentence fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence, but actually isnt a complete sentence. When students produce sentence fragments such as this one in their own writing, the best solution is usually to connect the fragment to the idea immediately before, as in answer 2. A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence because it lacks a subject, lacks a verb, or is a dependent clause. Sentence fragments a sentence fragment is a part, or piece, of a sentence placed by itself as if it were a complete sentence. An incomplete sentence, often the result of careless writing. Another option is to add whatever words will give the fragment its own mandatory main clause.
Notice how the fragment in the following example seems to hide because it fits so nicely with the surrounding sentences. Sentence fragments are usually missing a subject or verb, or they do not express a complete thought. A sentence may have both a subject and a verb, but will still be a fragment if it. No subject usually, in order to express a thought completely, a sentence must contain a subject and a verb. Some understanding of grammar can help you to identify and fix.
Sentence fragments are groups of words that dont express complete thoughts. Sentence fragments an incomplete sentence is called a sentence fragment. Please try the following exercises on your own or with the help of a tutor. Correcting a sentence fragment with a missing subject. Put more informally, a sentence fragment doesnt make a statement that can stand on its own. A sentence contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. Here are a few examples of sentences with comma splices. But a little intuition based on examples may be all youll need to spot sentence fragments and fix them. In their book when words collide 2012, kessler and mcdonald note that sentence fragments can be single words, brief phrases, or lengthy. Phrase fragments dependent clause fragments through the door. In general, sentence fragments can be corrected by rewriting the fragment as a complete sentence or connecting the fragment to an independent clause. A fragment lacks either a subject, a predicate, or does not communicate a complete thought. A sentence can be two words he jumps and a sentence fragment can be fifty words.
Sentence fragments, worksheet 4 18 exercises answers and. A sentence fragment is a string of words that does not form a complete sentence. Sentences and sentence fragments a epsilen pages 1 6. Often, a fragment is either missing a subject or a verb, or it consists of a dependent clause punctuated as a complete sentence. Sentence fragments, worksheet 4 18 exercises answers. Fragments and sentences grade 2 sentences worksheet. To correct this sentence fragment, attach it to the preceding sentence and replace. Rules for finding and fixing sentence fragments grammar bytes.
A fragment, missing this essential component, stalls on the page. When you look more closely, youll see that the group of words is missing one or. A sentence fragment is a piece of information that is punctuated as a sentence but that. When a sentence is unfinished, either because it is missing a subject or verb, or because it lacks the information needed to express the thought, it is a sentence fragment. A sentence fragment is a group of words that resembles a sentence. Click the green star above to follow my store and be the. Follow the above examples as models, and correct the following fragments. Hurriedly and ineffectively tried to smother the small. It usually starts with a relative adverb when, why, where or a relative pronoun who, whom, which, that, whose which often functions as the subject of the clause. Most of the time, a fragment is the result of a misplaced period that separates certain words or information from a sentences main clause. Sentence fragments are usually missing a subject or verb, or they do not express a complete. Mark each example as either a complete sentence or a fragment. Fragments usually begin with a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun. When you analyze a group of words looking for the main clause, you have to find.
Most sentence fragments are phrases, or subordinate clauses, or combinations of the two. An answer key is provided to make the center selfchecking. Name class date handbook 8 sentence structure identifying. A word group punctuated as a sentence without a complete verb is a sentence fragment.