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MU Home » Academics » School of Arts and Humanities » Department of English and Writing

Error 1: Sentence Fragment (frag)

Checking for Sentence Fragments

1. Check to see if the “sentence” needs a subject.
2. Check to see if the “sentence” needs a verb.
3. Check to see if the “sentence” needs both a subject and a verb.
4. Check to see if the “sentence” is a dependent clause.

Correcting Sentence Fragments

Sentence fragment example: Might take as long as a month.

This fragment needs a subject.

Complete sentence: The project (subject) might take as long as a month.

Sentence fragment example: Someone on the corner waiting for a car.

This fragment needs a complete verb.

Complete sentence: Someone on the corner is waiting (complete verb) for a car.

Sentence fragment example: Especially on dark winter days.

This fragment is a phrase, so it needs both a subject and a verb. The fragment needs to be attached to an independent clause.

Complete sentence: I love a bonfire, especially on dark winter days.

Sentence fragment example: Because I practiced hard.

This fragment is a dependent clause.

Complete sentence: I practiced hard. (The subordinating conjunction Because has been dropped.)

Complete sentence: I did well throughout the game because I practiced hard. (An independent clause has been added to the dependent clause.)

Exercise

Please print this exercise, mark the correct answers, and check your work against the version with answers.

Exercise on Fragments

Exercise on Fragments with Answers