2. A fragment is an incomplete sentence, which means it
is lacking something crucial.
It may lack a subject
It may lack a verb
It has an incomplete verb
It begins with a conjunction, but the thought or
statement is incomplete.

3. It may lack a subject: After going for a walk.
Clearly, this group of words needs a subject to
answer the question: WHO?
After going for a walk, Loretta took a shower.

4. It may lack a verb: The day after tomorrow
Clearly, this group of words needs an answer to the
question “What about it?”
The day after tomorrow is my birthday.
The verb “is” completes the thought.

5. It may have an incomplete verb: The dog prancing
around.
The “ing” verb form, prancing, needs a helping verb
to complete the thought.
The dog was prancing around.

6. It may have a subject and a verb, but it may begin
with a conjunction and not contain a complete
statement or thought.
Before you go home.
“you” is the subject. “go” is the verb. “Before” is the
conjunction that turns this into an incomplete
statement.
To fix this, finish the statement: Before you go
home, turn off the lights.

7. Let’s practice fixing fragments by adding the
missing parts of the sentence:
Once dinner is served …
Once dinner is served, we will start eating.
The dog with the bone…
The dog with the bone growled at me.
Courses in math and science…
Courses in math and science will help you succeed.

8. Let’s fix some more fragments by adding the missing
parts of the sentence:
Looking for gold
The prospector was looking for gold.
Since he had closed his eyes at the flash, they had to
retake the photo.
For over a month
While he looked for work
For over a month, he collected unemployment while he
looked for work.

9. The next two slides contain your graded
assignment for this lesson.
Please download the slides and complete
them. Turn them in with all of your Unit 3
work.

10. Directions: Underline the fragments in the following paragraph. There
are 5 in all.
Samuel Adams gets little credit for his role in the American Revolution.
Because he never became president. These days his name is well-
known because of the beer named after him. Which is popular all
over the country. But especially in New England.
To see so many people drinking a bottle of beer with his face on it. Sam
Adams might have laughed. Or sued the company for trademark
infringement.

11. Directions: Fix the fragments by turning them into complete sentences.
Two of the questions are already complete sentences. Leave those alone.
1. On the ground beneath her nest
2. Home is where the heart is
3. Finding the way home
4. Once you have chosen a good topic
5. Matthew, the brother I never knew
6. Because his car was not working
7. After the rain stops
8. Fix the fragments before you turn in your work.
9. My sister, who is also a teacher
10. To mold your life the way you choose