Learn to SPOT themLearn to SPOT them

Learn to REWRITE themLearn to REWRITE them

Learn to AVOID themLearn to AVOID them

Sentence FragmentsSentence Fragments

A Complete Sentence has A Complete Sentence has 3 Components:3 Components:

• A subjectA subject• A verbA verb• A complete ideaA complete idea

The detective is looking for clues.The detective is looking for clues.

This sentence has both a subject and a verb. It is a complete sentence

Without thinking about the future.Without thinking about the future.

Where is the subject?Where is the subject?

Where is the verb?Where is the verb?

This sentence lacks a subject and a verb. It is a fragment

Billy, my best friend from college, the world’s strongest man.Billy, my best friend from college, the world’s strongest man.

This sentence lacks a verb. We have a subject, but he is not doing anything.

We can fix the sentence one of two ways:

Billy, my best friend from college, is the strongest man in the world.

Billy, my best friend from college, the world’s strongest man, won a body-building competition.

After they ate a big lunch at Louie’s.After they ate a big lunch at Louie’s.

What about What about subordinate subordinate conjunctions?conjunctions?

Since it begins in a subordinate conjunction, it needs another part to be complete.

Most FRAGMENTS can be fixed simply by changing punctuation.

We love to eat at Vinnie’s. A small Italian restaurant with great atmosphere.

We love to eat at Vinnie’s, a small Italian restaurant with great atmosphere.

Some FRAGMENTS need to Some FRAGMENTS need to be rewritten.be rewritten.

The party which was at Fred’s house last week.The party was at Fred’s house last week.The party which was at Fred’s house last week was fun.