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Sentence Fragments Worksheets, Examples & Definition

A sentence fragment is a set of words that appears to be a sentence but is not a complete sentence.

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A sentence fragment is a set of words that appears to be a sentence but is not a complete sentence. Sentence fragments typically lack a subject or verb and do not represent an entire notion. While punctuated to appear like a whole phrase, a sentence fragment cannot stand alone.

See the fact file below for more information about Sentence Fragment, or download the comprehensive worksheet pack, which contains over 11 worksheets and can be used in the classroom or homeschooling environment.

Key Facts & Information

Sentence Fragments That Are Commonly Found

  • The following are the characteristics of a sentence fragment:
  • Missing parts of speech are phrases that lack necessary nouns, verbs, prepositions, conjunctions, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, etc.
  • Missing components are sentences that lack subjects, verbs, complements, objects, or adjuncts.
  • Wrong connector usage is a phrase in which connectors or connecting words are employed in the wrong context.
  • Leftover/hanging phrases are sentences that have a phrase but no clause.
  • Abandoned clauses are sentences containing dangling dependent clauses.

Sentence Fragment Types

  • There are numerous sentence fragments; by recognizing each, we can better detect them in our work.

Subordinating Clauses

  • Dependent clauses are subordinating clauses. Despite having a subject and a verb, a subordinating clause nonetheless depends on an independent phrase. For the sentence to be complete, independent clauses are added to subordinating clauses.

Subordinating Clause Fragments Examples:

  • Before you go to the market. 

Correction: Before you go to the market, please stop at the petrol station to get gas

  • Although I knew the answer. 

Correction: Although I knew the answer, I hesitated to respond to the question. 

 Participle Phrases

  • A participle phrase serves as a modifier. Participle phrases cannot stand alone since they lack a subject and a verb, and Participle phrases must modify a noun and be part of an independent sentence.

Participle Phrase Fragment Examples:

  • Lost in the forest.  

Correction: Lost in the forest, the cat struggled to find its owner.

  • Eating the entire plate of cake. 

Correction: I was so irritated at my brother for eating the whole plate of cake. 

Infinitive Phrases

  • An infinitive phrase begins with an infinitive and concludes with other words. Nouns, adjectives, and adverbs can all be formed from infinitive phrases. Infinitive phrases, on the other hand, need to be completed sentences because they lack the ingredients necessary to create an independent clause.

Infinitive Phrase Fragments Examples:

  • To make breakfast.  

Correction:  I was getting ready to make breakfast.

  • To answer your mother rudely. 

Correction: It is disrespectful to answer your mother rudely.

Verb Phrases

  • A verb phrase consists of the verb and its direct or indirect object. A verb phrase may appear self-contained; nonetheless, a verb phrase lacks a subject to form an independent sentence.

Verb Phrase Fragment Examples:

  • Makes an excellent first impression. 

Correction: Juanito makes an excellent first impression.

  • Created a handwritten letter for her. 

Correction: Her boyfriend created a handwritten letter for her. 

Appositives

  • Appositives are nouns that rename or re-identify another noun. Appositives can label topics, but they are not themselves subjects.
  • Appositives, like adverbs, lack verbs and cannot stand alone as complete concepts.

Appositive Fragment Examples:

  • It’s the one with the wagging tail. 

Correction: I like that cat, the one with the wagging tail.

  • This is my favorite person. 

Correction: Mary, my favorite person, is visiting this weekend.

Points To Remember For Avoiding Sentence Fragments

  • Mastering all four language acquisition abilities requires a lot of effort and practice, like any other ability. It might be simple or challenging, depending on the mindset of the language student.
  • Remembering a few things as you learn to compose simple English phrases and utilize them regularly will significantly simplify the process. Please go over the following points to find out what they are.
  • The first thing to remember is that every phrase should include a subject and a verb, except for imperative statements (does not require a subject).
  • The next stage is understanding sentence fragments and how to identify them.
  • Sentences beginning with conjunctions are acceptable, as are popular usages such as ‘see you soon’ and ‘looking forward to meeting you’ to finish letters, emails, and spoken discussions. They are not generally thought of as sentence fragments.
  • Another typical use of sentence fragments is in constructing compound-complex statements and long-winding sentences. Splitting them into shorter, more straightforward statements is better in such circumstances.
  • For sentences that include instances or lists, placing them in bulleted points is best for better organization and to avoid sentence fragments.
  • Careful attention to detail will assist you with identifying missing words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence so that you may correct it.
  • Whether a sentence is a simple, compound, or complicated, it should always include an independent clause that completes the thinking or idea communicated in the phrase, even when it is isolated from the remainder.
  • Also, remember that sentences in English only have a subject and a verb, with no complement, object, or adjunct. 
  • Proofreading is one method for locating sentence fragments. You may feel entirely secure in your material sometimes, but it is best to make several changes and required modifications so that your information is grammatically and semantically correct.
  • You only need to be sure that the idea is well-rounded. For instance, “I’ve eaten.”
  • When it comes to tales or any narrative writing style is up to the author’s decision. But this is an exception. Avoid using sentence fragments in formal circumstances, such as writing for professional or academic purposes, and take additional care to ensure that no single word is missed.

How To Convert A Fragment To A Complete Sentence In Three Ways 

1. Attach

  • Join the sentence fragment to a whole one that is close by.
  • Incorrect: I neglected to have breakfast. The day before my driving test.
  • Correct: On the morning of my driving test, I neglected to have breakfast.

2. Revise

  • Add the missing parts of the sentence, such as the subject, verb, or whole concept, to complete the fragment.
  • False: She enjoys spending the entire day lounging in the sun. Who likes lounging around? (A topic is lacking.)
  • Correct: My roommate’s pug enjoys spending the entire day lazing about in the sun.

3. Rewrite

  • Rewrite the fragment or the paragraph it appears in its entirety.
  • Incorrect: We anticipated our new landlord to make adjustments. such as repairing the security gate, installing a new washer, and mending the plumbing. Weeks have gone by, yet none of it has been completed.
  • Correct: We anticipated our new landlord to make improvements like plumbing repairs, new washer installation, and security gate lock replacement. He still hasn’t completed any of it after several weeks have gone by.

Sentence Fragments Worksheets

This bundle contains 5 ready-to-use Sentence Fragments worksheets that are perfect to test student knowledge and understanding of Sentence fragments which are incomplete sentences or sentences that do not contain a complete thought with correct grammar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sentence fragment?

A sentence fragment is a set of words that appears to be a sentence but is not a complete sentence. Sentence fragments typically lack a subject or verb and do not represent an entire notion. While punctuated to appear like a whole phrase, a sentence fragment cannot stand alone.

What are the commonly found sentence fragments?

The commonly found sentence fragments include missing parts of speech and sentence components. Another is the wrong usage of connectors, leftover/ hanging phrases, and abandoned clauses.

What is an infinitive phrase?

An infinitive phrase begins with an infinitive and concludes with other words. Nouns, adjectives, and adverbs can all be formed from infinitive phrases. Infinitive phrases, on the other hand, need to be completed sentences because they lack the ingredients necessary to create an independent clause.

Give an example of infinitive phrase fragments.

Incorrect:  To make breakfast.  

Correction:  I was getting ready to make breakfast.

How to turn a fragment into a complete sentence?

First, attach the fragment to a nearby complete sentence. Second, revise the fragment by adding whatever is missing – subject, verb, complete thought, and rewrite the fragment or the entire passage containing the fragment.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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