Sentence Fragments

Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences, disconnected from the main clause. They are not a complete thought and can not stand by itself (they have no independent clause).

Example: Because of the snow.

→ Because of the snow, what happened?

For a sentence to be complete, it must contain an independent clause, which tells the whole story even without context.

Compare sentence fragments and sentences.

Dependent clauses: fragments

Independent clauses: sentences

Note: sentences can have dependent clauses but must have an independent clause

  • Examples:

--> In Paris, during the last world war and before his presidency

--> Some of the graduate students working in Professor Mateo's office last semester.

--> Even though his ideas were by far the most appealing and reasonable.

How do you fix these?

There are multiple ways to fix sentence fragments. One way is to combine fragments with a main, independent clause. In some cases, subjects and/or verbs may be needed, as well as other kinds of punctuation.

Examples:

Fragment: The college offers many majors. Such as biology, political science, and engineering.

Sentence: The college offers many majors, such as biology, political science, and engineering.


Fragment: I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now is too loud.

Sentence: I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now is too loud.


Fragment: The current school policy on grades is unfair for students who don’t have access to computers. Which is why the teachers believe the proposed amendments should be passed by the school board.

Sentence: Because the current school policy on grades is unfair for students who don’t have access to computers, the teachers believe the proposed amendments should be passed by the school board.


Fragment: A dog with white, fluffy fur. --> no main verb

Sentences:

  1. She saw a dog with white, fluffy fur.

  2. Mrs. Johnson’s dog, a dog with white, fluffy fur, loves to play with neighborhood kids.


Fragment: With the ultimate goal of all athletes is to win the Olympics. --> no subject

Sentence: The ultimate goal of all athletes is to win the Olympics.

Take the practice quiz below to test your understanding of sentence fragments!

After you take the quiz, click this bar to reveal the answers of the quiz.

Answers:

  1. Sentence (A)

  2. Sentence fragment (B)

  3. Sentence fragments never contain independent clauses (C)

  4. She talks to her dad (A)

  5. B

  6. 2nd and 6th answer choice

  7. 1st and 3rd answer choice