Is it a complete sentence or a fragment?
Key Notes:
Complete Sentence
- Definition: A complete sentence expresses a complete thought and has at least one subject and one predicate.
- Components:
- Subject: The person or thing that performs the action or is described.
- Predicate: The action or state of being.
- Example: “The dog ran quickly.”
- Subject: The dog
- Predicate: ran quickly
Fragment
- Definition: A fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought and is incomplete.
- Characteristics:
- May lack a subject, predicate, or both.
- May be a dependent clause or an incomplete idea.
- Example: “Because I was tired.”
- Incomplete: It does not express a full thought and
- leaves the reader wondering what happened.
How to Identify Fragments
- Check for a Subject and Predicate:
- Ensure the sentence has both a subject and a predicate.
- Complete Thought:
- Ask if the sentence expresses a full idea or thought.
- Subordinate Clauses:
- Look for clauses that begin with conjunctions like “because,” “although,” or “when,” which may indicate a fragment if not followed by a main clause.
Common Fragments
- Missing Subject or Predicate: “Ran to the store.” (What ran? Who ran?)
- Dependent Clauses: “Although it was raining.” (What happened because it was raining?)
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