Is it a complete sentence or a fragment?
Key Notes :
✅ Complete Sentence
A complete sentence expresses a complete thought and has:
- A subject (who or what the sentence is about)
- A predicate (what the subject is doing or being)
- Punctuation (begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation point)
Examples:
- The dog barked loudly.
- She is reading a book.
❌ Fragment
A fragment is an incomplete sentence. It may be missing a subject, a predicate, or does not express a complete thought.
Types of fragments:
- Missing Subject
- Ran down the street. (Who ran?)
- Missing Predicate
- The boy in the red shirt. (What did he do?)
- Dependent Clause Fragment
- Because I was late. (What happened?)
- Phrase Fragment
- After the storm. (What happened after the storm?)
🧠 How to Fix a Fragment
- Add the missing subject or verb
- Combine it with another sentence
- Turn the phrase or clause into a complete thought
Example Fix:
- Fragment: When the sun sets.
→ Fixed: We will go home when the sun sets.
🛠️ Tips to Identify Fragments
- Read the sentence out loud. Does it sound complete?
- Check: Who is doing what?
- Look for dependent words (because, when, if, although) that often begin fragments.
- Ask: Can this sentence stand on its own?
Let’s try some problems! ✍️
