Avoiding Sentence Fragments

Sentences vs. Fragments

Complete Sentence

• has a subject and a predicate/verb

• has a punctuation mark that ends the sentence (period, exclamation mark, question mark)

• expresses a complete thought

• INDEPENDENT CLAUSE-- because it can stand alone

Fragment

• may only have a subject and not a predicate/verb or vice versa

• missing some either subject or verb

• does not have a punctuation mark to end the sentence

• does NOT express a complete thought

• DEPENDENT CLAUSE-- it cannot stand alone; it's missing something

Extra Tip for Fragments

• sometimes, fragments will have a word in front of it that will make you wonder what will happen next

• Example: When we got to our seat on the train,

• You are probably wondering what happened when they got to their seat on the train

• the word, "when", made it a fragment

• take out the word, "when", and read the words aloud

Multiple Choice

Pick the Fragment.

• The girl went to the store.

• When she ran

• Jessica baked a cake.

Multiple Choice

Pick the Sentence.

• I bought them.

• During their trip, they

• Talking on the phone today

Multiple Select

Pick the Sentences.

• Jake played soccer.

• My family

• After sunset, some horses galloped across the field.

• When we came

Multiple Choice

What's missing, subject or predicate/verb?

After Laura threw it over the fence, she

• subject

• predicate/verb

Multiple Choice

Is this a sentence or a fragment?: Did Daniela buy pie for dessert?

• Sentence

• Fragment

Multiple Select

Pick the Fragments.

• Even her brother

• Bella danced across the floor.

• What did he

• Emily and Jason

• It kicked me.

Multiple Choice

Is this a sentence or a fragment?: While John talked to his friend on the phone

• Sentence

• Fragment

Multiple Select

Pick the Fragments.

• While she left the car

• She left the car.

• He went to the game.

• After he went to the game

Multiple Choice

What's missing, subject or predicate/verb?

flew across the country to see her brother

• subject

• predicate/verb

Multiple Choice

What's missing, subject or predicate/verb?

The red circle that went around the entire math problem

• subject

• predicate/verb

Multiple Select

Pick the Sentences.

• Vegetables are good for you.

• Is my favorite movie

• Is this my favorite movie?

• Are good for you

Poll

How confident are you about this lesson? (This is not graded.)

• Very confident

• Good

• Ok

• I barely understand this.

• I'm very confused. I don't understand anything at all.