fragments = incomplete sentences. usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become...
TRANSCRIPT
Fragments = incomplete sentences. Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause.
Sentence Fragments
Sentence =•Subject•Verb•Complete idea
In the following examples fragments shown in red. Punctuation and/or words added to make corrections are highlighted in blue. Notice that the fragment is frequently a dependent clause or long phrase that follows the main clause.
1) Fragment: Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.
Possible Revision: Purdue offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical,
chemical, and industrial engineering.
2) Fragment: Coach George exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game. Leaving his team at a time when we needed him.
Possible Revision: Coach George exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the
middle of a game, leaving his team at a time when we needed him.
In the following examples fragments shown in red. Punctuation and/or words added to make corrections are highlighted in blue. Notice that the fragment is frequently a dependent clause or long phrase that follows the main clause.
You Try!!! Put a box around the fragment. Circle where the correction should be.
3) Fragment: I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well.
Possible Revision: I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isn't working out too well.
Fragment: The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which is why we believe the proposed amendments should be passed.
Possible Revision: Because the current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands, we believe the proposed amendments should be passed.
You Try!!! Put a box around the fragment. Circle where the correction should be.
More Examples
Fragment: A record of accomplishment beginning when you were first hired. Possible Revisions:
Direct object: I've noticed a record of accomplishment beginning when you were first hired
Fragment: Toys of all kinds thrown everywhere. Possible Revisions:
Complete verb: Toys of all kinds were thrown everywhere. Direct object: They found toys of all kinds thrown everywhere.
A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb or shows the result of the action.
Sentence Fragment PretestF= Fragment, C = Complete
Sentence_____1) However, don't criticize her for acting the way she does. _____2) But determined to prove her point. _____3)We been living in this town for nine years. _____4)If you can't agree with the experts on buying the missiles. _____5)Because of all your arguing and fussing, I am confused now. _____6)Sneaking around like that not making a good impression.
C
F No Subject
F
FIncomplete idea
Missing Verb
C
FIncomplete idea
Sentence Fragment PretestF= Fragment, C = Complete
Sentence_____7) Although the hinges were missing, the door was solid. _____8) With his type of personality, and in spite of his shyness. _____9)Expecting them to tell me to come home. _____10)Which was quite a challenge I can tell you. _____11)In his opinion, thinking of nice things to do is enough. _____12) In addition to the car's unreliability and our lack of cash.
C
FIncomplete Idea
F
FIncomplete idea
Incomplete idea
C
FIncomplete idea
Sentence Fragment PretestF= Fragment, C = Complete
Sentence _____12)On the other side of town where the roads are better.
_____13)On the other hand, he'd look funny in a long cape. _____14)To see her the way she is now amazes me. _____15) Studying all the time and sometimes refusing to stop for dinner. _____16) Because the article was so confusing, I wrote to the editor. _____17) Meaning that she'll get the best grades she can.
C
C
C
FIncomplete idea
C
FIncomplete idea
Sentence Fragment PretestF= Fragment, C = Complete
Sentence _____18) Just as you called, I thinking about you. _____19) Making herself an afternoon snack, she often misses dinner._____20) That noise is making it hard for me to hear. _____21) You'd think she would go on to college, with those good grades. _____22) If they can argue, we can argue, too. _____23)Finally the appointment forgotten by both of them. _____24The lake at the bottom of the field beyond the new bridge.
F
C
C
F
Incomplete idea
C
F
Incomplete idea
FIncomplete idea
Incomplete idea
1. A Maria wasn't watching her plate of barbecue very carefully. B So Santana, the family beagle, snatched a chicken leg hanging over the edge.
C As baked beans and potato salad slid onto Maria's new sandals.
Circle the sentence with the sentence fragment.
A Ever since Andre peeked at Melissa's paper during the biology exam. B Guilt has consumed him. C Even the blueberries floating in his cereal bowl seem like the accusing eyes of Dr. Gregory, his microbiology instructor.
2
A James opened the door of his cluttered refrigerator.B Which caused a pint of blueberries to fall to the floor. C The fruit bounced and rolled everywhere in an explosion of indigo.
3
A Richie loves to walk his friends' dogs at Lake Eola Park. B For example, Kim's Labrador retriever Murphy or Gary's bulldog Kembo. C The fruit bounced and rolled everywhere in an explosion of indigo.
4
A Head down, Lela stared at the textbook on her desk.BShe understood the fragment practice that Mrs. Markham was going over in class.C But was too shy to raise her hand and volunteer an answer.
5
A Joshua found the pressure from the gas in his stomach unbearable. B Although he didn't want to be rude in the middle of geology class. C An explosive belch erupted from his mouth.
A Phillip left work early. B To memorize the vocabulary that his Spanish midterm would test the next day. C But all that he could think about was Beatrice, the cute new sales associate who worked in the camera department.
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A Chewing the dry, tough, whole-grain bread bought from the health food store. B Lorena tried to enjoy her lunchC Fantasizing about a juicy cheeseburger on a soft white bun didn't improve the taste of the soy product sandwiched between leaves of organic lettuce. A My cat Fuzz loves to sleep in inconvenient places. B Lately she prefers the computer table.CWhere her long hair sticks to the mouse pad, covers the keyboard, and clings to the screen of the monitor.
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A Rocking and thrashing like a wild horse that cowboys had lassoed. B The washer complained about its overloaded tub.C At the other end of the Laundromat, Bobby quietly read an old magazine, pretending that it was not his machine. A Day after day, thunderclouds rolled in during the early afternoon.B Making Madison's grass thrive from all of the water.CHer neighbors, however, prayed for a sunny afternoon so that Madison could finally mow the jungle that was the front yard.
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A While cleaning under his bed, Glen heard the vacuum cleaner suck up something hard and metallic.B Glen wanted to know what the object was.C But had no intention of digging through a bag of dust, dead bugs, cat litter, and bathroom hair to find out.
A Farah woke Kirby, the family's ancient German shepherd.B To see if he had fallen asleep on the remote control. C The growl that Kirby rumbled in protest convinced Farah to use the channel buttons on the front of the television instead.
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A Raja knew that his roommate Tina had cupcakes hidden in the apartment. B He looked everywhere.C Including in the clothes hamper, on top of the bookcases, behind the sofa—even under his own bed!—all to no avail.
A Peering around the other students in line, Sylvia tried to see the lunch choices. B The cafeteria selections were disappointing.C For example, greasy fried chicken, soupy sweet-n-sour pork, and a gray mystery meat floating in translucent, lumpy gravy.
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A Struggling up three flights of stairs, her arms filled with the heavy texts for four classes, her backpack loaded with notebooks and other supplies.B Jamala huffed and puffed.C Never again would she register for all of her classes back-to-back on the same days of the week.
A As quietly as possible, Sherri tried to open the one-pound bag of candy on her lap.B Finally, the tough plastic split open.C Causing an explosion of chocolate balls that bounced and rolled down the aisles of Dr. Wilson's chemistry class.
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A A Each morning when Helene is fixing her hair in the bathroom. B She applies many sticky hair products.C During a typical day, she catches more bugs in her coif than most spiders manage to land in their webs in a week.
18
1. While Cynthia dressed for her sister's wedding, Murphy, the golden retriever, ate the straps off the only shoes that matched Cynthia's pale blue dress. Her replacement options were inappropriate.
Like rubber flip-flops, running shoes, fuzzy pink rabbit slippers, or brown leather pumps.
Fragment Sheet 2
When Will stepped out of the shower, he panicked. Realizing that all of his underwear was still in the washing machine. Damp jockey shorts were not a good way to start his day.
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!
2
3
While thunder boomed in the distance, Margaret started off on her daily five-mile run. Confident that she had plenty of time before the storm arrived. Wet hair and clothes plastered to her body proved that she couldn't outpace Mother Nature.
Whenever Coach Moody sees behavior that she doesn't like—either on or off the court. The members of the girls' basketball team pay during the next practice. When Frankie was caught smooching her boyfriend Larry in the hallway, everyone had to run two extra miles that afternoon.
4
5
Making his anxious students relax would have required very little effort. Like a smile when he walked into class or a "Good job" written at the bottom of an essay. Professor Marshall refused to do more than scowl and read from his yellowed lecture notes.
Marcus has no consideration for the ecosystem rich with life in his backyard. When he cuts the lawn, he slows for nothing. As toads, lizards, and insects jump to the sanctuary of bushes to avoid the deadly mower blades.
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7
Each morning, Darren adds guava juice, raw egg, protein powder, raisins, and sardines to a blender. After mixing these ingredients on high for a few seconds, he has breakfast. A drink that will give him plenty of energy and shiny hair.
Horrified, Sherri stared at her reflection in the mirror. Hair sticking out in seventeen different directions, a spot of whipped cream on her chin, and a green pen mark across her nose. Why hadn't her friends at the table mentioned her disarray?
8
9
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.
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.
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While eating the plate of sesame chicken, Maria was thankful for her skill with chopsticks. Eating utensils that required only one hand to use. For Maria's left hand was pinned to the booth by Hunter, her five-year-old son who lay sleeping after a long day of shopping at the mall.
To stay awake for a long evening of chemistry homework. Beth made a huge pot of coffee. Unfortunately, her heart beat so fast and her legs jiggled so violently that the poor girl couldn't concentrate.
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Diane picked at the slice of cheesecake with her car keys. While Nick sucked whipped cream off his fingers. Horrified, Rachel watched her roommates decimate the dessert that she had spent three hours preparing.
Cringing with anxiety at the grade that she might find. Nancy peeked at the last page of the essay. The big red A sent waves of relief radiating through her body.
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Jonathon often tries to shock his English teacher, Mrs. Mauzy, with weird paper topics. Such as eating tarantulas or wearing women's underwear. Mrs. Mauzy remains nonplussed, scandalized only by the number of fragments in Jonathon's essays.
To save enough money to pay tuition, Tanisha keeps a strict budget. She never carries more than three dollars in her wallet. To avoid making impulse purchases like a pizza or CD that will cause her to come up short when registration begins.
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To keep the cat from sleeping on her new convertible's canvas top. Kim leaves the garden hose out. Like a gunslinger in a Western, she "duels" with Rocky, the family's orange tom, who hisses as vehemently as the forceful spray of water.
18
1Marina, the beautiful mermaid, wanted some tuna salad.
2But had a small problem since she was allergic to celery.
3At Sammy’s Sub Shop, Marina hoped to find tuna salad free of this dangerous vegetable.
4Flopping across the tiled floor to the counter. 5Marina placed her order and then checked her sandwich for celery.
Complete sentences have stars; Sentence fragments are underlined.
6Not noticing, however, the spoiled mayonnaise.
7At five o'clock that evening, Marina became violently ill with food poisoning.
8When a lifeguard at the beach discovered the problem, he called 911.
9Even though the mermaid had fishy breath.
10A handsome paramedic gave her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
11Wailing like a sick dog, the ambulance sped off to the hospital.
12Where the doctor on call refused to treat a sea creature with a scaly tail.
13A kind nurse, however, had more sympathy.
14After she found some Pepto-Bismol.
15Marina drank the entire bottle of pink liquid, feeling an immediate improvement.
16The mermaid told the rude doctor never to swim in the ocean.
17For she would order hungry sharks to bite off the doctor's legs.
18While sharp-clawed crabs plucked out his eyes.
19Tossing her long hair, Marina thanked the nurse for the Pepto-Bismol.
20And took a mint from David, the handsome paramedic.
