Each of these dependent words, when placed in front of a complete sentence, creates a fragment. In this case, the fragment is called a dependent clause; in other words, it is no longer capable of standing alone.

If not for these dependent words at the beginning, we would have three complete sentences. Instead, we have three dependent clauses, and each one is a fragment.

Good. The highlighted part in the fragments above are subject-verb pairs. But don’t be fooled into thinking these fragments are complete sentences!

Each of these fragments has a subject and a verb, just like a normal sentence would. . . . Click on the subject of the first fragment.

Because Harriet did not attend the meeting last night. Because

While Mike was waiting for the downtown bus. While

If I knew the answer to the last algebra problem. If

One kind of fragment looks a lot like a complete sentence:

What is a Fragment?

That is not correct. Please try again.

Click here to see some common

dependent words

Click here to learn why these “sentences” are really fragmentsClick here to learn how these fragments are like sentences

Click here to learn one way to fix these fragments.

Skip this demo

Click to begin

Good. We replace the period with a comma and then add an independent clause to complete the sentence.

Good. We replace the period with a comma and then add an independent clause to complete the sentence.

Good. We replace the period with a comma and then add an independent clause to complete the sentence.

(Click on the period at the end of this fragment)

(Click on the period at the end of this fragment)

(Click on the period at the end of this fragment)

Correct! Without the word “because” at the beginning, this dependent clause becomes independent, turning the fragment into a complete sentence.

Correct! Without the word “while” at the beginning, this dependent clause becomes independent, turning the fragment into a complete sentence.

Correct! Without the word “if” at the beginning, this dependent clause becomes independent, turning the fragment into a complete sentence.

(Click on the dependent word in this fragment)

(Click on the dependent word in this fragment)

(Click on the dependent word in this fragment)

Because Harriet did not attend the meeting last night she did not cast a vote.

While Mike was waiting for the downtown bus he finished the crossword puzzle.

If I knew the answer to the last algebra problem I would explain it to you.,.

,.

,.

A second way to fix these fragments is to complete them by adding an independent clause to the end; in other words, you can add a comma and finish the sentence:

One way to fix them is to remove the dependent word at the beginning

Here are the same three fragments from the first slide:

Fixing Dependent Clause Fragments

That is not correct. Please try again.

Click here to practice fixing dependent clause fragments.But what if we want to keep the dependent word? Click here to learn the second way to fix dependent clause fragments

Click here to learn the first way to fix dependent clause fragments

Skip this demo

Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again.

Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again.

Good! Even though this sentence starts with a dependent clause, an independent clause comes after it.

Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again.

Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again.

Good! Even though this sentence starts with a dependent clause, an independent clause comes after it.

Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again.

Actually, this clause is a fragment. Try again.

Good! The dependent word “unless” makes this clause a fragment.

Good! The dependent word “because” makes this clause a fragment.

Actually, this sentence is complete. “After” does start an dependent clause, but “we” starts an independent one.

Good! The dependent word “when” makes this clause a fragment.

Good! The dependent word “if” makes this clause a fragment.

Actually, this sentence is complete. “Because” does start an dependent clause, but “we” starts an independent one.

Good! The dependent word “after” makes this clause a fragment.

Good! The dependent word “while” makes this clause a fragment.

3. After the movie was over, we had some buffalo wings and watched the game.

2. Because the flu vaccine did not effectively prevent the disease last winter.

1. Unless Michael failed to install the new water heater earlier this morning.

4. When seventeen inches of snow accumulates over a twelve-month period.

5. If either of the boys had noticed the ice on the road while driving home.

6. Because my younger sister is sick, we had to cancel our trip to the beach.

7. After we saw the movie last Thursday night and came back to the house.

8. While Theodore and Ally were updating their Facebook accounts last week.

DONE!

DONE!

DONE!

DONE!

DONE!

DONE!

DONE!

DONE!Correct

Correct

Correct

Correct

Correct

Correct

Correct

Correct

In the following examples, click on the dependent word that creates the dependent clause fragment. If the example is a complete sentence, however, click on “Correct.”

Fixing Dependent Clause Fragments

Please pick a dependent word or click “Correct” Do More Practice

Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “A Mighty Wind” is the subject, and “is” is the verb.)Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “It” is the subject, and “was directed” is the verb.)Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “A Mighty Wind” is the subject, and “stars” is the verb.)Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It does start with a dependent word (“although”), but an independent clause follows the introduction, so the item is a complete sentence. The first subject-verb pair cannot stand on its own, but the second one can. “They” is the subject, and “have never been” is the verb.

Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “This movie” is the subject, and “made” is the verb.Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “The supporting cast members” is the subject, and “play” is the verb.

Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “Famous actors” is the subject, and “steal” is the verb.Actually, this item is NOT a fragment. It is a complete sentence with a subject-verb pair that can stand on its own. “I” is the subject, and “will definitely watch” is the verb.

Good! Now click on the option below that would best fix the fragment you found:

a. Combine with following sentence (“ . . . dog shows, A Mighty Wind stars . . .”)b. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . Christopher Guest after he directed Best . . .”)c. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . Christopher Guest; after he directed Best . . .”)

Good! Now click on the option below that would best fix the fragment you found:

a. Combine with following sentence (“ . . . are so hilarious this movie made me. . .”)b. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . in this film, because the script. . .”)c. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . in this film because the script. . .”)

Good! Now click on the option below that would best fix the fragment you found:

a. Combine with following sentence (“When I was watching it, even though the . . .”)b. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . fell off my futon when I was watching it.”)c. Combine with following sentence (“When I was watching it even though the . . .”)

Good! Now click on the option below that would best fix the fragment you found:

a. Combine with following sentence (“. . . actors are superb, the supporting cast . . .”)b. Combine with previous sentence (“When I was watching it, even though the . . .”)c. Combine with following sentence (“. . . actors are superb; the supporting cast . . .”)

Good! Now click on the option below that would best fix the fragment you found:

a. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . By Christopher Guest; if and when he ever. . .”)b. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . By Christopher Guest, if and when he ever. . .”)c. Combine with previous sentence (“. . . By Christopher Guest if and when he ever. . .”)

1 A Mighty Wind is a movie about a fictitious singing group from the 1960s. 2 It was directed by Christopher Guest after he directed Best in Show, an absolutely over-the-top spoof of dog shows. 4 A Mighty Wind stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara. 5 Although these two actors have worked together before, they have never been as funny as they are in this film because the script and the comic situations are so hilarious. 7 This movie made me laugh so hard that I almost fell off my futon when I was watching it. Even though the major actors are superb 10 the supporting cast members play the most memorable roles. 11 Famous actors such as Jennifer Coolidge, Parker Posey, and Fred Willard steal the show. 12 I will definitely watch the next movie by Christopher Guest if and when he ever directs again.

In the following paragraph, click on the number in front of each dependent clause fragment. For each fragment you find, click on the best correction from the choices that appear in the grey box below the paragraph.

Fixing Dependent Clause Fragments

Try again, please

Please make a choice in the grey boxPlease choose a number from the passage Click Here to Exit!

1 2. After3

4 5

. Because6 7. When8

. The,9

10 1112

. If13