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 independent 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. ments.htm

WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

Fragments There are three different types of sentence fragments RenamerAdverb-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. 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. 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. 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, I got an A on my project.

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 Purdue University. 3 Apr 2007.

WORKS CITED Marchant, Becky. "Common Causes of Sentence Fragments." LEO: Literacy Education Online. St. Cloud State University. 18 August LEO. 3 Apr Marchant, Becky. "Common Causes of Sentence Fragments." LEO: Literacy Education Online. St. Cloud State University. 18 August LEO. 3 Apr "Fragments." Handouts and Links Writing Center, UNC at Chapel Hill. 3 Apr "Fragments." Handouts and Links Writing Center, UNC at Chapel Hill. 3 Apr 2007.