English Language Arts
Grade 9
15 min
Identify sentence fragments
Identify sentence fragments
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define a sentence fragment and distinguish it from a complete sentence.
Identify the three main types of sentence fragments: missing subject, missing verb, and dependent clause fragments.
Apply the 'Subject-Verb-Complete Thought' test to any group of words.
Recognize subordinating conjunctions and '-ing' verb forms that often create fragments.
Analyze their own writing to locate and flag sentence fragments for revision.
Explain why using complete sentences is critical for clarity and credibility in academic writing.
Ever send a text that was just 'Because I forgot...' and left the other person confused? 🤔 That's a sentence fragment in action!
This tutorial will teach you how to spot these incomplete thoughts, called se...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SentenceA complete grammatical unit that contains a subject and a predicate (verb) and expresses a complete thought.The protagonist grappled with a moral dilemma.
Sentence FragmentAn incomplete sentence that is punctuated as if it were a complete sentence. It lacks a subject, a predicate, or does not express a complete thought.Grappling with a moral dilemma.
SubjectThe noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb or is the main focus of the sentence. It answers 'Who?' or 'What?'In the sentence 'The author uses foreshadowing,' the subject is 'The author'.
Predicate (Verb)The part of the sentence that tells what the subject is or does. It must be a complete verb, not just a verbal (like an -ing or -ed word alone).In the s...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Subject-Verb Check
A complete sentence MUST have both a subject and a complete predicate (verb).
To test for a fragment, first ask 'Who or what is this about?' to find the subject. Then ask 'What is the subject doing or being?' to find the verb. If either is missing, it's a fragment.
The Complete Thought Test
A complete sentence must express a complete thought. It can't leave the reader waiting for more information.
Read the group of words aloud. Does it sound finished? If it leaves a question like '...what happened?' or '...so what?' hanging in the air, it's likely a fragment.
The Dependent Clause Rule
A dependent clause, even with a subject and a verb, is always a fragment if it stands alone.
Look for words...
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Challenging
In academic writing, why is avoiding sentence fragments considered critical for a writer's credibility?
A.Because fragments make the writing seem more creative and poetic.
B.Because fragments are always too short to contain important ideas.
C.Because using complete, correct sentences demonstrates precision, clarity, and attention to detail.
D.Because teachers have a personal dislike for sentence fragments.
Challenging
Which of the following is a grammatically complete and correct sentence?
A.Although the research was exhaustive, covering hundreds of primary sources and scholarly articles.
B.The committee, after reviewing the evidence, which was presented over three long days of testimony.
C.To prove a thesis requires more than just a strong opinion; it demands rigorous, logical support.
D.The reason for the character's downfall, his hubris and his inability to heed the warnings of others.
Challenging
A student wrote: 'The novel's conclusion was ambiguous. Leaving the reader to question the hero's ultimate fate.' How should this be revised for formal academic writing?
A.The novel's conclusion was ambiguous; leaving the reader to question the hero's ultimate fate.
B.The novel's conclusion was ambiguous, which left the reader to question the hero's ultimate fate.
C.The novel's conclusion was ambiguous. And left the reader to question the hero's ultimate fate.
D.The novel's conclusion was ambiguous, leaving the reader to question the hero's ultimate fate.
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