Fragments & Ravens

Where is the sentence fragment?
Maria wasn't watching her plate of barbecue very carefully. So Santana, the family beagle, snatched a chicken leg hanging over the edge.  As baked beans and potato salad slid onto Maria's new sandals.

• Maria wasn't watching her plate of barbecue very carefully.
• So Santana, the family beagle, snatched a chicken leg hanging over the edge.
• As baked beans and potato salad slid onto Maria's new sandals.

Where is the sentence fragment?
Phillip left work early. To memorize the vocabulary that his Spanish midterm would test the next day.  But all that he could think about was Beatrice, the cute new sales associate who worked in the camera department.

• Phillip left work early.
• To memorize the vocabulary that his Spanish midterm would test the next day.
• But all that he could think about was Beatrice, the cute new sales associate who worked in the camera department.

Where is the sentence fragment?
Ralph spent all of his savings on a diamond ring to give to his girlfriend Melanie. A greedy young woman who had a box full of expensive trinkets from ex-boyfriends. Melanie was always looking for the man with the fattest wallet.

• Ralph spent all of his savings on a diamond ring to give to his girlfriend Melanie.
• A greedy young woman who had a box full of expensive trinkets from ex-boyfriends.
• Melanie was always looking for the man with the fattest wallet.

Where is the sentence fragment?
Joey idolizes his older brother David.  Combing his hair in the style that David wears, drinking coffee black with five sugars, and giving teachers the same lame excuses for late homework. As a consequence, everyone calls Joey “David” by mistake!

• Joey idolizes his older brother David. 
• Combing his hair in the style that David wears, drinking coffee black with five sugars, and giving teachers the same lame excuses for late homework. 
• As a consequence, everyone calls Joey “David” by mistake!

Where is the sentence fragment?
Like amber honey, Helene's long hair dripped over her shoulders and spilled down her back.  Styling products, moreover, made the tresses as sticky as pancake syrup. Catching pieces of thread, feathers, dust, and even an occasional insect that buzzed too close.

• Like amber honey, Helene's long hair dripped over her shoulders and spilled down her back. 
• Styling products, moreover, made the tresses as sticky as pancake syrup. 
• Catching pieces of thread, feathers, dust, and even an occasional insect that buzzed too close.

How do you fix this fragment?
With her heavy dictionary, Donna thumps the top of her ancient computer monitor. 
Whenever the color tint flickers from normal to sickly yellow.

• dictionary Donna
• monitor whenever
• flickers. From
• no change necessary

How do you fix this fragment?
Karlene drove slowly through the heavy traffic. Anticipating a bag of microwave popcorn and a couple of hours in front of the television as her reward for a hard day at work.

• traffic, anticipating
• popcorn, and
• television. As
• no change necessary

Where is the sentence fragment?
Lying awake in the dark room, staring up at the shadows that danced across the ceiling. Jason worried about the shuffling and thumps that he heard outside. Raccoons—not hungry zombies with grabbing arms—were prowling behind the house.

• Lying awake in the dark room, staring up at the shadows that danced across the ceiling.
• Jason worried about the shuffling and thumps that he heard outside.
• Raccoons—not hungry zombies with grabbing arms—were prowling behind the house.

How do you fix the sentence fragment?
Even though the windows leak and the paint is peeling, Georgette loves her old pickup truck. The vehicle that has dependably taken her everywhere since junior year of high school.

• truck; the 
• truck the
• truck, the

Tempest

• a violent windy storm
• something temporary
• a high temperature