Lesson Topic: Sentence Fragments
Sentence Fragments
|Since he came to Vancouver. |
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|Because Mr. Roggeveen loves it. |
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|Unless you see me. |
|For example, three pizzas. |
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Is there anything wrong with these sentences? Yes. None of them contains a complete idea. After reading these sentences, the reader asks questions because he/she needs more information.
|Sentence Fragment |
|The reader asks... |
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|Since he came to Vancouver. |
|Since he came…what? |
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|Because Mr. Roggeveen loves it. |
|Because Mr. Roggeveen loves it…WHAT? |
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|Unless you see me. |
|Unless you see me…WHAT? |
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|For example, three pizzas. |
|Three pizzas are examples of WHAAAAT? |
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These sentences have incomplete ideas and end too quickly. They are called sentence fragments. Take a look at the following sentences:
|Tom woke. |
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|Tom flew the plane. |
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|Tom died. |
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Are these sentence fragments? The answer is no. Why?
A sentence fragment has nothing to do with length or number of words. Therefore, a very short sentence with a complete idea is NOT a sentence fragment. A sentence fragment is a sentence that is incomplete. It is incomplete because it is either a phrase or a dependent clause.
A sentence consists of 3 components:
|1 |
|subject |
|the person, place, or thing performing or doing the action |
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|2 |
|verb |
|the action |
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|3 |
|complete idea |
|the reader isn't left waiting for another word |
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Take a look at this sentence:
|I wrote a poem. |
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Subject=I
Verb=wrote
Is it a complete idea? Yes.
Therefore, this is a complete sentence.
“A poem” is a direct object in that sentence. Not all sentences require a direct object. For example,
|Pigs fly. |
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Subject=pigs
Verb=fly
Is it a complete idea? Yes. Is it possible? Maybe.
There is no direct object here; however, it is still a complete idea and, therefore, a complete sentence.
Here's another example.
|I take. |
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Subject=I
Verb=take
Is it a complete idea? No.
This sentence requires a direct object. This sentence is called a sentence fragment. It is actually the verb which determines whether the sentence requires a direct object or not. If the sentence requires a direct object, it is called a transitive verb. If the verb does not need a direct object, it is called an intransitive verb. If you are unsure about some verbs, use a dictionary. Dictionaries often denote transitive and intransitive verbs with the initials t.v. and i.v., respectively.
So, what's a sentence fragment? A sentence fragment is a sentence that lacks a subject or lacks a verb or is not a complete idea.
One more way to find a sentence fragment
Sometimes the sentence has a subject, verb, and direct object, but it is still a sentence fragment. How? If a sentence begins with one of the words on the following 2 blackboards, the sentence requires a comma and a second part to finish the idea. Therefore, if you use any of the words on these lists, you MUST add another part.
|Blackboard #1 |
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|after |
|even if |
|once |
|whenever |
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|although |
|even though |
|only if |
|whereas |
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|as |
|every time |
|since |
|whether or not |
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|as if |
|if |
|the first time |
|whichever |
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|as soon as |
|in case |
|though |
|whoever |
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|because |
|in the event that |
|unless |
|while |
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|before |
|just in case |
|until |
| |
| |
|by the time |
|now that |
|when |
| |
| |
| |
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If you begin a sentence with any of the following prepositions, which are usually used to create prepositional phrases, you MUST add another part, or you will probably write a sentence fragment.
|Blackboard #2 |
|Prepositions |
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|about |
|beneath |
|in |
|till |
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|above |
|beside |
|into |
|to |
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|across |
|besides |
|like |
|toward |
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|after |
|between |
|near |
|under |
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|against |
|beyond |
|of |
|underneath |
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|along |
|by |
|off |
|until |
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|among |
|despite |
|on |
|up |
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|around |
|down |
|out |
|upon |
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|at |
|during |
|over |
|with |
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|before |
|except |
|since |
|within |
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|behind |
|for (example) |
|through |
|without |
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|below |
|from |
|throughout |
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| |
| |
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For example:
Look at the following sentence:
|Because you wanted it. |
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|Since you bought the tickets to “Thor”. |
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| |
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Do these two sentences have subjects, verbs, and direct objects (if needed)? YES. Are they sentence fragments? YES. Why? They need second parts:
|I gave you my advice because you wanted it. |
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|Because you wanted it, I gave you my advice. |
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|Since you bought the tickets to “Thor”, I’ll pay for the popcorn. |
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| |
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One more more way to find a sentence fragment
Sentences that begin with gerunds (‘ing’ verbs) MUST have a comma and a second part, just like sentences that begin with one of the words from the blackboard.
For example:
|Knowing Tom Hiddleston was in the movie. |
|Realizing Hamlet was Ms. V’s favourite play. |
These are sentence fragments because they are missing a second part and are not complete ideas. To fix them, add that second part.
|Knowing Tom Hiddleston was in the movie, I skipped Physics and went to the matinee instead. (Don’t tell |
|Hengeveld I wrote this) |
|Realizing Hamlet was Ms. V’s favourite play, we decided to attend every class, take detailed notes, pay |
|close attention, volunteer to act, and work really hard to get a fantastic mark on our final essay for |
|grade 12. Because we want to make Ms. V proud. (THIS LAST SENTENCE IS A FRAGMENT. I WROTE IT ON PURPOSE |
|FOR EMPHASIS) |
How do you fix it?
There are 2 ways to fix sentence fragments:
Method #1
The most common and obvious way is to attach the sentence fragment to another sentence. That other sentence could be before or after the sentence fragment.
|Sentence Fragment |
|Fixed and now a complete sentence |
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|After reading those poems. |
|I felt much better after reading those poems. |
| -or- |
|After reading those poems, I felt much better. |
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Method #2
Add a subject, verb, or both to make the sentence complete.
|Sentence Fragment |
|Fixed and now a complete sentence |
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|Under the bed. |
|I found my copy of Lord of the Flies under the bed. |
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