Test Yourself

Sentence Fragments

[Harbrace 2]

Review

See Introduction to Sentence Fragments below 

Practice Exercises

• Identifying Complete Sentences

Introduction

A sentence fragment is a group of words punctuated as a sentence, with a capital letter at the beginning and a period at the end, but without some element essential for a complete sentence.

A fragment may lack a subject, a predicate, or some other words necessary for the structure or meaning of a complete sentence.

A fragment may be corrected in these ways: 

• join it to an adjacent sentence; 
• add missing elements to complete the sentence; 
• remove or revise subordinating words so it can stand alone; 
• connect it to related word groups to complete the sentence. 

The following are six examples of fragments and methods for correcting them. 

1. Fragment + Sentence 

Because those sections of Composition 102 were closed. She had to change her entire schedule. 

Possible Revisions 

Because those sections of Composition 102 were closed, she had to change her entire schedule. (Fragment connected to independent clause.) 

OR 

Those sections of Composition 102 were closed. She had to change her entire schedule. (Subordinating word because is removed.)

2. Fragment 

Running down the corridor. 

Possible Revisions 

He was running down the corridor. (Missing subject and predicate are added to complete the sentence.) 

OR 

Running down the corridor, he pushed past the other students. (Independent clause is added to complete the sentence.) 



3. Sentence + Fragment 

All four agreed. To have lunch together at Baker House. 

Possible Revisions 

All four agreed to have lunch together at Baker House.
(Infinitive phrase is connected to the complete sentence.) 

OR 

All four agreed. They then arranged to have lunch together at Baker House. (Subject and predicate are added to complete the sentence.)

4. Sentence + Fragment 

She took one psychology course. And two music classes. 

Possible Revisions 

She took one psychology course and two music classes. (Fragment is connected to the related independent clause.) 

OR

She took one psychology course. She also enrolled in two music classes. (Subject and predicate are added to complete the sentence.)



5. Sentence + Fragment 

The class took the exam. Then waited for the results. 

Possible Revisions 

The class took the exam and then waited for the results.
(Fragment is connected to the independent clause.) 

OR 

The class took the exam. Then they waited for the results.
(Subject is added to complete the sentence.)

6. Sentence + Fragment 

She clutched her notebook. Anxiously with both hands. 

Possible Revisions 

She clutched her notebook anxiously with both hands.
(Fragment is connected to the independent clause.) 

OR 

She clutched her notebook. She held it anxiously with both hands. (Subject and predicate are added to complete the sentence.)