
HINT: Here are some examples of words that are commonly found in dependent clauses and introductory phrases (see example 1) OR used on their own as an introductory word, also known as transition words. A helium nucleus has two protons, whereas hydrogen has only one.To separate the dependent clause from the independent clause. The added information/dependent clause comes towards the end. > In this example, the independent clause comes at the beginning of the sentence, and Wrong: A helium nucleus has two protons whereas hydrogen has only one.Now, sometimes we encounter one-word sentences that look like. While it may be punctuated to look like a complete sentence, a fragment cannot stand on its own. Sentence fragments, however, tend to lack verbs, which is why they arent real sentences. Sentence fragments are usually missing a subject or verb, or they do not express a complete thought. While I was asleep, the cat knocked over the plant. A sentence fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence, but actually isn’t a complete sentence.WHO and the WHAT), and in the second example, we need a comma to separate the dependent Sentence fragments are common in informal writing and everyday speech. In the first example, we need to add the subject and the verb (the A sentence fragment is a word or group of words that cannot function as a complete sentence.


To sentence, but it cannot stand alone because there is no subject (the cat) or a > In both of these examples, the dependent clause is “while I was asleep.” It adds information Wrong: While I was asleep the cat knocked over the plant.To a sentence but cannot stand alone as its own sentence.Ĭomplete sentence = Dependent clause, independent clause.Ĭomplete sentence = Independent clause, dependent clause. Now we know what the initial clause ("Even though.") is subordinate to.A dependent clause is a clause (or part of a sentence) that adds additional information Notice that now we have added an independent clause (a clause that can stand as a sentence on its own) to this sentence. found").Įven though he worked tirelessly, he failed to complete his paper. Now our sentence has a verb to match our subject ("the students. Some of the students working in the lab found extra supplies. Fragments do not express a complete idea, and so they can. We now know what occurred during the time specified by "During the night". Fragments are one of the major sentence errors that most commonly crop up in student writing. Length is not an indication of a sentence fragment. Not expressing a complete thought: Since she never saw the movie. Missing a verb: The answer to our prayers.

Missing a subject: Slammed the door and left. Now that we have looked at these sentences as fragments, let's take a look at how they would look completed Sentence fragments are simply grammatically incomplete sentencesthey lack one of the three important parts. A sentence fragment is simply a sentence that is missing one of its crucial elements: a subject, a verb, or a complete thought. *A subordinate clause almost always will begin with a prepositional phrase (e.g., "even though", "despite", "although")

This fragment actually contains a subject-verb relationship (he worked), but the phrase "even though" makes it clear that this is a subordinate clause*, and therefore it needs another clause to complete the sentence. Remember, for an -ing verb to be an action, it must be immediately preceded by another verb (e.g., we are working). This clause identifies a subject, but doesn't explain what the subject is doing. Notice that this clause locates something in time/space, but doesn't tell us what is happening. Typically, a fragment lacks a subject-verb relationship.įor example, these are a few sentence fragments: A sentence fragment occurs when a sentence is missing one of the key parts necessary for it to be a complete sentence.
