A sentence fragment is a incomplete sentence which lacks essential elements such as a subject, verbOr complete thought. Sentence fragments often appear grammatically incorrect, but can be used deliberately for stylistic effect in creative or informal writing. To correct sentence fragments, identify the missing components and add them to create a complete, grammatically correct sentence. Understanding what a sentence fragment is and how to repair sentence fragments is crucial for clear communication. Sentence fragments lack essential elements of a complete sentence, making them incomplete and often grammatically incorrect.
Types of Sentence Fragments
Missing topic fragments
- Lack of subject: In these example sentence fragments, the person or thing performing the action is missing.
- Example: “Shows no improvement in your efficiency. »
- How to repair sentence fragments: “The evaluation shows no improvement in your efficiency.
Missing verb fragments
- Missing a verb: These example sentence fragments have a subject but no action or state of being.
- Example: “This moment of wonder and astonishment. »
- How to repair sentence fragments: “This time of wonder and astonishment was unforgettable.”
Dependent clause fragments
- I can’t stay alone: These example sentence fragments have both a subject and a verb but are incomplete thoughts.
- Example: “Because it was raining. »
- How to repair sentence fragments: “We canceled the picnic because it was raining.”
Other types of fragments
- Gerund Sentence Fragments: Start with a verb ending in “-ing” acting as a noun.
- Participial Sentence Fragments: Start with a verb ending in “-ing”, “-ed” or “-en” acting as an adjective.
- Infinitive Sentence Fragments: Start with “to” plus a simple verb form.
- Appositive Sentence Fragments: Rename a noun but don’t have a complete sentence structure.
- Prepositional Phrase Fragments: Start with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun.
How to identify sentence fragments
- Find missing items: Check if the group of words has both a subject and a verb.
- Check for complete thoughts: Make sure the sentence expresses a complete idea.
- Identify subordinating conjunctions: Words like “because,” “since,” or “if” often introduce dependent clauses.
Correction of sentence fragments
Add missing items
- Include a topic: Add the person or thing performing the action to correct sentence fragments.
- Include a verb: Add the action or state of being to the sentence to correct sentence fragments.
Log in to complete sentences
- Join with independent clauses: Combine the fragment with a complete sentence to fix sentence fragments.
- Use coordinating conjunctions: Connect fragments to complete sentences using words like “and,” “but,” or “or.”
When to use sentence fragments
- Informal writing: Sentence fragments are more acceptable in informal communication.
- Creative writing: can be used for emphasis or stylistic effect.
- Bulleted or numbered lists: often contain fragments that are part of a larger structure.
FAQs
What is a sentence fragment?
A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence lacking essential elements like a subject, verb, or complete thought. It often seems grammatically incorrect, but can be used deliberately for stylistic effect in creative or informal writing.
Can you give some examples of sentence fragments?
Certainly! Here are some examples of sentence fragments:
- “Shows no improvement in your efficiency.” (Missing subject)
- “That time of wonder and amazement.” (Missing verb)
- “Because it was raining.” (Dependent clause)
- “Running through the park.” (Gerund phrase)
- “Finishing the project on time.” (Infinitive phrase)
How to fix sentence fragments?
To fix sentence fragments, you can:
- Add missing elements (subject or verb)
- Connect the fragment to a complete sentence
- Rewrite the fragment as a complete sentence. For example, “Shows no improvement” can be corrected as “The report shows no improvement.”
When is it acceptable to use sentence fragments?
Sentence fragments may be acceptable in:
- Informal writing or informal communication
- Creative writing for emphasis or stylistic effect
- Bulleted or numbered lists
- Dialogue to mimic natural speech patterns
- Headlines or headings
How do I identify sentence fragments in my writing?
To identify sentence fragments:
- Look for missing subjects or verbs
- Check to see if the group of words expresses a complete thought
- Identify subordinating conjunctions that can introduce dependent clauses
- Read your writing aloud to see if the sentences sound complete
- Use grammar checking tools to highlight potential fragments