Fragments

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Fragments

• Identify and Correct

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What is a Fragment?

• Every sentence must have a subject and a verb and
  express a complete thought.
• A phrase that lacks a subject or a verb and does
  not express a complete thought is a fragment.

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Four Types of Fragments

• Dependent Clause Fragments
• ing Fragments
• Added-detail Fragments
• Missing Subject/Verb Fragments

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Dependent Clause Fragments

• Some dependent clauses are fragments.
• Whenever you start a sentence with a dependent
  word, you create a dependent clause.

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Dependent Words

• After, although, as,
• Even though, because,
• Before, how, if, even if,
• In order to, since, unless,
• Until, what, whatever,
• When, whenever,
• Where, wherever,
• While, who, whose,
• Just as

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Dependent Clause Fragments

• After I cashed my check. I treated myself to
  dinner.
• I will not leave the house. Until I hear from
  you.
• When I spray deodorant. My cat arches her back.
• If Kim does not say good-bye. Her boyfriend will
  be upset.
• Before I turn on the oven. I have to clean it.
• Since he joined the class. The study group meets
  often.

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Corrected DC Fragments

• After I cashed my check, I treated myself to
  dinner.
• I will not leave the house until I hear from you.
• When I spray deodorant, my cat arches her back.
• If Kim does not say good-bye, her boyfriend will
  be upset.
• Before I turn on the oven, I have to clean it.
• Since he joined the class, the study group meets
  often.

8
Ing Fragments

• When ing appears at the beginning of a phrase,
  you may create a fragment.
• An ing phrase is a dependent clause.

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Ing Fragments

• Ellen walked for ten hours yesterday. Trying to
  find her dog.
• We sat back to watch the movie. Not expecting
  anything special.
• Stepping hard on the gas. Stan tried to beat the
  truck to the intersection.
• Jerome sat quietly at his desk. Fantasizing about
  the weekend.

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Corrected ing Fragments

• Ellen walked for ten hours yesterday, trying to
  find her dog.
• We sat back to watch the movie, not expecting
  anything special.
• Stepping hard on the gas, Stan tried to beat the
  truck to the intersection.
• Jerome sat quietly at his desk, fantasizing about
  the weekend.

11
Added-detail Fragments

• When you attach a detail to the end of sentence,
  this is called an added-detail.
• An added detail is not a complete thought.

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Added-details

• especially
• like
• including
• such as

• also
• for example
• except
• which

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Added-detail Fragments

• My mother likes watching day-time television.
  Especially old movies and soap operas.
• Before a race, I eat starchy foods. Such as bread
  and spaghetti.
• My son keeps several pets in his room. Including
  hamsters and mice.
• Left-handed students face problems. For example,
  right-handed desks.

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Corrected AD Fragments

• My mother likes watching day-time television,
  especially old movies and soap operas.
• Before a race, I eat starchy foods, such as bread
  and spaghetti.
• My son keeps several pets in his room, including
  hamsters and mice.
• Left-handed students face problems. For example,
  they must sit at right-handed desks.

15
Missing Subject/Verb Fragments

• When you write a sentence missing a subject or
  verb, you create a fragment.

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Missing Subject/Verb Fragments

• Alicia loved getting wedding presents. But hated
  writing thank-you notes.
• Mickey has orange soda and chips for breakfast.
  Then eats more junk food for lunch.
• Last semester I took six courses. And worked
  part-time at Wal-Mart.
• Studying can increase your grade. And can even
  give you confidence during class.

17
Corrected SV Fragments

• Alicia loved getting wedding presents but hated
  writing thank-you notes.
• Mickey has orange soda and chips for breakfast.
  Then, he eats more junk food for lunch.
• Last semester I took six courses and worked
  part-time at Wal-Mart.
• Studying can increase your grade, and it can even
  give you confidence during class.

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Fragments