24 Fragments

This chapter will explain how to avoid the most common types of fragments. A fragment
is a word group that lacks a subject or a verb and/or one that does not express a complete
thought.

FRAGEMENT:

Whenever I go to school.

“Whenever,” a dependent word, cannot introduce a complete thought, so it cannot

stand alone.

CORRECT SENTENCE:

Whenever I go to school, I take the bus.

The fragment introduces a complete thought.

Every sentence must have a subject and a verb and must express a complete thought. A
word group that lacks a subject or a verb and fails to express a complete thought is a fragment.
Here are the most common types of fragments:

1. Dependent-word fragments

2. -ing fragments

3. Added-detail fragments

4. Missing-subject fragments

Dependent-Word Fragments
Some word groups that begin with dependent words are fragments. When you start a
sentence with a dependent word, be careful not to create a fragment.
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Below, the word group beginning with after is a fragment:

After I cashed my paycheck. I treated myself to dinner.

A dependent statement—which begins with a dependent word like after—cannot stand

alone; it is a “fragment”. It depends on another statement to complete the thought. After I
cashed my paycheck leaves us hanging. We want to know what happened after the writer
cashed the check.

To correct the fragment, simply complete the thought:

After I cashed my paycheck, I treated myself to dinner.

As you can see, dependent statements by themselves are fragments. They must be attached
to a statement that makes sense standing alone.

I won’t leave the house. Until I hear from you.

Rick finally picked up the socks. That he had thrown on the floor days ago.

Until I hear from you is a fragment; it does not make sense standing by itself. We want to
know what cannot happen until I hear from you. Likewise, That he had thrown on the floor …
is not a complete thought. What does that refer to?

How to Correct a Dependent-Word Fragment

Often, you correct a dependent-word fragment by attaching it to the sentence that comes
after it or to the one that comes before it.

After I cashed my paycheck, I treated myself to dinner.

(The fragment has been attached to the sentence that comes after it.)

Rick finally picked up the socks that he had thrown on the floor days ago.

(The fragment has been attached to the sentence that comes before it.)

You can also connect a dependent-word fragment by removing the dependent word and
rewriting the sentence:

I cashed my paycheck and then treated myself to dinner.

I will wait to hear from you.

He had thrown them on the floor days ago.

TIPS

a. Use a comma if a dependent-word group comes at the beginning of a sentence, but

not generally if it comes at the end of a sentence.
Comma: After I cashed my paycheck, I treated myself to dinner.
No comma: I won’t leave the house until I hear from you.

b. Sometimes who, that, which, or where appear not at the very start but near the
start of a word group. A fragment can result:

I drove slowly past the old brick house. The place where I grew up.

The place where I grew up is not a complete thought. We want to know in the
same statement where was the place? To correct the fragment attach it to the
sentence that came before:

I drove slowly past the old brick house, the place where I grew up.

Activity 1
 Turn each of the following dependent-word groups into a sentence by adding a
complete thought. Use a comma after the dependent-word group if a dependent word
starts the sentence. Note the examples.
EXAMPLES

Although I felt miserable

Although I felt miserable, I tried to smile for the photographer.

The man who found my wallet

The man who found my wallet returned it the next day.

1. If I don’t get a raise soon

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2. After visiting the museum

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3. Because I had just gotten paid

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4. Until the new mall opened

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5. The restaurant that we tried

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 Activity 2

Underline the dependent-word fragment in each item. Then rewrite the items,
correcting each fragment by attaching it to the sentence that comes before or the sentence
that comes after it—whichever sounds more natural. Use a comma after the dependent-
word group if it starts the sentence.

1. Whenever I spray deodorant. My cat arches her back. She thinks she is hearing a
hissing enemy.

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2. Philadelphia was originally a Quaker colony. That was founded by William Penn
in 1681. By 1777, it had become the capital of the new United States.

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3. If Kim takes too long saying good-bye to her boyfriend. Her father will start
flicking the porch light. Then he will come out with a flashlight.

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4. Scientists are studying mummified remains. That are thousands of years old. Most
of the people were killed by parasites.

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 5. Roman law was first recorded in 450 B.C. in what was known as the “twelve
tablets.” It lasted for many centuries. Until the fall of the eastern Roman Empire
nearly 2,000 years later.

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-ing and to Fragments

When an -ing word appears at or near the start of a word group, a fragment may result.
Such fragments often lack a subject and part of the verb. In the items on the following page,
underline the word groups that contain -ing words. Each is a fragment.

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1. Ellen walked all over the neighborhood yesterday. Trying to find her dog Bo. Several
people claimed they had seen him only hours before.

2. We sat back to watch the movie. Not expecting anything special. To our surprise, we
clapped, cheered, and cried for the next two hours.

3. I telephoned the balloon store. It being the day before our wedding anniversary. I knew
my wife would be surprised to receive a dozen heart-shaped balloons.

People sometimes write -ing fragments because they think that the subject of one sentence
will work for the next word group as well. Thus, in item 1 the writer thinks that the subject
Ellen in the opening sentence will also serve as the subject for Trying to find her dog Bo. But
the subject must be in the same sentence.

How to Correct -ing Fragments

 1. Attach the fragment to the sentence that comes before it or the sentence that comes
after it, whichever makes sense. Item 1 could read “Ellen walked all over the
neighborhood yesterday trying to find her dog Bo.”

2. Add a subject and change the -ing verb part to the correct form of the verb. Item 2
could read “We didn’t expect anything special.”

3. Change being to the correct form of the verb be (am, are, is, was, were) . Item 3 could
read “It was the day before our wedding anniversary.”

How to Correct to Fragments

When to appears at or near the start of a word group, a fragment sometimes results:

At the Chinese restaurant, Tim used chopsticks. To impress his date. He spent one
hour eating a small bowl of rice.

The second word group is a fragment and can be corrected by adding it to the preceding
sentence:

At the Chinese restaurant, Tim used chopsticks to impress his date.

Activity 3

Underline the -ing fragment in each of the following items. Then correct the item by
using the method described in parentheses.

EXAMPLE
Including the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, the United States, and other countries.
The Arctic Circle is the area that surrounds the Earth’s North Pole. (Add the fragment to
the sentence that comes after it.)
Including the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, the United States, and other
countries. The Arctic Circle is the area that surrounds the Earth’s North Pole.

1. Ramses II ruled over Egypt from 1279 to 1212 B.C. Making his country stronger
than ever before. He was both ambitious and intelligent.
(Add the fragment to the preceding sentence.)

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2. A noisy fire truck suddenly raced down the street. Coming to a stop at my house.
My home security system had sent a false alarm.
(Correct the fragment by adding the subject it and changing coming to the proper
form of the verb, came.)

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3. I couldn’t find any books on Egyptian history in the library. They had all been
checked out. The reason for this being that a research paper had just been assigned
to students in an ancient history class.
(Correct the fragment by changing being to the proper form of the verb, was.)

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Activity 4

Underline the -ing or to fragment in each item. Then rewrite each item, correcting the
fragment by using one of the three methods described above.

1. Looking at the worm on the table. Shelby groaned. She knew she wouldn’t like
what the biology teacher said next.

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 2. I put a box of baking soda in the freezer. To get rid of the musty smell. However,
my ice cubes still taste like old socks.

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3. Searching for the right filament for his incandescent light bulb. Thomas Edison
(1847–1931) found that a strip of carbonized bamboo could glow for 1,200 hours.

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4. Jerome sat quietly at his desk. Fantasizing about the upcoming weekend. He might
meet the girl of his dreams at Saturday night’s party.

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5. To get his company to grow rapidly. Harvey Firestone launched a vigorous

marketing compaign. In 1906, he sold 2,000 sets of tires to the Ford Motor
Company.

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Added-Detail Fragments
Added-detail fragments lack a subject and a verb. They often begin with one of the
following words:

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Underline the one added-detail fragment in each of the following items:

1. Before a race, I eat starchy foods. Such as bread and spaghetti. The carbohydrates
provide quick energy.

2. Bob is taking a night course in auto mechanics. Also, one in plumbing. He wants to
save money on household repairs.

3. My son keeps several pets in his room. Including hamsters and mice.

People often write added-detail fragments for much the same reason they write -ing
fragments. They think the subject and verb in one sentence will serve for the next word group.
But the subject and verb must be in each word group.

How to Correct Added-Detail Fragments

1. Attach the fragment to the complete thought that precedes it. Item 1 could read “Before
a race, I eat starchy foods such as bread and spaghetti.”

2. Add a subject and a verb to the fragment to make it a complete sentence. Item 2 could
read “Bob is taking a night course in auto mechanics. Also, he is taking one in
plumbing.”

3. Insert the fragment within the preceding sentence. Item 3 could read “My son keeps
several pets, including hamsters and mice, in his room.”
 Activity 5

Underline the fragment in each of the following items. Then make it a sentence by
rewriting it, using the method described in parentheses.
EXAMPLE
My mother likes watching daytime television shows. Especially old movies and soap
operas. She says that daytime television is less violent. (Add the fragment to the
preceding sentence.)
My mother likes watching daytime television shows. Especially old movies and soap
operas.

1. Luis works evenings in a video store. He enjoys the fringe benefits. For example,
seeing the new movies first.
(Correct the fragment by adding the subject and verb he sees.)

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2. Henry Ford (1863–1947) is credited with the invention of the assembly line, not
the automobile. Several nineteenth-century inventors had designed self-propelled
vehicles. Like the one that ran on high-pressure steam.
(Attach the fragment to the preceding sentence.)

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3. Electronic devices keep getting smaller. Such as video cameras and cell phones.
Some are so tiny they look like toys.
(Correct the fragment by inserting it in the preceding sentence.)

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Activity 6

Underline the added-detail fragment in each item. Then rewrite to correct the
fragment. Use one of the three methods described on the previous page.

1. Left-handed students face problems. For example, right-handed desks. Spiral

notebooks can also be uncomfortable to use.
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2. Some European countries remained neutral during World War II. Such as
Switzerland and Portugal. Most South American countries refused to take sides as
well.

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3. Hundreds of moths were swarming around the stadium lights. Like large flecks of
snow. However, I knew they couldn’t be snow—it was eighty degrees outside.

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4. Trevor buys and sells paper collectors’ items. For instance, comic books and
movie posters. He sets up a display at local flea markets and carnivals.

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5. I know why I had to learn certain subjects in high school. Such as American
history. Becoming a responsible citizen requires a knowledge of our country’s
past and of its system of government.

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Missing-Subject Fragments
In each item below, underline the word group in which the subject is missing:

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1. Alicia loved getting wedding presents. But hated writing thank-you notes.

2. Mickey has orange soda and potato chips for breakfast. Then eats more junk food, like
root beer and cookies, for lunch.

How to Correct Missing-Subject Fragments

1. Attach the fragment to the preceding sentence. Item 1 could read “Alicia loved getting
wedding presents but hated writing thank-you notes.”

2. Add a subject (which can often be a pronoun standing for the subject in the preceding
sentence). Item 2 could read “Then he eats more junk food, like root beer and cookies,
for lunch.”

Activity 7

Underline the missing-subject fragment in each item. Then rewrite that part of the
item needed to correct the fragment. Use one of the two methods of correction described
above.

1. Every other day, Kara runs two miles. Then does fifty sit-ups. She hasn’t lost
weight, but she looks trimmer and more muscular.

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 2. I like all kinds of fresh pizza. But refuse to eat frozen pizza. The sauce is always
dried out, and the crust tastes like leather.

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3. Many people are allergic to seafood. They break out in hives when they eat it. And
can even have trouble breathing.

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4. When we arrived in Chicago, we took a train from the airport to the center of the
city. Then walked a few blocks to our hotel. The trip was easy.

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5. Next fall, I plan to take a course in calculus. And to join the mathematics club. By
the time the year is over, I will have decided whether to become a mathematics
teacher.

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A Review: How to Check for Sentence Fragments

 1. Read your paper aloud from the last sentence to the first. You will be better able to see
and hear whether each word group you read is a complete thought.

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2. If you think a word group may be a fragment, ask yourself, Does this contain a subject
and a verb and express a complete thought?

3. More specifically, be on the lookout for the most common fragments:

• Dependent-word fragments (starting with words like after, because, since, when, and before)

• -ing and to fragments (-ing and to at or near the start of a word group)

• Added-detail fragments (starting with words like for example, such as, also, and especially)

• Missing-subject fragments (a verb is present but not the subject)

Review Test 1

Each word group in the following student paragraph is numbered. In the space provided,
write C if a word group is a complete sentence; write F if it is a fragment. You will find eight
fragments in the paragraph.

________ 1. 1I’m starting to think that there is no safe place left. 2To ride

________ 2. a bicycle. 3When I try to ride on the highway, to

________ 3. go school. 4I feel like a rabbit being pursued by predators.

________ 4. 5Drivers whip past me at high speeds. 6And try to see how
 ________ 5. close they can get to my bike without actually killing me.

________ 6. 7When they pull onto the shoulder of the road or make a

________ 7. right turn. 8Drivers completely ignore my vehicle. 9On city

________ 8. streets, I feel more like a cockroach than a rabbit. 10Drivers

________ 9. in the city despise bicycles. 11Regardless of an approaching

________ 10. bike rider. 12Street-side car doors will unexpectedly open.

________ 11. 13Frustrated drivers who are stuck in traffic will make nasty

________ 12. comments. 14Or shout out obscene propositions. 15Even

________ 13. pedestrians in the city show their disregard for me. 16While

________ 14. jaywalking across the street. 17The pedestrian will treat

________ 15. me, a law-abiding bicyclist, to a withering look of disdain.

________ 16. 18Pedestrians may even cross my path deliberately. 19As if to

________ 17. prove their higher position in the pecking order of the city

________ 18. streets. 20Today, bicycling can be hazardous to the rider’s

________ 19. health.

________ 20.

Now (on separate paper) correct the fragments you have found. Attach the fragments to
sentences that come before or after them or make whatever other change is needed to turn each
fragment into a sentence.
Review Test 2

Underline the two fragments in each item below. Then make whatever changes are needed
to turn the fragments into sentences.

EXAMPLE

Sharon was going to charge her new .

 She remembered her New Year’s .

1. We both began to tire. As we passed the halfway mark in the race. But whenever I’d
hear Reggie’s footsteps behind me. I would pump my legs faster.

2. The American Southwest is home to several Native American nations. Such as the
Navajo, the Apache, and the Pueblo. The East is the land of the Huron and Iroquois.
Along with the Delaware and the Mohegan.

3. Punching all the buttons on his radio in sequence. Phil kept looking for a good song. He
was in the mood to cruise down the highway. And sing at the top of his voice.

4. My children joke that we celebrate “Hanumas.” With our Jewish neighbors. We share
Hanukkah and Christmas activities. Including making potato pancakes at their house
and decorating our tree.

5. Pop artists gained fame in the 1950s. Reacting to the more established art forms like
expressionism, which preceded them. They portrayed common images from everyday
life. Such as Coke bottles and soup cans.

6. Our landlord often invites her tenants to dinner. And allows them to use her washer and
dryer. By doing such things. She has become known as the kindest person in our
neighborhood.

7. The alley behind our house was flat. Except for a wide groove in the center. We used to
sail paper boats down the groove. Whenever it rained hard enough to create a “river”
there.

8. Don passed the computer school’s aptitude test. Which qualifies him for nine months
of training. Don kidded that anyone could be accepted. If he or she had $4,000.

Review Test 3

Turn each of the following word groups into a complete sentence.

EXAMPLES

With trembling hands

With trembling hands, I headed for the front of the classroom.

As the race wore on

Some runners dropped out as the race wore on.

1. After the storm passed

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2. Such as fresh fruits and vegetables

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3. During the mystery movie

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4. Because we have prepared so well for the exam

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5. Enrique, who works at his uncle’s restaurant

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6. Swimming across the lake

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7. To enter the rare-book room

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8. Hurrying to get dressed

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9. Up in the attic

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10. E-mailing his parents

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