If you’re not careful, they can look like unintentional mistakes rather than dramatic devices. Not every writer can pull off sentence fragments. “Then there is the loneliness that roams. These are known as rhetorical fragments, and they’re used by some of the most celebrated English-language writers in history. Moreover, creative writing can use sentence fragments for dramatic effect. One of the most common examples is in answering questions. However, in more casual conversations and writing, sentence fragments are more acceptable.

In general, it’s important to avoid sentence fragments in formal writing like business correspondence, academic papers, and other documents where grammar is a top priority. When should you avoid using sentence fragments? You can identify subordinate clauses because they always begin with a special type of word or phrase called subordinate conjunctions, such as because, as long as, even though, or, like our example, wherever and whenever. In other words, subordinate clauses used alone are sentence fragments. There’s a subject ( it ) and a predicate ( is ), but this alone is not a complete sentence because it only makes sense with the independent clause. The subordinate clause is wherever it is. In the sentence above, the independent clause is I will find that unicorn. I will find that unicorn, wherever it is. Let’s look at an example of a complex sentence: In a complex sentence, a subordinate clause needs to be combined with an independent clause to be complete. In fact, simple sentences are just independent clauses with no extra words added. Independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences.

There are two types: the subordinate clause (also known as the dependent clause) and the independent clause. Subordinate clauses without an independent clauseĪ clause is any group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. Therefore, using a transitive verb without a direct object creates a sentence fragment, even if it still has a subject and predicate. If you take away the direct object from a transitive verb, the sentence becomes a sentence fragment. If you ask, “What is sent?” the answer is “the package”-the package receives the action of sending, so it’s the direct object. the verb sent is transitive and the package is the direct object. Subordinate clauses without an independent clauseĪ transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object, which is a noun that receives the action.Transitive verbs without a direct object.Here are two occasions when a sentence fragment can include a subject and a predicate without being complete: Having these parts is the minimum requirement, but it’s not the only requirement. Sometimes, a group of words can have both a subject and a predicate but still be a sentence fragment. Sentence fragments with subjects and predicates All other sentences require you to mention the subject. It does not need to be written because it’s assumed, but it’s still there in essence.Īssumed subjects apply only to commands. That’s because the subject is assumed to be whomever the speaker is talking to. You can see the predicate, the verb stop, but not the subject. For example, look at this imperative sentence: In imperative sentences, the subject is not mentioned because it is assumed. Imperative sentences, or commands, also follow this rule but have one big difference. A complete sentence is not about length it’s about meeting these two basic requirements. It has a predicate, the verb wait, and a subject, they, who does the waiting. This sentence may be short, but it’s still complete. These are the minimum requirements for all four types of sentences. Subject: the person or thing that does the action of the predicate.Predicate: an action predicates always have at least one verb.A sentence requires two parts to make it complete: That’s true, but there are also technical requirements. If you ask most people for a definition of a complete sentence, they’ll say that a sentence represents a complete thought. To fully answer the question, “What is a sentence fragment?” we first have to answer “What’s a complete sentence?” When you know the necessary parts of a complete sentence, you can identify sentence fragments more easily by recognizing what they’re missing. It seems like the rest of the sentence has broken off, which is another way to say “fragmented.” To make it complete, you need to add the parts that are missing.

This group of words has a period at the end and the first letter capitalized, but it’s not a complete sentence. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly What is a sentence fragment?Ī sentence fragment is simply an incomplete sentence it’s missing some of what makes a sentence whole.

Sentence fragment definition wikipedia