What are Sentence Fragments and How to Avoid Them

Subjects and Verbs

Remember, a sentence only needs a verb and a noun (or pronoun) to be complete. Nouns or pronouns that perform the action of the verb are called the subject of the sentence. See the sentence below:

Dogs eat.

In this sentence, the verb (the action) is eat. To find the subject, we need to ask who or what is “doing” the verb. So, we could ask, “Who is eating?” We know it is dogs. So, dogs is the subject of the sentence.

Dogs (subj.) eat (v.).

Sentence Fragments

A fragment is a “piece” (or part) of a sentence because it is missing information to make a complete sentence. A sentence fragment is missing a subject, a verb, or a complete idea. Let’s look at an example:

Fragment: All day at the beach.

In the example above, there is no subject, verb, or complete idea. We do not know who was at the beach and we do not know what happened at the beach. Now, let’s add a subject and a verb to the fragment:

Sentence: We played all day at the beach.

In the example above, there is a subject (we), verb (played), and complete idea.

Some kinds of fragments have a subject and a verb, but need more information to be a complete idea. Let’s look at an example:

Fragment: As Jake was eating ice cream.

In the example above, there is a subject (Jake) and a verb (was eating), but we need more information because of the word “as” at the beginning of the sentence. Let’s add some information to make the sentence a complete idea:

Sentence: As Jake was eating ice cream, he saw his boss.

The example above is a complete sentence because it now has a subject, verb, and complete idea.

Practice Problems

1. Which is the best definition of the term “sentence fragment”?

1. A sentence with pieces of information about many ideas.
2. A sentence that is too short or too long.
3. Half of a sentence.
4. An incomplete sentence because it is missing a subject, verb, or complete idea.

2. True or False—the following phrase is a fragment: Running away quickly.
3. True or False—the following phrase is a fragment: They smiled.
4. True or False—the following phrase is a fragment: Because his house was old.
5. True or False—the following phrase is a fragment: When I become an adult.
6. True or False—the following phrase is a fragment: Cooking with grandma is fun.

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