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Fragments

This document defines and provides examples of different types of sentence fragments, including fragments lacking a subject or verb, dependent clauses punctuated as sentences, added detail fragments, "-ing" fragments, and "to" fragments. It explains how to identify these fragments and offers methods for correcting them, such as adding the fragment to the preceding or following sentence, including a subject and verb, or changing words to integrate the fragment into the surrounding text.

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Abede Saviour Delali
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25 views2 pages

Fragments

This document defines and provides examples of different types of sentence fragments, including fragments lacking a subject or verb, dependent clauses punctuated as sentences, added detail fragments, "-ing" fragments, and "to" fragments. It explains how to identify these fragments and offers methods for correcting them, such as adding the fragment to the preceding or following sentence, including a subject and verb, or changing words to integrate the fragment into the surrounding text.

Uploaded by

Abede Saviour Delali
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FRAGMENTS

1. It must have both a subject and a verb.


Complete Sentence
2. It must express a complete thought.

Types of Fragments:
Lacking a Verb
Fragment: The smiling little girl
Correct: The smiling little girl ran into the room.

Lacking a Subject
This often occurs when the second verb of a
Fragment: And go shopping.
compound verb is cut off from the rest of the sentence.
Correct: Julia likes to travel and go
These usually begin with the words for, and, nor, but,
shopping.
or, yet, or so.

Dependent Clause Punctuated as a Sentence


A subject and a verb in a dependent clause may be incorrectly labeled as a sentence. This will leave a reader
hanging in mid-air, asking who, when, or why.

How to correct: How to correct:


Get rid of the subordinate conjunction. This will Connect the dependent clause to an independent clause
leave you a simple sentence. and create a complex sentence.
Fragment: After they went to the party. Fragment: Even though he didn’t study.
Correct: After they went to the part, they Correct: He did well on the test even
stopped for tacos. though he didn’t study.

Note: A dependent clause usually begins with a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun.

Subordinate Conjunctions Relative Pronouns


after since when
although so that where that which where
as (if) than whereas whose what who
because though wherever why whom whomever
before unless whether whatever whoever whichever
if until while

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Added Detail Fragments
Added detail fragments lack a subject and a verb. They often begin with one of the following words:
also except including especially for example such as
Writers often think the subject and verb from one sentence will serve the next word group also.
However, each group requires a subject and verb.
How to correct: Combine an added detail fragment with the complete thought which precedes it.
Fragment: Since he got married, he helps his wife Correct: Since he got married, he helps his wife
with household chores. Including washing the with household chores, including washing the dishes,
dishes, cooking dinner, and taking out the trash. cooking dinner, and taking out the trash.

How to correct: Add a subject and a verb to make it a complete sentence.


Fragment: Kelly loves her new job. Especially Correct: Kelly loves her new job. She especially
helping students and working with the teachers. likes helping students and working with the teachers.

How to correct: Change and/or add words to make the fragment a part of the preceding sentence.
Fragment: He plays several sports. For example, Correct: He plays several sports such as football,
football, baseball, and basketball. baseball, and basketball.

–ing Fragments
When an –ing word appears at or near the start of a word group, a fragment may result. Such fragments
often lack a subject and part of the verb. We sometimes write -ing fragments because we think the subject in
one sentence will work for the next word group as well, but the subject must actually be in the sentence.
How to correct: Attach the fragment to the sentence that comes before it or the sentence that comes after it,
whichever makes sense.
Fragment: He drove around the block twice. Trying to find a parking space.
Correct: He drove around the block twice trying to find a parking space.
How to correct: Add a subject and change the –ing verb part to the correct form of the verb.
Fragment: Dawn thought she looked her best. Interviewing for a new job.
Correct: Dawn thought she looked her best as she interviewed for a new job.
How to correct: Change being to the correct form of the verb be (am, are, is was, were).
Fragment: She enjoyed going to her English class. It being her favorite subject.
Correct: She enjoyed going to her English class. It was her favorite subject.

“to” Fragments
When “to” appears at or near the start of a word group, a fragment sometimes results:
1 2 3
_________________________ ___________________ _____________________________
She went to the Writing Center. to finish her homework. otherwise, she wouldn’t get it done.

The second work group is a fragment and can be corrected by adding it to the preceding sentence:
She went to the Writing Center to finish her homework. Otherwise, she wouldn’t get it done.

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