The document discusses sentence fragments and how to identify and repair them. It defines a complete sentence as having a subject, verb, and expressing a complete thought. Fragments are incomplete sentences that are missing one or more of these elements. They can be repaired by either attaching the fragment to a nearby complete sentence, or by adding missing words to make the fragment standalone. The document provides examples of fragments and how to identify them based on whether they contain a verb or subject. It also gives examples of how to repair fragments using attachment or addition.

1. Fragment Sentences Identifying Fragments and Repairing Them

2. What is a Complete Sentence? A complete sentence is an independent clause A complete sentence contains: A subject (at least a noun) A verb (action) A complete thought Example: The smelly old dog (subject) ate (verb) my shoe. (complete thought)

3. What is a Fragment Sentence? A fragment sentence is an incomplete sentence. One or more parts of the complete sentence are missing . Fragments are PHRASES or DEPENDENT CLAUSES Phrase=group of words w/o subject and/or verb Dependent clause=has a verb and subject, but cannot stand on its own, begins w/ dependent word

4. Sentence Building Blocks The parts of a complete sentence are its building blocks. If blocks in the row are missing the sentence can’t stand. It falls apart

5. Fragment Sentence “Baby” A fragment sentence can’t stand on its own. It’s like a baby learning to walk. It needs an adult (independent clause) to keep it from falling over.

6. Examples of Fragments A short course in history. What’s missing? A student sleeping in class. What’s missing? Because I had lost my keys. What’s missing?

7. Identifying Sentence Fragments YES First--Ask yourself IS THERE A VERB? NO IT’S A FRAGMENT Next--Ask yourself IS THERE A SUBJECT? YES IT’S A FRAGMENT NO

8. Identifying Sentence Fragments Next--Ask yourself IS THERE A WORD GROUP THAT DOES NOT HAVE A COMPLETE THOUGHT? (often begins with because or when) YES IT’S A FRAGMENT NO IT’S A COMPLETE SENTENCE

9. Repairing Sentence Fragments Two ways to repair fragment sentences Attach fragment to a nearby sentence Add missing words to the fragment to make it into a complete sentence

10. Attaching Americans have come to fear the West Nile virus. Because it is transmitted by the common mosquito. (FRAGMENT) CORRECT: Americans have come to fear the West Nile virus because it is transmitted by the common mosquito.

11. Adding Running for the bus. (fragment) CORRECT: I twisted my ankle running for the bus.