Fragments
Fragments
What is a fragment?
A fragment is a sentence that expresses an incomplete thought.
There are a few kind of fragments:- The “missing subject” fragment tells us something is happening, but the sentence doesn’t say who or what is doing the action, like this:
Trying to see the craters on the moon. - The “added detail” fragment occurs when a sentence begins with a transition, gives us an example about something, and then stops, like this:
Such as craters. - The “to” fragment occurs when a sentence starts with a “to” verb, but doesn’t finish the thought, like this:
To see the craters on the moon. - The “dependent clause” fragment is a sentence that has a subject and a verb, but the thought isn’t complete, like this:
When the boy squinted into the telescope.
The way to fix a fragment is simple. Just connect the fragment to the sentence that comes before or after it, and helps it to make sense, like this:
The boy looked into the telescope, trying to see the craters on the moon.
Or add the missing information:
The boy is trying to see the craters on the moon.
Tips to Remember:
Fragments are incomplete sentences that don’t make sense on their own. They can be fixed easily by using a comma to connect them to an existing sentence that makes them complete or by providing the missing information.
Still have questions? Come see us – SWC Coles Classroom Bldg. - CB 116
Page last updated June 26, 2023.