2. BY ASHLAN CRAW, KELCIE CASHION, LOGAN FORMAGGIONI, AND MADISON MAPEL Sentence Fragments

3. Definition A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence; a phrase or clause that is punctuated and capitalized as a sentence but does not constitute a complete grammatical sentence. Usually caused by the failure to include a subject and a verb in a sentence or as the result of beginning a sentence with a subordinate conjunction or relative pronoun.

4. What is a complete sentence? 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 complete sentence has three components: a subject a predicate a complete thought

5. Examples 1. Because his car was in the shop. He could not drive to work because his car was in the shop. 2. After the rain stops. After the rain stops, we will go outside to play. 3. A book without a cover. I am reading a book without a cover. 4. Since I like fishing. I am going to the lake, since I like fishing.

6. Correcting a sentence fragment The appropriate correction for sentence fragments depends on what is lacking. The sentence can be corrected by adding in a subject, or verb, joining the dependent clause with an independent clause, or completing the thought.

7. Your turn 1. Met the people. 2. Planted the roses. 3. The sound from the room. 4. Scurried along the beach. 5. Since you were not home. 6. Because he lost his house keys. 7. During the stressful Biology test. 8. If it doesn’t rain tonight. 9. When she got fired. 10. During class.

8. Possible Answers 1. The President met the people at the press conference. 2. The cute gardener planted the roses. 3. The sound from the room was rather loud. 4. The ghost crabs scurried along the beach. 5. Since you were not home, we ate dinner without you. 6. Because he lost his house keys, he had to wait for his wife to arrive. 7. During the stressful Biology test, the fire alarm went off. 8. If it doesn’t rain tonight, the crops will not grow. 9. When she got fired, she couldn’t afford to pay the bills. 10. During class, a mouse appeared on my desk.

9. The End!