Predictable Problems in Sentence Structure 03: Sentence Fragments.

My method for demonstrating these predictable sentence problems is to use simplified sentences that illustrate the problem and solution clearly and to conclude with some long sentences in which the problem is almost hidden.

Question: What are some problems that you can predict will appear in students’ writing?

Answer: sentence fragments are incomplete sentences. Examples: “The roof in the yard.” “Riding her new bicycle.” “After the rain stopped.”

Solution: Add a subject or verb. Add to an already existing complete sentence, either preceding or following the fragment.

Simplified sentence: The Phillies played. After the rain stopped.
Correction: The Phillies played after the rain stopped. (Added to the preceding complete thought.)

Simplified sentence. After the hurricane. The roof in the yard.
Correction: “After the hurricane, the roof lay in the yard.” (Added verb--"lay"--to the subject "roof.")

Simplified sentence: She was on the sidewalk. Riding her new bike.
Correction: “She was on the sidewalk riding her new bike.” (Added to the preceding complete thought.)

Once again, the problem with most sentence fragments is in longer sentences where the fragment is almost hidden.

Here are two long sentences containing fragments from Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition, 1986.

Fragment: “Elizabeth established a school for girls. Feeling depressed by the economic plight of her family, which now consisted of her mother, four sisters and four brothers.” p. 274.

Corrected: Feeling depressed by the economic plight of her family, which now consisted of her mother, four sisters and four brothers, Elizabeth established a school for girls. (Placed fragment after the preceding complete sentence, "Elizabeth established a school for girls.")

Corrected: Elizabeth established a school for girls because she was feeling depressed by the economic plight of her family, which now consisted of her mother, four sisters and four brothers.” (Added subject and verb.)

Fragment: “When told that it would be impossible for a woman to become a doctor, she determined to follow her dying friend’s advice. Not certain how she should proceed against the forces of prejudice.” p. 274.

Corrected: “When told that it would be impossible for a woman to become a doctor, she determined to follow her dying friend’s advice, although she was not certain how she should proceed against the forces of prejudice.” (Added subject and verb.)

And don’t forget that many an author uses sentence fragments on purpose to vary style. If you commit sentence fragments NOT on purpose and want to practice correcting sentence fragments, put the topic, “sentence fragments,” in Google and you will find 1,700,000 Web sites, most of them with exercises and explanations.

All the best. RayS.