1.
Fragments
Fragments are incomplete sentences. Simply
speaking, a fragment sentence lacks a subject or
verb or both i.e a word group that lacks a subject
or a
verb and does not express a complete thought is a
fragment.
when you want to construct a complete sentence,
you
must remember the following two requirements: -
1.It must have a subject and a predicate (verb) that
actually appear or are clearly implied.
2. It must not start with a connecting word such as
although, as, because, before, and while unless
independent clauses follow immediately in the
same
construction.
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ENGLISH PRIVATE SCHOOL
The most common types of fragments :
1. Dependent-word fragment
2. ing and to fragment
3. Added-detail fragment
4. Missing-subject fragments
1.Dependent-Word Fragments
Some word groups that begin with a dependent
word
are fragments.
Here is a list of common dependent words:
Common Dependent Words
After, if, even if, when, whenever, although,
though,
in order that, where, wherever, as, since
whether,
because, that, so that, which, whichever, before,
unless, while, even though, until, who how what,
whatever whose
Examples of fragments
After I had done it. I slept.
She was cooking food. While I was doing my
exercise.
Although he worked hard. He failed.
How to Correct Dependent-Word Fragments
In most cases, you can correct a dependent-word
fragment by attaching it to the sentence that comes
after
it or to the sentence that comes before it.
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ENGLISH PRIVATE SCHOOL
Note that when a dependent clause comes first, a
comma is placed between the two clauses.
1.After I had done it, I slept.
2. she was cooking food while I was doing my
exercise.
3. although he worked hard, he failed.
Note that Sometimes the dependent words who,
that,
which, or where appear not at the very start but
near the
start of a word group. A fragment often results.
Exercise
A. Turn each of the dependent-word groups into a
sentence by adding a complete thought.
Put a comma after the dependent-word group if a
dependent word starts the sentence.
1.while I was using facebook.
2.although I saw her.
3.because he is clever.
B.Correct the following fragments
1.althoug he was there. He did nothing.
2. since Halimo is a new students . she does not
converse with others. Whom she stays with all day.
3.unless he gives me some money. I won’t call
him.
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ENGLISH PRIVATE SCHOOL
Ing and to fragments
When a word ending in - ing or the word to appears
at or near the start of a word group, a fragment may
result..
Examples
1.Wrong: I went to the market. To get a new book.
Right: I went to the market to get a new book.
2.Wrong: He has been in Washington. Trying to
meet
with the president.
Right: He has been in washington, trying to meet
with the president
Note that To-fragments can be corrected by
adding
it to the preceding sentence.
To correct ing fragment attach the fragment to the
sentence that comes before
Exercise
1.Playing around the school. My son found a key.
2. I went to see my old friend. As a result loosing
the
way to my home.
3. Ahmed slept early. The reason being that he had
to
work next day.
Riddle: I have cities, but no houses. I have
mountains,
but no trees. I have water, but have no fish. What
am I?
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ENGLISH PRIVATE SCHOOL
3.Added-Detail Fragments
Added-detail fragments lack a subject and a verb.
They often begin with one of the following words
or
phrases.
Also, except, including, especially, for example
and
such as
Examples
1.Wrong:Almost every boy loves sports. especially
basket ball.
Right: Almost every boy loves sports, especially
basket ball.
2. Wrong:Most of my students experience stress.
For
example worry about money, grades.
Right: most of my students experience stress. For
example, they worry about money and grades
3. Wrong:He presented the presentation. without
any
hesitation.
Right: He presented the presentation without any
hesitation
3. Wrong:He bought some items. Such as books,
pens and bags
Right: He bought some items such as books, pens
and
bags.
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ENGLISH PRIVATE SCHOOL
4.Wrong:My friend has some bad habits. For
examples, smoking cigarette.
Right: my friend has some habits. For example, he
smokes cigarrete.
How to correct added-detail fragments
1.Attach the fragment to the complete thought that
precedes it.
2. Add a subject and a verb to the fragment to make
it a
complete sentence.
3. Change words as necessary to make the fragment
part
of the preceding sentence.
Exercise
Rewrite the following fragments correctly.
1.He is addicted to some bad habits. For
example,
smoking and drinking.
2. she ate rice . with pepper. Next, drank some
water.
3. To write effective sentence, Farah did some
exercise.
Such as doing some quizzes and reading English
books
about sentence skills.
Riddle: what can be seen in the middle of march
and
April, but cannot be seen at the beginning or
end of
either month?
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ENGLISH PRIVATE SCHOOL
Missing-subject fragment
Examples
1. wrong : Halimo took her bag. Then left
immediately.
Right: Halimo took her bag . Then she left
immediately.
2. wrong: my brother advised me. And gave me
some
money.
Right: my brother advised me and gave me some
money.
How to Correct Missing-Subject Fragments
1. Attach the fragment to the preceding sentence.
2. Add a subject (which can often be a pronoun
standing for the subject in the preceding sentence).
2.RUN-ON SENTENCE
A run-on occurs when two sentences are joined
together
with no punctuation mark given to mark the break
between them.
As a result of the run-on, the reader is confused,
unsure
of where one thought ends and the next one begins.
Run-on sentences are fused or joined together as if
they
were only one thought.
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ENGLISH PRIVATE SCHOOL
Words That Can Lead to Run-Ons
I , we, you, they, you, she, he, it, this, then, that,
next, now and there.
Examples
1.Wrong: I want to get some money they want
books.
Right: I want to get some money. They want books.
2. wrong: Farah is a teacher he is a good teacher.
Right: Farah is a teacher. He is a good teacher.
3. wrong: He ate food then left.
Right: He ate food. Then he left.
4. wrong: The school was once attractive now it is
covered by garbage.
Right: The school was once attractive. Now it is
covered by garbage.
Here are four common methods of correcting
a
run-on:
1.Use a period and a capital letter to separate the
two
complete thoughts.
2.Use a comma plus a joining word ( and, but, for,
or,
nor, so, yet) to connect the two complete thoughts.
3. Use a semicolon to connect the two complete
thoughts.
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ENGLISH PRIVATE SCHOOL
4.Use subordination (put a dependent word at the
beginning of one word group).
3. COMMA SPLICE
Combining of two main clauses using a comma is
known as comma splice
Examples
1.wrong: I had done my exercise, she prepared
food.
Right: I have done my exercise. She has prepared
food.
Right: I had done my exercise; she prepared food.
Right: I had done my exercise, and she prepared
food.
Right: After I had done my exercise, she prepared
food.
2. incorrect: He insulted me, I slapped him
Correct: He insulted me. I slapped him.
3.incorrect: she was hungry, she ate my food.
Correct: she was hungry. She ate my food.
Exercise
Rewrite the following run-on and comma
splice
sentences in their correct form
1. Farah is clever he solves every mathematical
problem.
2 smoking is not good for health, I do not smoke.
3. she was insulting me the teacher came.