Apr 02, 2012 fragments a sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. Name class date handbook 8 sentence structure identifying. In order to spot a sentence fragment, a writer needs to make sure each sentence is an independent clause with a subject and a verb. It begins with the words which, because, although, before, while. Sentence fragments and runon sentences a sentence is a group of words that names something and makes a statement about what is named. Or julie had a stomach ache all day because she ate too much cake. A fragment lacks either a subject, a predicate, or does not communicate a complete thought. After you have completed all the sentences, read them in order to make a narrative. Remember to use correct capital letters at the beginning of sentences. Sentences and sentence fragments underline each sentence.
If you choose to connect them at the end, however, these same fragments require no punctuation at all. Even if a writer accidentally includes a fragment, he can check for these during the revision process. To be complete, a sentence must contain, a predicate or a subjectcomplete verb, and function as n independent clausea. Sentence, fragments, and runons sentencefragmentrunon a sentence has three requirements. Your teachers might think that any fragment in your composition is evidence that you do not understand the concept of a complete sentence. Sentence fragments a sentence fragment is a piece of information that is punctuated as a sentence but that lacks some of the characteristics of a complete sentence.
Sentence fragments n o r t h a m p t o n c o m m u n i t y c o l l e g e l e a r n i n g c e n t e r college center suite 315 6108615517 lc september 2011. Fragments usually begin with a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun. To be a sentence, groups of words need to have at least one independent clause. Ppt sentence fragments powerpoint presentation free to. However, overuse can lead to lazy writingfragments should be used sparingly, and for a good storytelling purpose. A sentence fragment is a piece of information that is punctuated as a sentence but that lacks some of the characteristics of a complete sentence. Complete sentences a sentence must contain both a subject and a verb. In the case of irregular verbs, an irregular past participle, like burnt or spoken, will begin the phrase. Exercise a decide whether each of the following word groups is a sentence or a sentence fragment.
Sentence fragments are groups of words that dont express complete thoughts. Most sentence fragments are phrases, or subordinate clauses, or combinations of the two. A complete sentence is not merely a group of words with a capital letter at the beginning and a period or question mark at the end. A sentence fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence, but actually isnt a complete sentence. Im sure you all get that this is a complete sentence because it has a. To identify fragments, ask what has been left out of a word group. Fragments worksheet belle is a 20 british film which i highly recommend. Sentence fragments are usually missing a subject or verb, or they do not express a complete thought. Choose from 500 different sets of english 1 sentence fragments flashcards on quizlet. A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence because it lacks a subject, lacks a verb, or is a dependent clause. Which is why i always use complete sentences in my own writing. While it may be punctuated to look like a complete sentence, a fragment cannot stand on its own. Cliffsnotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what youre studying, cliffsnotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Sentence fragment definition of sentence fragment by.
The one important difference is that a fragment does not contain a main clause. A fragment is an incomplete thought that is punctuated as if it is a complete thought. Sentence fragments quiz hard innisdale ss proprofs quiz. Do you see a complete verb the helping and action words. Simply adding a capital letter and a period does not magically make these words into a sentence. Other kinds of punctuation may be needed for the newly combined sentence. A fragment is an incomplete sentence punctuated as though a complete sentence. Both groups of words begin with a capital letter and conclude with an end markusually a period.
Use these 32 multiple choice task cards to help students identify complete sentences, sentence fragments and runon sentences. Sentence fragments sentence fragments occur when a sentence lacks a subject andor complete verb, or consists entirely of a subordinate clause. Sentence fragment definition is a word, phrase, or clause that usually has in speech the intonation of a sentence but lacks the grammatical structure usually found in the sentences of formal and especially written composition. Sentence fragments occur when a sentence lacks a subject andor complete verb, or consists entirely of a subordinate clause. Elements of literature sentence structure 81 name class date language 8 sentence structure handbook continued. The fragments appearing most frequently are either phrases or dependent clauses.
Sentence fragments sentence fragments occur when a sentence lacks a subject and or complete verb, or consists entirely of a subordinate clause. It will enable the student to identify potential runons and fragments as well as determine the appropriate way to fix them fragments are sentences that are incomplete. Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause. Sentence fragments lack one or both of these elements, both of which are required to form an independent clause. Another name for a sentence is an independent clause. This powerpoint presentation was created by charles. Other fragments will require a comma whether you connect them at beginning or the end.
In example 1, the second word group is not a sentence because we do not know who or what was trying to stay awake. This quiz is designed to test your ability to identify and correct sentence fragments and runon sentences. The subject identifies who or what is performing an action and the verb identifies the action being performed. Sentence fragments an incomplete sentence is called a sentence fragment. Revising fragments and runons continue your education.
You will receive your score and answers at the end. Put more informally, a sentence fragment doesnt make a statement that can stand on its own. A sentence may have both a subject and a verb, but will still be a fragment if it. Sentences, runons, and fragments sinclair community college sentences, runons, and fragments 1. Some fragments, for example, will require a comma if you connect them at the beginning of a main clause. Some fragments are incomplete because they lack either a subject or a verb, or both. Here is a participle phrase pretending to be a complete sentence. Fragments and runons this module will cover run on sentences, comma splices and fragments. Before you include an intentional fragment in a piece of writing, you should. The movie takes place in the middle of the 18th century. Sentence fragments and runon sentences proprofs quiz. One of the easiest ways to correct them is to remove the period between the fragment and the main clause. The rot offers many different foods, such as pizza. A sentence has a subject and a verb and makes a complete thought.
A sentence fragment is a word group that is incorrectly punctuated as if it were a complete sentence, beginning with an initial capital letter and ending with a period or other end punctuation. Sentence, fragments, and runons sentencefragmentrunon. Sentence fragments in fiction can be a useful way of conveying pace, tone, and intensity. In english grammar, a sentence fragment is a group of words that begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation point but is grammatically incomplete. These task cards are perfect for test prep and will work well at literacy centers, stations, for partner work, or with the whole class using a game like scoot. They can, however, get you into trouble if you are a beginning writer. Because she exercises regularly, she is in good condition. We talk about sentence fragments in contrast to complete sentences. Im going to need more examples to explain this one. It stars gugu mbatharaw as the illegitimate mixedrace daughter of a royal navy officer in britain. A sentence contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. In the simplest grammatical terms, a sentence fragment lacks a mainor independentclause. Identifying sentences and sentence fragments duration.
When a sentence is unfinished, either because it is missing a subject or verb, or because it lacks the information needed to express the thought, it is a sentence fragment. Because she ate too much cake, julie had a stomach ache all day. Finding and fixing sentence fragments worksheet by barbara. I often imagine that listeners are writing long things such as articles, essays, and books. To use the choices worksheet, have each student pick an activity that interests him or her. A sentence can be two words he jumps and a sentence fragment can be fifty words. Learn how to turn a fragment into a sentence in this video. Sentence fragments fragments are incomplete sentences. Learn english 1 sentence fragments with free interactive flashcards.
To correct this sentence fragment, attach it to the preceding sentence and replace. Though sentence fragments can be used in genres like creative writing and advertising for emphasis or stylistic purposes, in formal academic writing fragments can undermine your authority and distract. If the word group is a sentence, write s on the line provided. In their book when words collide 2012, kessler and mcdonald note that sentence fragments can be single words, brief phrases, or lengthy. We amateurs should be cautious about trying this stuff at home.
Sentence fragments a sentence fragment is a part, or piece, of a sentence placed by itself as if it were a complete sentence. Dependent clause fragments usually start with a subordinating conjunction such as because, although, or if. The fragments that most students have trouble with, however, are dependent clauses they have a subject and a verb, so they look like complete sentences, but they dont express a complete thought. There are four sentence errors that can produce fragments. If the group of words is a fragment, write an f on the line. Phrase fragments dependent clause fragments through the door. While the flock of pigeons, pecking at sandwich crumbs and strutting along the sidewalk as if to say to passersby, we own the block, crossed into the territory of our rose garden. Improve your language arts knowledge with free questions in is it a complete sentence or a fragment. A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence masquerading as a complete one. A sentence that does not have both a subject and a verb is a fragment. Being able to find the main subject, the main verb, and the complete thought is the first trick to learn for identifying fragments and runons.
I didnt have time to write a short letter, so i wrote a long one instead, is a famous quotationa. Sentences and sentence fragments a sentence expresses a complete thought or idea and contains a subject and a predicate a verb. My friend sheila and i saw a brown toad hopping on the sidewalk. Writers can aim to avoid sentence fragments with clear and purposeful editing. A sentence expresses a complete thought or idea and contains a subject and a predicate a verb. Sentences and sentence fragments make each sentence fragment into a sentence by adding one of the groups of words in the box. Sentence fragments are groups of words that look like sentences, but arent. A sentence fragment is a chunk of language that hasnt made it all the way to being a working sentence.
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