Fragments

Fragments

English 9

Open Ended

What is this sentence missing?

Floating on the river

Fragments

Of course, that one’s easy to spot. The ACT will give you sentence fragments so long that by the time you’ve read to the end of them, you’ll have forgotten where you started. You’ll commonly see fragments in which the entire sentence is a dependent clause. If you read a sentence out loud and it lacks a sense of completion or the whole thing just sounds weird by the end, chances are it’s a sentence fragment

Fragment Example #1

Wrong: People who have a sense of entitlement and feel absolutely no sympathy for those less fortunate even when they take advantage of their services.

Correct: People who have a sense of entitlement and feel absolutely no sympathy for those less fortunate even when they take advantage of their services make me sick

In the first example, it never finishes the thought. The wrong answer leaves the reader saying “so what”

Fragment Example #2

Wrong: Because my broken heart, which you have left hardly beating in my chest, is the reason for my endless suffering.

Correct: My broken heart, which you have left hardly beating in my chest, is the reason for my suffering.

In the wrong example, the sentence begins with Because, but we have no idea what that means. Because your broken heart….you what??

Fragment Example #3

Wrong: John Mulaney, the New York comedian, being one of the funniest celebrities alive.

Correct: John Mulaney, the New York comedian, is one of the funniest celebrities alive.

Example three is missing its verb.

Fragment Example #3

Wrong: I made peanut butter cookies. And I know how much you love peanut butter.

Correct: I made peanut butter cookies, and I know how much you love peanut butter.

Fragments

In everything we read, sentences that start with conjunctions are everywhere. On the ACT, however, a sentence that starts with a conjunction like and is considered a fragment and must be corrected, at least where it’s underlined. 

There is no absolute way to fix a sentence fragment. On the ACT, the simpler ones are easy to spot and fix. Oftentimes, the trickier ones will involve removing words like who, which, although, because, since, and despite.

Multiple Choice

For centuries, eating in a restaurant being considered a social event.

• No Change

• was being

• has been

• is

Multiple Choice

Business meetings, family gatherings, special events, and many other occasions celebrating in restaurants.

• No Change

• are celebrating

• are celebrated

• celebrated

Multiple Choice

This is not necessarily because serving a large crowd at home is a lot of work, but more because the food and drinks are served by others, allowing everyone in the group to relax and socialize without worrying about empty plates or glasses.

• No Change

• others. Allowing

• others; allowing

• DELETE the underlined portion

Multiple Choice

Some restaurants that cater specifically to families and children, though they are the exception rather than the rule.

• No Change

• catering

• are catering

• cater

Multiple Choice

Unfortunately, eating a meal in a restaurant with three children under the age of ten is anything but relaxing. Especially for the waiters and waitresses who serve them.

• No Change

• relaxing, especially

• relaxing;

• relaxing, and especially

Multiple Choice

The Continental Diner in my town, which has a special section just for children so that they are isolated from the customers who want a nice and quiet conversation over dinner.

• No Change

• children to keep them

• children, keeps them

• children, keeping them

Multiple Choice

Tony's toys, which were hidden in the cupboard so that nobody could get to them.

• NO CHANGE

• toys which

• toys,

• toys

Multiple Choice

When I was given the opportunity to speak in front of the graduating class as if I were some celebrity or movie star.

• NO CHANGE

• I

• However I

• Even when I

Multiple Choice

Dumping him on the first date because he smelled so bad even though she knew he had just returned from a wrestling match.

• NO CHANGE

• Dumping, him

• She dumping

• She dumped him

Multiple Choice

The negative thoughts that were constantly on Floyd's mind as he got into the ring.

• No Change

• thoughts, that were

• thoughts that

• thoughts were

Multiple Choice

Disgusted by the lack of cleanliness in the men's bathroom yet curious about the sanitation in the ladies' room.

• No Change

• Disgusting

• I am disgusted

• I disgusted