Sentence Fragment:
* Definition: A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. It lacks a subject, a verb, or both, and therefore cannot stand alone as a complete thought.
* Examples:
* "Running through the park." (Missing subject)
* "Because she loves to cook." (Missing subject and complete verb)
* "The dog, wagging its tail." (Missing verb)
Phrase:
* Definition: A phrase is a group of related words that does not contain a subject and verb working together. It can function as a single part of speech within a sentence.
* Examples:
* Noun Phrase: "The big red ball"
* Verb Phrase: "Will have eaten"
* Prepositional Phrase: "On the table"
* Adjective Phrase: "Very happy"
Key Differences:
* Completeness: Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences, while phrases are complete units within a sentence.
* Function: Phrases act as parts of speech within sentences, while fragments are incomplete thoughts.
* Punctuation: Sentence fragments often have a period at the end, but this is grammatically incorrect. Phrases can be punctuated as part of a sentence.
Example:
"The dog ran quickly. Through the park."
* Sentence: "The dog ran quickly."
* Sentence Fragment: "Through the park."
* Phrase: "Through the park" (prepositional phrase)
In Summary: Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences, while phrases are complete grammatical units that function as parts of speech.