• Recognize sentence fragments
• Revise sentence fragments
• Recognize run-on sentences
• Revise run-on sentences

sentence fragments

A sentence fragment is a grammatically incomplete sentence—one that lacks a necessary component and cannot stand alone. To determine whether a sentence is complete, ask:

• Does it have a subject?
• Does it have a verb?
• Does it express a complete thought?

Types of Sentence Fragments

Let’s explore common types of sentence fragments and how to fix them.

Missing a Subject

A sentence must have a subject—the person or thing performing the action.

Fragment: Slammed the door and left.What’s missing? Who slammed the door?Corrected: Suleika slammed the door and left.

As you’re identifying fragments, keep in mind that command sentences are not fragments, despite not having a subject. Commands are the only grammatically correct sentences that lack a subject because the subject is implied.

• Drop and give me fifty! (You drop and give me fifty.)
• Count how many times the word “fragrant” is used during commercial breaks. (You count how many times the word “fragrant” is used.)

Missing a Verb

A sentence must have a verb that expresses an action or state of being.

Fragment: A loud crash in the hallway.What’s missing? There’s no verb to explain what happened with the crash.Corrected: A loud crash in the hallway startled everyone.

Incomplete Thought

Some fragments have a subject and a verb but fail to express a complete idea.

Fragment: Since she never saw the movie.What happened as a result?Corrected:

• Since she never saw the movie, I told her about it.
• I told her about the movie since she never saw it.

Sentence Length

Note that sentence length does not determine whether it is a fragment. A sentence fragment isn’t always short, and a complete sentence isn’t always long.

Complete sentence (short but correct):
She ran.

• Subject: She
• Verb: ran

Fragment (long but incorrect):
Which is why we believe the proposed amendments should be passed.

• What is “which” referring to? The sentence is incomplete.

Sentence fragments can be tricky, but recognizing missing components—subjects, verbs, or complete thoughts—will help you correct them. Try identifying fragments in your writing and revising them into complete sentences.