By Chiara Ondoli, Wesley Tu, Peter Suo Sentence Fragments By Chiara Ondoli, Wesley Tu, Peter Suo

Introduction: groups of words that don’t express complete thoughts only fragments of sentences conversation or informal writing formal writing X

Four possible reasons: missing a subject missing a verb missing a subject and a verb It is a subordinate clause

Missing Subjects Subject tells us who or what the sentence is about. So, If the subject is missing, we cannot tell who or what is doing the action. Example: Plays video games. (who is playing video games?) Flies in the sky. (what does fly in the sky?) Right sentences: John plays video games A bird flies in the sky

2) Missing verbs If the verb is missing, we do not know what the subject did or what the subject is. Examples: My young sister. (My young sister did what?) My dog on the bed. ( my dog on the bed did what?) Right sentences: My young sister loves dolls. My dog jumped on the bed.

3. Missing subject and verb Some fragments are missing both subjects and verbs. That means that we don’t even know whom the sentence is about or what they did or are. Example: 1. On the table. (What is on the table?) 2. Over there. (What is over there?) Correction: 1. The corn is on the table. 2. My dog runs over there.

4. Dependent Clause Dependent clauses are group of words that contain a subject and a verb, but they don’t express complete thoughts. Example: 1. Whenever I walk my dog. 2. Until she comes back. Correction: 1. Whenever I walk my dog, I feel great. 2. I’ll wait there until she comes back.