Fragments Sentence Skills: A Workbook for Writers, Form A John Langan Modified by Pamela Fox, Adjunct Professor,

Sentence Fragments A sentence fragment is a group of words that is punctuated as a sentence but is not grammatically correct. A sentence fragment may lack a subject, a verb, or an independent clause. The wind velocity in hurricanes and monsoons. The winds raging in hurricanes and monsoons.

Checking for Sentence Fragments Locate the subject. Locate the verb. Inspires many poets and song writers. (This lacks a subject.) The pleasant weather of May. (This lacks a verb.)

Phrases Lack a Subject or Verb Verb phrase: To take advantage of sunlight in photography. Prepositional phrase: Within the eye of the hurricane.

Phrases Lack a Subject or Verb Noun phrase: Various theories for weather forecasting. Appositive phrase: One popular weather topic, el Niño.

Look for Subordinate Conjunctions A clause that begins with a subordinator (or dependent word) is a dependent clause. These examples are not independent clauses. If a tornado sweeps across the plains. Because snow is beautiful in the moonlight.

Checking for Sentence Fragments Look for relative pronouns. Relative pronouns introduce clauses that modify nouns or pronouns (who, which, that). The instructor who argued against class cancellations for snow. Revised:The instructor who argued against class cancellations for snow was very unrealistic.

Relative Clause Fragments Although relative clause fragments have both a subject and a verb, they cannot stand alone. Bob who intends to buy a small tractor and a plow. Revised: Bob, who intends to buy a small tractor and a plow, thinks he will earn money removing snow this winter.

Correcting Sentence Fragments Combine the fragment with the sentence that precedes it or with the sentence that follows it. Dramatic weather conditions do not always cause disasters. But at times create beautiful situations as well. Correction: Dramatic weather conditions do not always cause disasters but at times create beautiful situations.

Revise Compound Predicate Fragments The jet stream can pull cold air down from Canada. Or bring warm air up from Mexico. The jet stream can pull cold air down from Canada or bring warm air up from Mexico.

Correct Dependent Clause Fragments Dependent clause fragments begin with a subordinating conjunction (because, since, before). Although air traffic controllers regulate flight patterns. Corrected: Although air traffic controllers regulate traffic patterns, they cannot control the weather.

Be aware of situations that can lead to sentence fragments. Examine a sentence that begins with a subordinating word. Because hail fell on the peach blossoms. Carefully select transitional words or phrases which introduce examples or a list. For example, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

Sentence Fragments Fragment Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. (Click to see the answer.) Fragment My Aunt Marie being a good cook.

Sentence Fragments Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. Correct She can spend hours reading a cook book.

Sentence Fragments Fragment Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. Although she says that she doesn’t like to read. Fragment

Sentence Fragments Fragment Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. Special desserts such as pecan pies, chocolate cheese-cakes, and pumpkin cake roll. Fragment

Sentence Fragments Correct Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. Aunt Marie’s desserts are not for those who are watching their diet. Correct

Sentence Fragments Correct Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. Filled with cream and sugar, these delicacies contain hundreds of calories. Correct

Sentence Fragments Correct Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. It often seems that any food item that tastes good is fattening. Correct

Sentence Fragments Fragment Decide whether each sentence group is a correct sentence or if it is a sentence fragment. For example, ice cream and chocolate cake. Fragment