Fragments

Sentence and Fragments

A sentence is a group of words that:

Has a subject
Has a verb
Expresses a complete thought

A fragment is a group of words that:

Is missing a subject
Is missing a verb
Does not express a complete thought

Fragment Trouble Spots

A word group that starts with a preposition:

• In the sleeve of my shirt.
• Aboard the ship.
• Beside the banana tree.
• From the last class I took.

The subject of a sentence can never be in a prepositional phrase.
If the sentence only contains a prepositional phrase where the subject should be, then it is a fragment.

A word group that starts with a dependent word:

• Because I woke up late.
• Although I tried as hard as I could.
• After the last customer had gone home.
• Who wanted a complete refund.
• That said we were being audited on Friday.

A dependent word is the first word in a dependent clause.

• Some are subordinating conjunctions
  ▪After, before, since, and so on
  
• Some are relative pronouns (pronouns that relate to nouns proceeding them in the sentence)
  ▪Who, which, that

A dependant clause never expresses a complete thought, even if it contains a subject and verb.

A word group that starts with –ing, such as running, studying, or looking

• Running the fastest.
• Studying the hardest.
• Looking high and low.

When a word group begins with –ing, check to see if it contains a subject, a verb, and expresses a complete thought.

A word group that starts with "to" and a verb:

• To raise money for the victims.
• To see everything at the zoo.
• To run as fast as she could.

An infinitive is the word "to" plus a verb. A word group beginning with an infinitive must have another verb present or it is not a complete sentence.

Words that are examples or explanations:

• For example
• For instance
• Like
• Such as
• Especially

If a sentence begins with one of these example words, check to see if it contains a subject, a verb, and expresses a full thought.