Finding and Fixing Sentence Fragments

Understand the difference between a sentence and a fragment.

A fragment resembles a sentence in two ways. Both groups of words begin with a capital letter and conclude with an end mark—usually a period ( . ) but sometimes a question mark ( ? ) or an exclamation point ( ! ).

The one important difference is that a fragment does not contain a main clause. Like an engine, the main clause powers a complete sentence, propelling the reader through the development of an idea. A fragment, missing this essential component, stalls on the page.

To have a main clause, you must find three things: a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. If you are missing one of these three items, a fragment is the result.

Here are examples of fragments:

And yawned loudly enough to make everyone in class turn around.

Subject = Ø ; verb = yawned; complete thought = Ø.

The boy sitting on the fire escape, dropping water balloons on the pedestrians below.

Subject = boy; verb = Ø; complete thought = Ø.

After Gabriel ate half a box of donuts.

Subject = Gabriel; verb = ate; complete thought = Ø.

Learn how to identify the different types of fragments.

You can correct a fragment two ways: 1) adding the necessary main clause or 2) connecting the fragment to a main clause already in the passage. Whether you add or connect, you must use the right punctuation.

Some fragments, for example, will require a comma if you connect them at the beginning of a main clause. If you choose to connect them at the end, however, these same fragments require no punctuation at all. Other fragments will require a comma whether you connect them at beginning or the end. To make an intelligent punctuation decision, you first must identify the type of fragment that you have.

A fragment will often be a subordinate clause, participle phrase, infinitive phrase, afterthought, lonely verb, or appositive. Each type of fragment has a marker that identifies it.

Subordinate Clause Fragments

A subordinate clause fragment (sometimes called a dependent clause fragment) will begin with a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun. You will also find a subject and a verb. Unfortunately, this combination of words will not express a complete thought by itself.

Think of the problem like this: At work, there are bosses and their employees, also known as subordinates. When the bosses are not directly supervising, many subordinates neglect their responsibilities.

In a sentence, the main clause is the boss. If the boss is absent, the subordinate clause goofs off, and the job of communicating a full thought does not get done.

Here are the words that will begin a subordinate clause fragment:

Subordinate Conjunctions

after
although
as
as if
as long as
as soon as
as though
because
before
even if
even though
how
if in case
in order that
insofar as
just as
no matter how
now that
once
provided that
rather than
since
so that
than
that
though
till
unless
until
when
whenever
where
whereas
wherever
whether
while
why

Relative Pronouns

that
which
whichever who
whoever
whom whose
whosever
whomever

These words are your markers for subordinate clause fragments.

Here are examples:

Because Chase caught the eye of the beautiful brunette in algebra.

Because = subordinate conjunction; Chase = subject; caught = verb.

What happened? Was he able to cheat on the test? Did he quickly ask her for a date? We do not know because the thought is incomplete.

Until Rachel notices the toilet paper stuck to her shoe.

Until = subordinate conjunction; Rachel = subject; notices = verb.

What will happen? Will she embarrass her date? Will people at the restaurant stare? We do not know because this is another incomplete thought.

Even though Fred stuck straws up his nose.

Even though = subordinate conjunction; Fred = subject; stuck = verb.

What happened? Did he still not pass for a walrus? Did the restaurant manager offer him a job anyway? We do not know because this thought is incomplete too!

Where the popcorn is stale and the soda flat.

Where = subordinate conjunction; popcorn = subject; is = verb.

Obviously, we should avoid this place, but where is it? We do not have enough information to know because we have only half the thought.

Whom you can trust with the secret.

Whom = relative pronoun; you = subject; can trust = verb.

Who is this person? We do not know because this thought is unfinished.

Participle Phrase Fragments

A participle phrase fragment will often begin with a word ending in ing or ed. In the case of irregular verbs, an irregular past participle, like broken or swum, will begin the phrase. Modifiers and objects may follow, but nowhere will you find a main clause to complete the thought. By itself, a participle phrase cannot be a sentence.

Your marker for this type of fragment is the present or past participle that you will find at the beginning of the fragment.

Read these examples:

Sunning themselves on the hot concrete until they heard human feet crashing down the sidewalk.

All the while twirling the batons with the speed and ferocity of helicopter blades.

Sucked down the pipe with a hearty slurp.

Hidden in the bureau drawer underneath a pile of mismatched socks.

Infinitive Phrase Fragments

An infinitive phrase fragment will begin with to followed by the base form of the verb, like this:

To + Verb = Infinitive

Although more words will follow to finish the phrase, you will not find a main clause to complete the thought. An infinitive phrase—by itself—cannot be a sentence.

Your marker for this kind of fragment is To + Verb.

Read these examples:

Only to watch in dismay as Professor Frazier poured her chemistry experiment into the sink.

To catch butterflies for her biology project.

To break a piece of plywood with his bare hands.

Afterthought Fragments

An afterthought clarifies earlier information by providing specific details. When an afterthought does not contain a main clause, it is a fragment. These words and phrases frequently begin afterthoughts: especially, except, excluding, for example, for instance, including, like, and such as.

These words are your markers for this type of fragment (although infrequently you will have just the list of details).

Here are examples:

For example, leaky pens, candy wrappers, dollar bills, and paperclips.

Including the dog with three legs and the cat with one eye.

Such as leaving the stove on and teasing mean dogs.

Lonely Verb Fragments

Writers will sometimes forget to include a subject in a sentence. The result is a verb pining for its partner. With the subject missing, the word group becomes a lonely verb fragment.

A lonely verb fragment will often begin with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet). The marker for this type of fragment will be the unanswered question Who? or What? as you attempt to determine the subject.

Here are examples:

And dashed through the downpour as raindrops softened the hairspray shell holding her elaborate coif in place.

But knew that all his effort would prove useless in the long run.

Took the thick book and, with a heavy sigh, loaded it on top of her research pile.

Appositive Fragments

An appositive is a noun phrase that renames and clarifies another noun. Because an appositive can be long, writers sometimes mistake one for a complete sentence. By itself, however, an appositive is a fragment.

An appositive fragment will begin with a noun and usually include one or more clarifying phrases or even a subordinate clause after it.

Here are examples:

The unprepared student who was always begging for an extra pencil and a couple sheets of blank paper.

A slacker wasting his afternoon in front of the television.

A dog around whom people need to guard their fingers and food.

Subordinate Conjunctions
after although as as if as long as as soon as as though because before even if even though how if	in case in order that insofar as just as no matter how now that once provided that rather than since so that than	that though till unless until when whenever where whereas wherever whether while why

Relative Pronouns
that which whichever	who whoever whom	whose whosever whomever

Know how to fix the fragments that you find.

You can fix any fragment by either 1) revising the fragment so that it includes a main clause, or 2) connecting the fragment to a main clause that comes before or after it.

To connect the fragment, you will need a basic understanding of punctuation. Learning the nine punctuation rules below will help you not only fix fragments but also punctuate many sentences correctly.

Fixing Subordinate Clause Fragments

When you have a subordinate clause fragment, removing one thing—the subordinating word—will give you the necessary main clause.

Read this example:

Because Chase caught the eye of the beautiful brunette in algebra.

Removing because makes the thought complete. Chase is the subject, caught the verb. And now you have a sentence!

Chase caught the eye of the beautiful brunette in algebra.

If, however, you need the subordinating word because of the meaning it provides, then fix the fragment by connecting it.

If you attach the fragment after a main clause, use Punctuation Rule 1:

Main Clause + Ø + Subordinate Clause.

Here is an example:

We will continue giggling until Rachel notices the toilet paper stuck to her shoe.

If you attach the fragment in front of a main clause, use Punctuation Rule 2:

Subordinate Clause + , + Main Clause.

Here is an example:

Even though Fred stuck straws up his nose, Melissa ate her tuna fish sandwich and continued to ignore him.

Fixing Participle Phrase Fragments

One way to fix a participle phrase fragment is to add the necessary main clause.

Consider this fragment:

Sunning themselves on the hot concrete until they heard human feet crashing down the sidewalk.

Notice that you are not sure what species is enjoying the warmth. If you add this information and complete the verb, the problem is fixed:

The little lizards were sunning themselves on the hot concrete until they heard human feet crashing down the sidewalk.

In addition, you can attach a participle phrase fragment after a main clause.

Just follow Punctuation Rule 3:

Main Clause + , + Participle Phrase.

Here is an example:

The majorette marched at the front of the parade, all the while twirling her batons with the speed and ferocity of helicopter blades.

Or you can choose to use Punctuation Rule 4:

Participle Phrase + , + Main Clause.

The participle phrase introduces the main clause, like this:

Sucked down the pipe with a hearty slurp, the dirty bath water drained from the tub.

Fixing Infinitive Phrase Fragments

You can convert an infinitive phrase fragment into a sentence by adding a subject and conjugating the verb.

Read this fragment:

Only to watch in dismay as Professor Frazier poured her chemistry experiment into the sink.

When you read this fragment, you do not know who is involved. With a couple of minor changes, however, you have the necessary main clause that every sentence requires:

Amber watched in dismay as Professor Frazier poured her chemistry experiment into the sink.

If you don't like that option, you can attach an infinitive phrase fragment after a main clause.

Just follow Punctuation Rule 5:

Main Clause + Ø + Infinitive Phrase.

Here an example:

Jossie enlisted the help of several spiders to catch butterflies for her biology project.

Or you can use Punctuation Rule 6:

Infinitive Phrase + , + Main Clause.

The infinitive phrase introduces the main clause, like this:

To break a piece of plywood with his bare hands, Daniel followed his karate teacher's advice and focused his power.

Fixing Afterthought Fragments

You can fix an afterthought fragment one of two ways. One option is to insert the missing subject and verb so that you have a main clause. This option works best when you have for example and for instance as the transitions beginning the fragment.

Read this example:

For example, leaky pens, candy wrappers, dollar bills, and paperclips.

The simple addition of a subject and verb fixes the problem:

For example, the desk drawer contained leaky pens, candy wrappers, dollar bills, and paperclips.

Or you can attach the afterthought fragment to the end of a main clause. This option works best when the fragment begins with except, excluding, including, like and such as.

Use Punctuation Rule 7:

Main Clause + , + Afterthought Transition + Ø + Details.

Here is an example:

John has many unsafe habits, such as leaving the stove on and teasing mean dogs.

Fixing Lonely Verb Fragments

One missing element—the subject—makes a lonely verb fragment an error.

Read this example:

And dashed through the downpour as raindrops softened the hairspray shell holding her elaborate coif in place.

Who did the dashing? We do not know. The subject may have been mentioned in a sentence that came previously, but this word group is a fragment because no subject exists in it.

To correct the error, all you need to do is insert a subject, like this:

Betty dashed through the downpour as raindrops softened the hairspray shell holding her elaborate coif in place.

If you want to connect this type of fragment to a main clause in front, use Punctuation Rule 8:

Main Clause + Ø + Lonely Verb Phrase.*

With a heavy sigh, Darryl began counting the words of his essay but knew that all of his effort would prove useless in the long run.

*If the coordinating conjunction beginning the lonely verb phrase connects three or more verbs, you will need to use a comma. Review Comma Tip 4.

Fixing Appositive Fragments

You have two options when fixing an appositive fragment. Since an appositive contains a noun—which can conveniently become a subject—adding a verb will often fix the problem.

Read this example:

The unprepared student who was always begging for an extra pencil and a couple sheets of blank paper.

We know who is involved; now we need to know what this student did.

The unprepared student who was always begging for an extra pencil and a couple sheets of blank paper sneezed.

If you do not like sneezed, try cried, sang, protested the accusations, bit his lip, crossed his fingers, flirted with Jasmine, etc.

Another good option is to connect the appositive to a main clause.

Punctuation Rule 9 says this: No matter where you attach the appositive—at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end—always use comma(s) to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

Here are examples:

A slacker wasting his afternoon in front of the television, Brian opened a bag of potato chips instead of his chemistry textbook.

Brian, a slacker wasting his afternoon in front of the television, opened a bag of potato chips instead of his chemistry textbook.

On the lawn chair lay Rocket, a dog around whom people need to guard their fingers and food.

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