Understanding Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment lacks one or more of the essential components of a complete sentence:
* Subject: The person, place, thing, or idea that performs the action.
* Verb: The action or state of being.
* Complete Thought: A sentence must express a complete idea.
Methods to Fix Sentence Fragments
1. Add a Subject: If the fragment is missing a subject, add one.
* Fragment: "Running down the street."
* Complete Sentence: "The dog was running down the street."
2. Add a Verb: If the fragment is missing a verb, add one.
* Fragment: "The bright blue car."
* Complete Sentence: "The bright blue car sparkled in the sunlight."
3. Combine with a Previous Sentence: If the fragment makes sense when attached to the sentence before it, join them together.
* Fragment: "With a smile on her face."
* Complete Sentence: "She walked into the room, with a smile on her face."
4. Expand the Fragment: If the fragment is missing information, add details to make it a complete thought.
* Fragment: "Because it was raining."
* Complete Sentence: "We stayed inside because it was raining."
5. Use a Dependent Clause: Fragments often contain dependent clauses (clauses that can't stand alone). Combine them with an independent clause to form a complete sentence.
* Fragment: "While they were eating dinner."
* Complete Sentence: "While they were eating dinner, the power went out."
Examples
* Fragment: "Walking to the store."
* Complete Sentence: "I was walking to the store."
* Fragment: "The red ball."
* Complete Sentence: "The red ball bounced across the playground."
* Fragment: "Before the game started."
* Complete Sentence: "We practiced our cheers before the game started."
Remember: It's important to practice identifying sentence fragments and using these methods to turn them into complete sentences. With practice, you'll become proficient in writing clearly and effectively!