Grammar Glow

Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. It is incomplete and often leaves the reader wondering what the writer intended to convey. Sentence fragments can occur for various reasons, such as missing a subject, predicate, or necessary clauses.

Characteristics of Sentence Fragments

1. Incomplete Thought

A fragment does not express a complete idea. It may leave the reader with questions about what is being communicated.

Examples

Although I wanted to go to the party.

2. Missing Essential Elements

A fragment may lack a subject, a verb, or other components that make up a complete sentence.

Examples

Running through the park. (What about running?)

3. Dependent Clauses

Often, fragments are dependent clauses that cannot stand alone.

Examples

Because I was tired. (This clause cannot function as a complete sentence by itself.)

4. Phrase Fragments

These can include phrases that are missing a subject or a verb.

Examples

After the storm. (What happened after the storm?)

Common Types of Sentence Fragments

1. Dependent Clause Fragments

A dependent clause fragment is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It relies on an independent clause to provide context.

Examples

Although I enjoy playing soccer.
Because it was raining.

2. Phrase Fragments

A phrase fragment is a group of words that does not contain both a subject and a verb, making it incomplete. Phrase fragments often provide additional information but cannot stand alone as complete sentences.

Examples

Walking down the street.
In the middle of the night.
Running to catch the bus.

3. Single Word Fragments

A single word fragment consists of only one word that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. These fragments often lack context and do not convey a complete thought.

Examples

However.
Indeed.

Causes of Sentence Fragments

1. Missing Subjects

A sentence fragment can occur when the subject is omitted, leaving the sentence incomplete. The reader is left without the main focus of the sentence.

Examples

Running through the park. (Who is running?)
Tried to finish the project. (Who tried?)

2. Missing Predicates

A fragment can also happen when the predicate (verb) is missing. This makes it impossible to determine what the subject is doing or experiencing.

Examples

The dog in the yard. (What about the dog?)
The teacher's lesson. (What happened with the lesson?)

3. Incorrect Use of Conjunctions

Sentence fragments may result from incorrect or incomplete use of conjunctions. This often happens when dependent clauses are incorrectly punctuated or separated from their main clauses.

Examples

Although I was tired. (What happened despite being tired?)
When the rain started. (What occurred when the rain started?)

4. Punctuation Errors

Incorrect punctuation can lead to fragments, especially when a writer improperly uses commas or semicolons. This can separate clauses that should be connected, resulting in an incomplete thought.

Examples

I wanted to go for a walk, but. (What did you want to do?)
She likes to read; especially mysteries. (What about mysteries?)

Sentence Fragments Characteristics of Sentence Fragments Common Types of Sentence Fragments Causes of Sentence Fragments