Fragments

Learning ObjectivesAfter reading this chapter, you will be able to:

Recognize dependent clause fragments

Correct dependent clause fragments

Recognize phrase fragments

Correct phrase fragments

Correct extra-information fragments

Learning ObjectivesAfter reading this chapter, you will be able to:

Recognize missing-information fragments

Correct missing-information fragments

What Is a Fragment?

A fragment is an incomplete idea that cannot stand alone as a sentence. Dependent clause fragments Phrase fragments Missing-information fragments

Recognizing and Correcting Dependent Clause Fragments Dependent clause fragments are dependent

clauses that are not attached to independent clauses.

In the example, the fragment is “Even though people said the Brooklyn Bridge couldn’t be built.”

(The dependent words are in bold.)

What Is a Fragment?

There are two main strategies for fixing dependent clause fragments: Attach the fragment to another sentence. Turn the fragment into a complete

sentence.

What Is a Fragment?

Perhaps the easiest way to correct a dependent clause fragment is to attach it to another sentence:

What Is a Fragment?

Another way to correct a dependent clause fragment is to remove the dependent word and let the rest stand alone:

What Is a Fragment?

Recognizing and Correcting Phrase FragmentsPhrase fragments are the most

common type of fragments: -ing word fragments to fragments extra-information fragments

Recognizing and Correcting Phrase Fragments Fix –ing word fragments.

An –ing fragment is a phrase that begins with the –ing form of a verb. Example:

Wandering around the classrooms is the fragment in the following:

On back-to-school night, parents crowd the school. Wandering around the classrooms.

Recognizing and Correcting Phrase Fragments Fix an –ing word fragment by attaching the –ing phrase to the sentence

before or after it.

Fragment: On back-to-school night, parents crowd the school. Wandering around the classrooms.

Corrected: On back-to-school night, parents crowd the school, wandering around the classrooms.

Recognizing and Correcting Phrase FragmentsFix a –ing word fragment by turning the -ing phrase into a sentence. Do this by adding a subject and a verb.

Fragment: On back-to-school night, parents crowd the school. Wandering around the classrooms.

Corrected: On back-to-school night, parents crowd the school. They enjoy wandering around the classrooms.

Recognizing and Correcting Phrase FragmentsFix a to fragment by attaching it to the sentence before or after it.

Fragment: A teacher must be very patient. To work with young children.

Corrected: A teacher must be very patient to work with young children.

Recognizing and Correcting Phrase Fragments Fix an extra-information phrase fragment by turning into a sentence on its own.

Fragment: Many people don’t consider how much effort teachers put into back-to-school night. Especially the work of setting up the classroom.

Corrected: Many people don’t consider how much effort teachers put into back-to-school night. Setting up the classroom is one of the biggest hurdles.

Recognizing and Correcting Missing-Information Fragments Fix a missing-information fragment by providing the missing information to turn the

fragment into a complete sentence.

Fragment: Teachers have stressful jobs. And parents, too.

Corrected: Teachers have stressful jobs. Parents also face pressure at work.