Learn English Sentence Fragments

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Understanding Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence but isn't a complete thought. It might be missing a subject, a verb, or both. Sometimes, it doesn't express a complete idea.
Common Causes of Sentence Fragments
Important Points
  • Missing subject
  • Missing verb
  • Incomplete thought
  • Dependent clause left alone
Let's look at each cause to understand how fragments happen.
Missing Subject
Sometimes, a sentence doesn't have a subject. The subject is who or what the sentence is about.
Examples
  • Ran to the store. (Who ran?)
  • Is very happy. (Who is happy?)
Missing Verb
A sentence needs a verb to show what the subject is doing or being.
Examples
  • The cat on the mat. (What did the cat do?)
  • The boy in the park. (What did the boy do?)
Incomplete Thought
Even with a subject and a verb, a sentence might not be complete if it doesn't express a full idea.
Examples
  • He went to the store because he was hungry. (This needs more information.)
  • She laughed when she heard the joke. (This leaves us wondering what happened next.)
Dependent Clause Left Alone
A dependent clause starts with words like 'because', 'when', 'if', and can't stand alone as a sentence.
Examples
  • Because it was raining. (What happened because it was raining?)
  • When the bell rings. (What happens when the bell rings?)
How to Fix Sentence Fragments
Important Points
  • Add a subject or verb
  • Combine with another sentence
  • Complete the thought
To fix a fragment, make sure it has a subject and a verb, and that it expresses a complete idea. Sometimes, you can add more words or combine it with another sentence.
Examples
  • She ran to the store.
  • The cat sat on the mat.
  • He went to the store because he was hungry and bought some food.
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