Fragments

A fragment is a piece of a sentence that is punctuated as a complete sentence, but it does not express a complete thought. Once you learn how to identify fragments, you can avoid them in your writing.

A complete sentence must have both a subject and a verb. If one or both are missing or if the subject and verb are introduced by a dependent word, you have only part of a sentence, a fragment. Even if it begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, it cannot stand alone and must be corrected in your writing.

Type 1: -ing Fragments

Breaking the sidewalk. The oak tree is large and strong.

Correction 1: Connect the fragment to the sentence before or after it.

Example: Breaking the sidewalk, the oak tree is large and strong.

Correction 2: Make the fragment into an independent clause.

Example: The oak tree is breaking the sidewalk. The oak tree is large and strong.

Type 2: to Fragments

Some people have moved. To live in the heart of town.

Correction 1: Connect the fragment to the sentence before or after it.

Example: Some people have moved to live in the heart of town.

Correction 2: Make the fragment into an independent clause.

Example: Some people have moved. They live in the heart of town.

Hint: A to fragment can also occur at the beginning of a sentence. In this case, insert a comma between the two sentence parts when correcting the fragment.

To live in the heart of town, some people have moved.

Type 3: Dependent-Clause Fragments

Because there are no malls here. We go to another city to shop.

Correction 1: Connect the fragment to the sentence before or after it.

Example: Because there are no malls here, we go to another city to shop.

Correction 2: Make the fragment into an independent clause.

Example: There are no malls here. We go to another city to shop.

Hint: If the dependent clause comes first, put a comma between the two parts of the sentence. If the dependent clause comes second, the comma...