1. Prepositional Phrases:
* Definition: A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition (e.g., "in," "on," "to," "with") and includes an object (usually a noun or pronoun).
* Example: "On the beach" (preposition: "on," object: "the beach")
2. Appositives:
* Definition: An appositive is a noun or pronoun that renames or clarifies another noun or pronoun in the sentence. It's usually set off by commas.
* Example: "My dog, a golden retriever, is named Sparky." ("Golden retriever" renames "dog")
3. Infinitive Phrases:
* Definition: An infinitive phrase begins with an infinitive, which is the base form of a verb preceded by "to." It often includes objects or modifiers.
* Example: "To win the race" (infinitive: "to win," object: "the race")
Why They're Not Always Fragments:
* Prepositional phrases and infinitive phrases can function as modifiers within a sentence, adding information to a noun, verb, or adjective.
* Appositives are also modifiers, providing additional information about the noun they rename.
Example Sentences:
* Prepositional phrase: "The dog with the brown spots is friendly." (The prepositional phrase modifies the noun "dog")
* Appositive: "My sister, a doctor, lives in New York." (The appositive modifies the noun "sister")
* Infinitive phrase: "He wants to travel the world." (The infinitive phrase acts as the object of the verb "wants")
When Are They Fragments?
* Prepositional phrases are fragments if they stand alone without a subject or verb.
* Appositives are not fragments if they are properly attached to a complete sentence. However, they can be misidentified as fragments if they are used incorrectly.
* Infinitive phrases are fragments if they stand alone without a subject or verb.
In summary: Prepositional phrases, appositives, and infinitive phrases are not always fragments. They are frequently parts of a complete sentence. However, they can be fragments if they stand alone without a subject or verb.