Fragments

By Marcus and James

What are sentence fragments

A

SENTENCE FRAGMENT

fails to be a sentence in the sense that it cannot stand by itself. It does not contain even one i

ndependent clause

. There are several reasons why a group of words may seem to act like a sentence but not have the wherewithal to make it as a complete thought.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/frag ments.htm

WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

An independent clause has a subject and a

verb

and can stand alone because it expresses a complete thought.

EXAMPLES: The prisoner

was given

no trial. Democracy

has

its problems, too.

Fragments

There are three different types of sentence fragments

Renamer Adverb -ing

Renamers

These fragments rename or give further information about the last noun in the preceding sentence. Example: Blocking my driveway was a car.

A huge SUV.

Renamers

Blocking my driveway was a car. A huge SUV. Correction: Blocking my driveway was a car, a huge SUV .

The fragment renames the noun car.

Renamers

Example I have to commute on the beltway. The highway from hell.

The highway from hell is the

renamer

fragment.

Renamers

The correct connecter to use is a comma.

Correction: I have to commute on the beltway, the highway from hell.

Adverb fragments

In this fragment sentence there are adverb clauses that tell when, where, and especially why something happened.

Adverb fragments

Example: Yesterday’s traffic was worse than usual. Because there was an accident.

The adverb fragment is, “Because there was an accident.”

Adverb fragments

Don’t use a comma to connect most adverb fragments.

Correction: Yesterday’s traffic was worse than usual because there was an accident.

-ing fragments

These fragments begin with the –ing form of a verb.

-ing fragments

Example: I beeped my horn a couple of times. Letting the driver know I had to get out.

-ing fragments

I beeped my horn a couple of times. Letting the driver know I had to get out. Correction: • I beeped my horn a couple of times, letting the driver know I had to get out.

-ing fragments

-ing fragments explain something about the meaning of the preceding sentence. In this example, the –ing fragment explains why the writer beeped the horn. I beeped my horn a couple of times, letting the driver know I had to get out.

-ing fragments

Example: Today, I actually left home on schedule. Showing that I can be on time if I try.

The –ing fragment in the sentence is

Showing that I can be on time if I try.

-ing fragments

Use a comma to connect an –ing fragment.

Correction: Today, I actually left home on schedule, showing that I can be on time if I try.

Correcting Fragments

If the fragments are renamers or –ing, there is a good chance you will have to add a comma.

Correcting Fragments

But if it is an adverb fragment, you would not usually need punctuation to connect the two sentences: I got an A on my project

because I put my best effort into it.

The only time you use punctuation, like a comma, is if and only if the fragment starts with the adverb clause:

Because I put my best effort into it,

my project. I got an A on

Works cited

Beason, Larry. A Commonsense Guide to Grammar and Usage. 4th. New York: Bedford/St.Martin, 2006 Stolley, Karl . "Sentence Fragments." Owl Online Writing Lab. 12 march 2003. Purdue University. 3 Apr 2007 .

WORKS CITED

Marchant, Becky. "Common Causes of Sentence Fragments."

LEO: Literacy Education Online

. St. Cloud State University. 18 August 2000. LEO. 3 Apr 2007 .

"Fragments."

Handouts and Links

Writing Center, UNC at Chapel Hill. 3 Apr 2007 .