Sentence Fragments English 101
Even if it is punctuated as a sentence, fragments are missing one of the necessary parts of a sentence: a subject or a predicate.
A subject is the noun and supporting clauses of a sentence.
A predicate is the verb and supporting clauses.
Each is dependent on the other to create a full sentence. When one or the other is missing, it is considered a sentence fragment (frag).
Examples:
Larry always working in his yard on Saturdays.
Because he enjoys the flowers and shrubs.
Which help to screen his house from the street.
For example, a tall hedge with a border of petunias.
There are three questions you can ask to determine if a sentence is a fragment:
1) Is there a verb? If not, supply one or attach it to another sentence.
2) Is there a subject? If not, supply one or attach it to another sentence.
3) Is there a coordinating conjunction (and, but, so, nor, yet, for, or)? If there is, remove it or combine it with another sentence.
How to revise phrases written as sentences:
Fragment: Revision:
1. Supply missing elements.
Using paintbrushes for that purpose. They used paintbrushes for that purpose.
First on the table and then on the counter. First he tapped on the table and then on the counter.
Preferably a writing teacher. We prefer a writing teacher.
2. Attach the fragment to a related existing sentence.
Using paintbrushes for that purpose. Archaeologists excavating ancient cities carefully brush dirt from artifacts using paintbrushes for that purpose.
First on the table and then on the counter. Later, Raymond began to tap out the rhythm, first on the table and then on the counter.
Preferably a writing teacher. My department is looking for a new teacher, preferably a writing teacher.
A subordinate clause can sometimes be mistaken as a sentence. These clauses are not considered necessary to a sentence, but they give more information and depth to the writing.
How to revise clauses written as sentences:
1. Remove the subordinating conjunction.
Fragment: After they understood the environmentalists’ concerns. Which was sketchy and confusing.
Revision: They understood the environmentalists’ concerns. It was sketchy and confusing.
2. Attach the fragment to a related sentence.
Fragment: After they understood the environmentalists’ concerns.
Revision: After they understood the environmentalists’ concerns, thousands of people began to recycle their garbage.
Fragment: Which was sketchy and confusing.
Revision: Carol and I tried to follow Michael’s map, which was sketchy and confusing.
3. Reduce the fragment to single-word modifiers and include in the related sentence.
Fragment: Which was sketchy and confusing.
