{"id":181,"date":"2024-02-01T18:01:05","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T23:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/grammarbasics\/?post_type=chapter&p=181"},"modified":"2026-01-26T14:14:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T19:14:44","slug":"fragments","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/grammarbasics\/chapter\/fragments\/","title":{"raw":"Fragments","rendered":"Fragments"},"content":{"raw":"Let's start this chapter with -- a pop quiz!\r\n\r\n \r\n
\r\n

The Three Required Elements of a Sentence<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"9\"]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Fragments<\/h3>\r\nThe word\u00a0fragment<\/em> means a piece of something, not the whole thing. When I think of fragments, I think of a broken egg shell, like this one:\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_232\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]\"\" Fragments of a broken egg shell on a plate.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nAll those little pieces are fragments of the shell. They are parts of the whole object.\r\n\r\nSentence fragments are the same kind of thing: they are words that may have some<\/span> of the three required components of a sentence but not all of them. The following groups of words are all fragments.\r\n\r\n \r\n

Sailed into the rough seas.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n \t
  • \r\n
      \r\n \t
    • \r\n
        \r\n \t
      • missing a subject<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

        Yalmaz, charging across the field.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n

          \r\n \t
        • \r\n
            \r\n \t
          • \r\n
              \r\n \t
            • missing a verb (chargin<\/em>g<\/em> is an impostor verb<\/strong>)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

              If Alex completes their exam early.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n

                \r\n \t
              • \r\n
                  \r\n \t
                • \r\n
                    \r\n \t
                  • does not express a complete thought<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n
                    \r\n

                    PRACTICE: Identify the Missing Component<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

                    \r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"15\"]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n

                    Fixing Fragments<\/h3>\r\nIf a fragment is missing required elements of a sentence, then the best way to fix it is to add whatever required elements are missing.\r\n\r\nEXAMPLE 1:\r\n

                    Into the rough seas.<\/em><\/p>\r\nThis one is missing a subject<\/strong>, so let's add that element.\r\n

                    The boat<\/span> sailed into the rough seas.<\/em><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\nEXAMPLE 2:\r\n

                    Yalmaz, charging across the field.<\/em><\/p>\r\nThis one is missing a verb. The -ing<\/em> verb\u00a0charging<\/em> doesn't count. Let's add a proper verb.\r\n\r\n \r\n

                    Yalmaz charged<\/span> across the field.<\/em><\/p>\r\n

                    Yalmaz is charging<\/span> across the field.<\/em><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\nEXAMPLE 3:\r\n

                    If Alex completes their exam early.<\/em><\/p>\r\nThis last one is the most common type of fragment; it's a dependent clause<\/strong>. As we know from the previous chapter, a dependent clause isn't a sentence on its own. You need to add an independent clause<\/strong> beside it to complete the sentence. Let's do that.\r\n

                    If Alex completes their exam on time, they will have time to double-check their answers<\/span><\/em>[footnote]You may find the use of \"their\" awkward here, but I promise, it's totally grammatically correct and appropriate. The gender-neutral pronouns \"they\", \"them\", and \"their\" are commonly used to denote a single person.[\/footnote]<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\r\n \r\n

                    \r\n

                    PRACTICE: Fix These Fragments<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

                    \r\n\r\nIn a separate document or piece of paper, fix the following sentence fragments by adding the missing components. Check your work with the answer key below, and if your answers are different, send me a quick email to ask for quick feedback!\r\n\r\n1. Sherlock Holmes, master of mysteries.\r\n
                    \r\n
                    2. Whenever Sherlock Holmes deduces a solution to a case.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                    \r\n
                    3. Although Sherlock Holmes relies heavily on deductive reasoning.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                    \r\n
                    4. The brilliant detective, solving mysteries with ease.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                    \r\n
                    5. Pipe smoke swirling around Sherlock Holmes.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                    \r\n
                    6. Examines clues meticulously with his magnifying glass.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                    \r\n
                    7. As Sherlock Holmes meticulously examines the evidence.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                    \r\n
                    8. London fog thickening around Holmes' head.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                    \r\n
                    9. If Sherlock Holmes encounters a perplexing mystery.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                    \r\n
                    10. Charges into the room with Watson in tow.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\r\n
                    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                    <\/div>\r\n
                    \r\n
                    [h5p id=\"16\"]<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n ","rendered":"

                    Let’s start this chapter with — a pop quiz!<\/p>\n

                     <\/p>\n

                    \n
                    \n

                    The Three Required Elements of a Sentence<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

                    \n
                    \n