1. How to Identify and Correct Them
Fragments
How to Identify and Correct Them
NEC FACET Center

2. What makes a sentence a sentence?
A sentence must have
A subject
A verb
A complete thought (says something about something)
Complete sentence
subject
verb
complete thought

3. The main action of a sentence
Grammar review
A verb is:
The main action of a sentence
The dog barked at the furry rabbit.
All of the choir members sang in unison.
Verna discovered a new way of researching.

4. Grammar review A subject is: The part of a sentence that the
main verb is speaking directly about
The dog barked at the furry rabbit.
All of the choir members sang in unison.
Verna discovered a new way of researching.

5. Sorry. A fragment is missing something.
What is a fragment?
An incomplete thought, posing as a sentence. (It is not a complete sentence.)
A fragment is missing.
Sorry. A fragment is missing something.

6. Which of these are fragments?
In the morning, I bought.
Because the drive home seems so long.
Talking to the neighbor downstairs.
From morning to night.
These are either missing a subject or a verb, or they are not making a complete thought.
All of these phrases
are fragments.

7. There are 4 main types of fragments.
Dependent-word fragments
-ing and to fragments
Added-detail fragments
Missing-subject fragments

8. 1. Dependent word fragments
However, they do not make a complete thought.
These are tricky because they do have a subject and verb.

9. Clauses A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.
An independent clause contains a subject, a verb, and makes a complete thought.
A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb, but it does not make a complete thought.
A dependent clause depends on an independent clause to complete the thought.
Dependent Clause
Independent Clause
Complete Sentence

10. Independent Clause Example: Bob joined the circus. Verb Subject
The entire sentence makes a complete thought
This sentence contains a subject, a verb, and makes sense when it stands alone.

11. Dependent Clause Example: Although the book belonged to Jim.
Don’t leave me hanging!
Example: Although the book belonged to Jim.
verb
subject
This sentence has a subject and a verb, but it leaves us hanging.

12. Example: Even though the coffee shop is open late in the evening.
Subordinating words
Certain words can change an independent clause into a dependent clause.
These are called subordinating conjunctions, and they introduce a dependent clause.
Example: Even though the coffee shop is open late in the evening.
Subordinating conjunction

13. Subordinating Conjunctions
Watch out for these words!
After, although, though, as, because, before,
even though, how, if, even if, in order that,
since, that, so that, unless, until, what,
whatever, when, whenever, where, wherever,
whether, which, whichever, while, who, whoever,
whose, once, provided that, whereas, rather than

14. Correcting Dependent Statements
Revision method #1: take away the subordinating conjunction and capitalize the next word.
Example: Even though The coffee shop is open late in the evening.
Subordinating conjunction
This method tends to create short, choppy sentences. Use it sparingly!

15. Correcting Dependent Statements
Revision method #2: combine the dependent clause with an independent clause to create a complete sentence.
Example: Even though the coffee shop is open late in the evening, it is not open 24 hours.
Subordinating Conjunction
Independent Clause
Rule: If the dependent clause includes a subordinating conjunction and comes at the beginning of the sentence, use a comma to set it apart from the independent clause.
This lets the reader know the information before the comma cannot stand alone as an independent statement.

16. These do not make complete thoughts.
Examples:
These do not make complete thoughts.
After you take out the trash, please help me wash the dishes.
After you take out the trash.
Since the mail carrier brought the mail late.
Until we buy a new microwave.
We did not get the letter until 5:00 p.m. since the mail carrier
brought the mail late.
Until we buy a new microwave, we will have to make our
popcorn on the stove.

17. Can you fix these dependent-word fragments?
Whenever the timer rings.
After we meet with my daughter’s teacher.
Which came as quite a surprise since we had no idea.

18. Things to remember:
Use a comma if the dependent clause is at the beginning of a sentence.
Do NOT use a comma if the dependent clause is at the end of a sentence.
Ex: Even though it was 2:30 a.m., the telephone rang.
Ex: The telephone rang even though it was 2:30 a.m.

19. 2. –ing and to fragments Trying to thread the needle.
These thoughts
are incomplete.
I spent several minutes trying to thread the needle.
Trying to thread the needle.
To become a better writer.
To finish this paperwork by noon today.
Flying in on United from San Diego.
To become a better writer, you must practice writing several
times a week.
I will try to finish this paperwork by noon today.
My cousin will be flying in on United from San Diego.

20. Identifying -ing fragments
These fragments often lack a subject.
They usually refer to the subject in the previous sentence.
Example: I stayed at home all day. Waiting for the doctor to return my call.
The –ing fragment is referring to the subject I.

21. Identifying -ing fragments
Sometimes -ing fragments lack a subject and a verb.
She plans to visit France. During summer break.
The –ing fragment is referring to the subject she from the previous sentence. It is also referring to the verb phrase plans to visit.
Who is doing what during the summer semester?

22. Correcting -ing fragments
Attach the –ing fragment to the sentence before it or after it according to what makes sense.
She plans to visit France. During summer break.
Nearing the school zone. I slowed the car to 25 miles per hour.
She plans to visit France during summer break.
Nearing the school zone, I slowed the car to 25 miles per hour.

23. Correcting -ing fragments
Add a subject and change the –ing verb to the correct form. Check for subject-verb agreement.
Studying constantly. I will succeed in English.
The business grew last year. Including a new IT division.
I study constantly, so I will succeed in English.
The business grew last year to include a new IT division.

24. Correcting to fragments
Attach the fragment to the sentence before it or after it depending on what makes sense.
I plan on leaving Friday. To go hiking in the mountains.
To ensure his prompt arrival. Paul left the house twenty minutes early.
I plan on leaving Friday to go hiking in the mountains.
To ensure his prompt arrival, Paul left the house twenty minutes early.

25. Can you fix these fragments?
Wanting more out of life.
To wash dishes, clean the house, and mow the lawn.
Keeping the dog for my sister-in-law.

26. 3. Added-detail fragments
These are missing a subject, a verb, or both.
Especially
Except
For example
Including
Such as
Also
They sometimes begin
with one of these words.

27. Examples of added-detail fragments
I love the new picture frames you bought, especially the blue,
red, and yellow ones.
Especially the blue, red, and yellow ones.
Including some of the old pictures I found in the attic.
For example, the yellow rose bushes in the backyard.
I will bring some family pieces to the reunion, including some old
pictures I found in the attic.
For example, I will trim the yellow rose bushes in the backyard.

28. Correcting added-detail fragments
Attach the fragment to the preceding sentence to make a complete thought.
Rule: Use a comma before transitional words (except, such as, for example, including).
Except when I fall out of the boat.
My favorite summer activity is sailing, except when I fall out of the boat!

29. Correcting added-detail fragments
2. Add a subject and verb to make it a complete sentence.
Example: Like flames under his feet!
Aaron dances like there are flames under his feet!

30. Can you fix these fragments?
Except for the macaroni and cheese.
For example, the bus station on Harvard.
Such as eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee.

31. 4. Missing-subject fragments
Then I forgot to take a pen and paper with me.
And then forgot to take a pen and paper with me.
Also, began to complain against my supervisor.
But discovered nothing was there except for a piece of paper with my name on it.
She also began to complain against my supervisor.
Now these are correct!
These are all missing a subject!
But I discovered there was nothing there except for a piece of
paper with my name on it.

32. Correcting missing-subject fragments
Missing-subject fragments, like –ing and to fragments, usually refer to the subject in the previous sentence.
2 ways to correct these fragments:
1. attach it to the preceding sentence.
2. add a subject.
Each sentence must have a subject and a verb!
Do not assume the subject and verb carry over from the preceding sentence.

33. Can you correct these fragments?
Began watching the show without her because I didn’t want to wait.
And stopped in at the front desk on her way to the elevator.
Bargain shopped for a long time before he found this amazing piece.

34. Last tip: To decide whether a group of words is
a sentence or a fragment,
Look from one period to another period and ask:
Does this have a subject and a verb?
Does it make a complete thought?

35. Locate the fragments in this paragraph by looking from one period to another period.
Tomorrow we will begin our new diet. Which consists of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and some lean meats. Because we will crave fatty foods. We will need to stay away from McDonald’s and load our kitchen with healthy foods. Making sure we keep a log in our food journals. When the weekend comes. We will treat ourselves. To one ice-cream cone from Braum’s and one other high-calorie snack. I am ready for this diet. Because I am tired of feeling sluggish and overweight.

36. (The fragments are in bold.) How can we fix these?
Tomorrow we will begin our new diet. Which consists of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and some lean meats. Because we will crave fatty foods. We will need to stay away from McDonald’s and load our kitchen with healthy foods. Making sure we keep a log in our food journals. When the weekend comes. We will treat ourselves. To one ice-cream cone from Braum’s and one other high-calorie snack. I am ready for this diet. Because I am tired of feeling sluggish and overweight.

37. Tomorrow we will begin our new diet, which consists of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and some lean meats. Because we will crave fatty foods, we will need to stay away from McDonald’s and load our kitchen with healthy foods. We will also keep a log in our food journals. When the weekend comes, we will treat ourselves to one ice-cream cone from Braum’s and one other high-calorie snack. I am ready for this diet because I am tired of feeling sluggish and overweight.

38. Keep these rules in mind as you edit your work.
Remember. . .
Keep these rules in mind as you edit your work.