Sentence Fragments

Fragment is just part of a sentence, or an incomplete sentence. It does not express complete thoughts and is considered to be wrong by grammar rules. There are three main reasons why sentences become fragments: Lack of subject, lack of main verb, or lack of main clause.

 

CORRECTING  SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

 

[1] Lack of subject (or wrong or improper subject): 

Solution: Add a subject to a fragment.

Some sentences do not have subjects. For examples,

• Wrote the story in 1990.

Explanation: There is no subject in this sentence, so it is a fragment.  

Correction: He wrote the story in 1990.

• Read the news every day. 

Explanation: It is not a sentence as there is no subject.
 

Correction: Sophea read the news everyday.

 

Some other sentences have improper subjects. For examples, The subject is not correct; usually those who learn English as a second language make this common mistake. For examples,

• In Cambodia has 14 millions people.

Explanation: There is no subject in the example above; "in Cambodia" is a prepositional phrase functioning as adverb telling place. Thus, it is not the subject. We can use "Cambodia" as subject, or add expletive "there is".

Correction: Cambodia has 14 millions people. or There is 14 millions people in Cambodia.

• Play football is fun.

Explanation: It looks like a sentence, but not. "Play" here is a verb; thus, it can't be subject. We correct it by changing "play" to a verbal, i.e. "playing" or "to play".  

Correction: Plying football is fun. or To play football is fun.

Note: Do not be confused with imperative sentences which the subjects are hidden and understood as "you". For examples,

• Close the book.
• Follow him.

Explanation: The subject of these two sentences is "you": (You) Close the book. and (You) follow him.

[2] Lack of main verb:

Solution: Add a main verb to a fragment.
 

Sentences are incomplete without main verbs. For examples,

• The book interesting.

Explanation: There is no main verb in this sentence; thus add one main verb will correct the mistake, i.e. 

Correction: The book is/seems/looks interesting.

• She can English. 

Explanation: The verb "can" is just an auxiliary verb, so the sentence is incomplete. To correct it, we add one main verb.

Correction: She can speak English.

• The car (that) he bought expensive.

Explanation: You may see "bought" as the main verb, but it is not. It is just the main verb in the clause "that he bought" modifying the "the car"; thus, there is no main verb. To correct it, we add one main verb.

Correction: The car that I bought was expensive.

[3] Lack of main clause

Solution: Attach a main clause to a fragment.

Subordinate clauses can't be sentences unless they are attached to a main clause. For examples,

• Because I was sick.

Explanation: "Because I was sick" is an adverb clause telling reason. The meaning is incomplete; thus, it needs attaching to a main clause.

Correction: I didn't go to work because I was sick.

• When I arrive home.

Explanation: "when I arrive home" is an adverb clause telling time. The meaning is incomplete; thus, it needs attaching to a main clause.

Correction: I will call you when I arrive home.

• If I were rich.

Explanation: "If I were rich" is an adverb clause telling condition. The meaning is incomplete; thus, it needs attaching to a main clause.

Correction: I would buy that phone if I were rich.

• After having breakfast.

Explanation: "After having breakfast" is a reduced adverb clause telling reason. The meaning is incomplete; thus, it needs attaching to a main clause.

Correction: I leave for school after having breakfast.

• That is interesting.

Explanation: "That is interesting" is an describing something,  so it is an adjective clause. The meaning is incomplete; thus, it needs attaching to a main clause.

Correction: I've read a book that is interesting.

• Whom we met.

Explanation: "Whom we met" is an describing someone,  so it is an adjective clause. The meaning is incomplete; thus, it needs attaching to a main clause.

 Correction: The lady whom we met is a CEO.

•   How to do it.

Explanation: "How to do it"  is something, so it is a noun clause. The meaning is incomplete; thus, it needs attaching to a main clause.

Correction: Can you tell me how to do it?

• What you like.

Explanation:  "What you like"  is something, so it is a noun clause. The meaning is incomplete; thus, it needs attaching to a main clause.

Correction: Nobody knows what you like.