Sentence Fragments

What is a Fragment?

Fragment: a group of words that is missing a part of a

complete sentence

Reminder: A complete sentence includes a subject (noun)

and an action (verb), and it must express a complete

thought.

How to Spot a Fragment?

Ask yourself:

Does the group of words have a subject?

Does it have a verb?

Does it express a complete thought?

If the answer to any of these questions are no then the

group of words create a fragment.

Examples of Sentence Fragments

The car was very old. But stylish.

Because he wanted to be up early. He knew he needed to

go to sleep.

Feeling depressed. Jan walked home silently.

Where is the Fragment?

Brittany was a little nervous about Monday. Because of her

first grammar activity presentation.

A. Brittany was a little nervous about Monday.

B. Because of her first grammar activity presentation.

C. Neither of them

D. Both of them

Why?

Where is the Fragment?

The flowers smelled sweet. Like fruit or candy.

A. The flowers smelled sweet.

B. Like fruit or candy.

C. Neither of them.

D. Both of them.

Why?

When are Fragments

Unacceptable?

Professional Writing:

Every Word Counts

Fragments can make your writing confusing

Fragments make your writing informal

Examples: Formal Essays and other writing assignments

Examples: Cover letters

When are Fragments Acceptable?

Professional Writing:

To create a casual or conversational tone.

Example: Does this mean that we should follow the rule of fragments all the

time in our writing? Not necessarily.

Advertising:

To create a casual tone, but with a punch.

Examples:

When are Fragments Acceptable?

Creative Writing:

To convey a sense of fragmentation and to give a stronger description

Example: “IT was a brain. A disembodied brain. An oversized brain, just enough

larger than normal to be completely revolting and terrifying. A living brain. A

brain that pulsed and quivered, that seized and commanded. No wonder the brain

was called IT.” (p. 158, A Wrinkle in Time, Madeline L’Engle)

In dialogue

Example: “I can’t. Too much work to do.”

Example: “Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.”

Example: “I’ve searched everywhere,” she said, defeated. “Except, perhaps, the

drugstore on Main Street.”

Review

What are Fragments?

How can you spot a fragment?

Why are they not appropriate for some professional

writing pieces?

When are they appropriate?

Now It’s Your Turn! Please pull out your short stories and try to find sections where you have

or could have used sentence fragments. Please share with the class.

Sources

http://www.sophia.org/tutorials/using-sentence-fragments-wisely

http://www.sophia.org/tutorials/using-sentence-fragments-wisely--2

http://writersrelief.com/blog/2008/03/the-scoop-on-sentence-fragments/