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more!
Lesson Topic: Sentence
Fragments
| Since
he came to New York. |
| Because
my dog loves it. |
| Unless
you see me. |
|
Is
there anything wrong with these sentences?
All of these sentences end too quickly.
After reading these sentences, the reader asks questions because
he/she needs more information.
| Sentence
Fragment |
The
Reader Asks... |
| Since
he came to New York. |
Since he came, what (has he been doing)? |
| Because
my dog loves it. |
Because the dog loves it, (so what)? |
| Unless
you see me. |
Unless
you see me, what (will happen)? |
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These
sentences have incomplete ideas and end too quickly. They are called sentence fragments.
Take a look at the following sentences:
| I slept. |
| Jim
flew the plane. |
| He
cried. |
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Are
these sentence fragments? The answer
is no. Now, you
may want to ask, “These last three sentences are shorter than the first
three. Why aren’t the last
three sentence fragments?” That’s a great question.
We’re glad you asked. Let’s
explain.
A
sentence fragment has nothing to do with size or amount of words.
Therefore, a very short sentence with a complete idea is NOT a sentence
fragment. A
sentence fragment is a sentence that is incomplete. It is incomplete because it is either a phrase or a dependent
clause.
What
is a phrase?
A
phrase is a group of words that are related and focus on an idea; however,
this group of words does not have a subject, a verb, or both.
See the examples below:
| Without
financial support. |
| Running
toward the sea. |
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Take
a look at this sentence:
Pick
it up.
Is
this a sentence fragment? It
is NOT a sentence fragment because it is a command.
Commands have an implied subject.
We assume the speaker (or writer) means You pick it up. Though
you is
not written, it is implied.
What
is a dependent clause?
A
dependent clause has both a subject and a verb, but it is incomplete
because it needs something more to finish the idea.
Dependent clauses are always attached to a complete sentence/idea
(also called an independent clause).
Dependent clauses add important information to sentences but are
not necessary to make a complete sentence. (For a further explanation of
dependent and independent clauses, see our lessons on run-on
sentences and using
commas.)
Take a look at these examples:
| Whose
hair is as beautiful as the sun.
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| Even
though it snowed all day.
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| Where
Betty comes from.
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All
of these sentences leave the reader wondering what the sentence is talking
about. The reader is
completely confused.
Summary--Let’s
make it simple
Dependent
clauses often begin with the words listed below.
Therefore, if you use any of the words in this list, you MUST add
another part (specifically an independent clause) to the sentence, or you
will probably write a sentence fragment.
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Blackboard
#1 |
| after
|
even
if
|
once |
whenever
|
| although |
even
though |
only
if
|
whereas
|
| as
|
every
time |
since |
whether
or not
|
| as
if
|
if
|
the
first time |
whichever
|
| as
soon as
|
in
case |
though |
whoever
|
| because |
in
the event that
|
unless |
while
|
| before
|
just
in case |
until |
|
| by
the time
|
now
that
|
when |
|
|
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If
you use any of the following prepositions, which are usually used to
create prepositional phrases, you MUST add another part (specifically an
independent clause) to the sentence, or you will probably write a sentence
fragment.
|
Blackboard
#2
Prepositions |
| about
|
beneath |
in
|
till
|
| above
|
beside |
into |
to |
| across |
besides |
like
|
toward |
| after |
between |
near
|
under |
| against |
beyond |
of
|
underneath |
| along
|
by
|
off
|
until
|
| among |
despite |
on |
up
|
| around |
down |
out
|
upon |
| at |
during |
over
|
with |
| before |
except
|
since |
within
|
| behind |
for |
through
|
without
|
| below
|
from |
throughout
|
|
|
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In
summary
If
you use any of the words on the above two blackboards, you MUST add
something else to the sentence, or you will probably write a sentence
fragment.
You must add an independent clause in order to make the sentence a
complete idea.
How
do you fix it?
We suggest 3 ways to fix sentence
fragments:
Method
#1
Attach the sentence fragment to another
sentence. That other sentence
could be before or after the sentence fragment.
| Sentence
Fragment |
Fixed
and Now a Complete Sentence |
| After
seeing the doctor. |
I
felt much better after seeing the doctor.
-or-
After
seeing the doctor, I felt much better.
|
|
Method
#2
Add a subject, verb, or both to make the
sentence complete.
| Sentence
Fragment |
Fixed
and Now a Complete Sentence |
| Under
the bed.
|
I
found my socks under the bed.
|
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Method
#3
Take
away the word or phrase that makes it a sentence fragment.
| Sentence
Fragment |
Fixed
and Now a Complete Sentence |
| While
Fred was in Paris. |
Fred
was in Paris. |
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NOTE:
If you use method #3, make sure the meaning does not change. The
words and phrases listed above usually add important information to the
sentence. Therefore, if you take them out, the meaning may change.
Be careful!
Quiz
Directions:
The following paragraph contains five sentence fragments. Find the sentence fragments and correct them using one of the
above two methods.
My
Wonderful Discovery
After I had gotten up. I ate my breakfast. While I was eating
breakfast. I heard a squeaking sound at my door. It was a
little puppy that was crying. I wept. It was really cute.
That I picked it up and took it inside in order to give the puppy a big
bowl of warm milk and a soft blanket. I took the day off so
that I could take him to the veterinarian. The vet told me he was
fine. Because I had given him what he needed: milk and a warm
blanket. He still needed a home. I asked all my friends.
However, they couldn't keep pets in their apartments. By the time we
got home. Now, he is my pet and friend.
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Rules to Remember!