Missing a Subject:
* Ran to the store. (Who ran? We need a subject like "He" or "She")
* Jumping for joy. (Who is jumping? We need a subject like "The child")
* Because it was raining. (This is a dependent clause, it needs an independent clause to be a complete sentence.)
Missing a Verb:
* The big, red ball. (We need a verb to describe what the ball does, like "bounced" or "rolled.")
* Sitting on the porch. (Who is sitting? We need a verb like "She was" or "He sat.")
* In the garden. (We need a verb to describe what is happening in the garden, like "Flowers bloom" or "Birds sing.")
Dependent Clauses:
* Although she tried hard. (This is a dependent clause, it needs an independent clause to be a complete sentence. For example: "Although she tried hard, she didn't succeed.")
* When the bell rings. (This is a dependent clause, it needs an independent clause to be a complete sentence. For example: "When the bell rings, we will leave.")
* Because I was tired. (This is a dependent clause, it needs an independent clause to be a complete sentence. For example: "Because I was tired, I went to bed early.")
Incomplete Thoughts:
* Running late. (This feels incomplete; we need more context. "She was running late" would be a complete sentence.)
* The best day ever! (While this is an exclamation, it lacks a verb and would need more information to be a sentence. For example: "It was the best day ever!")
Remember: A sentence fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence, but is missing a key element (subject, verb, or a complete thought) to be grammatically correct.