* Subject: The person, place, or thing performing the action.
* Verb: The action or state of being.
* Complete thought: A clear and independent idea.
Here are some examples of non-sentences:
* Running fast. (Missing a subject)
* The big, red ball. (Missing a verb and complete thought)
* Because I went to the store. (Incomplete thought, a dependent clause)
* And then what happened? (A question, not a statement)
Here's how to distinguish between a sentence and a non-sentence:
* Can it stand alone? A sentence can stand alone and express a complete thought.
* Does it have a subject and verb? A sentence typically has both a subject and a verb.
* Does it make sense on its own? A sentence should be clear and understandable without additional context.
Non-sentences can be useful in certain contexts, such as in poetry or informal conversation. However, they are generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing.