4. We could add more information and say He will go walking after the rain stops. Could we also say He will go walking. After the rain stops..? No
5. To further understand how to avoid fragments, it’s necessary to look at the difference between independent and dependent clauses.
6. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone and be considered a complete sentence. He will go walking after the rain stops. IndependentDependent
7. A dependent clause cannot. It must be attached to an independent clause as part of the same sentence.
8. The word “after” is a subordinating conjunction, and putting this word before “the rain stops” (an independent clause) turns it into a dependent clause. Therefore, “after the rain stops” cannot be a complete sentence.
9. There are several such subordinators to watch out for, that convey relationship between two separate ideas: Cause/Effectbecause, since, so that Comparison/Contrastalthough, even though, whereas, while Place/Manner how, however, where, wherever Conditionalif, whether, unless Relation that, which, who Time after, as, before, since, when, whenever, while, until
10. Why can’t the dependent clause stand alone? Try writing it as a sentence: After it stops raining. (What’s going to happen then?) Every sentence is an idea by itself, and needs to make logical sense even when taken out of the context of the paragraph.
11. Why is this important? In a paragraph, you might think it’s okay to say “He will go walking. after the rain stops” because the first sentence will help convey the overall meaning of both sentences. But what if you add your next sentence: He will go walking. After the rain stops. His mother is coming over. Are you saying: He will go walking after the rain stops. or After the rain stops, his mother is coming over. ..?
12. The purpose of writing is to communicate, and in order for information to be shared efficiently and clearly, it is very important to maintain proper sentence structure. Fragments can disrupt the flow of ideas in a paper and even cause misinterpretation on the reader’s part.
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14. Be able to recognize subordinators when you see them and the relationships they indicate.
15. When you find a subordinator, identify the dependent clause and make sure it is attached to an independent clause.
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