On this page, you will find:
• a definition of a sentence fragment
• an explanation of why we write sentence fragments
• a check list for identifying and revising sentence fragments in your paper

The Complete Sentence vs. The Sentence Fragment

A sentence fragment is part of a sentence set off by a capital letter and final punctuation.

• Ex. The circus clowns under the big top.


A complete sentence or main clause contains a subject and a verb and is not a subordinating clause, a clause beginning with a word such as "because" or "who." Check out our page on subordinating conjunctions.

• Ex. The circus clowns work under the big top.
  • clowns = subject
  • work = verb


A sentence fragment:

• lacks a verb
  • The colorfully adorned circus clown.
• or lacks a subject
  • Tumbled across the entire length of the arena.
• or is a subordinate clause, or dependent clause, not attached to a complete sentence
  • Into the lap of a ferocious, hungry lion.


Placed together, these fragments form a complete sentence!

• The colorfully adorned circus clown tumbled across the entire length of the arena and into the lap of a ferocious, hungry lion.


This sentence has:

• a subject
  1. clown
• a verb
  1. tumbled
• a coordinating conjunction
  1. and


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An Explanation of Fragments

Why do we write sentence fragments?

We write sentence fragments because we often speak in sentence fragments!

• When we answer a question
  • Example:
    • Q. "What are you doing?"
    • A. "Eating."
    • Q. "When are you going home?"
    • A. "At five o'clock."
• When we give a command
  • Example:
    • Remember running through the halls in elementary school?
    • Your teacher yelled "No running!"
    • She or he spoke in a sentence fragment!


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Identifying and Revising Sentence Fragments

To help you edit your paper, use the following check list:

• Find the verb.
• Find the subject.
• Make sure the sentence is not a subordinate clause.


1) Find the verb:

• Look for the verb in your sentence.
• If you do not have one, then your sentence is actually a sentence fragment.
Fragment: Students in purple boots and green mittens.
• Ask yourself, "Where's the verb? Can I circle it?"
Revised: Students in purple boots and green mittens walk through a terrible storm.
• The verb in the sentence is "walk."


2) Find the subject:

• Once you've located the verb, look for the subject in your sentence.
• If you do not have a subject, then your sentence is actually a sentence fragment.
   

  
   
   

  Fragment: Ran across the street and up a tall, newly blooming tree.

  • Ask yourself, "Who or what performs the action?"
Revised: The kitten ran across the street and up a tall, newly blooming tree.
• The subject of this sentence is "kitten."
Remember: There is a type of sentence where "you" is understood to be the subject:
• (You) Pick up the dirty laundry off the floor.


    In all other cases, a subject is necessary for a sentence to be complete.

3) Make sure the clause is not subordinate.

• A subordinate clause is a clause (with a subject and a verb) introduced by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.
  • See our subordinating conjunction page for a list of subordinating conjunctions.
  • See our relative pronoun page for a list of relative pronouns.
• A subordinate clause is a sentence fragment.
• Subordinate clauses should not be used as complete sentences.
• Subordinate clauses should be joined with complete sentences.
Fragment: When the girl ran across the street
• The subordinating conjunction (when) leads us to ask, "What happened when the girl ran across the street?"


Revised: When the girl ran across the street, she was nearly struck by a car.

Fragment: The girl who ate all the cake.

• In this case, the relative pronoun (who) leads us to ask, "What happened to the girl who ate all the cake?"


Revised: The girl who ate all the cake has icing on her chin.


NOTE: Questions beginning with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun are complete sentences.

Here are some examples of questions, or interrogative sentences, which begin with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun:

• Who is coming to our party?
• Which games should we play first?
• When will the clowns arrive?


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