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What are fragments? Every sentence must have a subject and verb and must express a complete thought. A word that lacks a subject or a verb and does not express a complete thought is a fragment. The most common types of fragments are : 1. Dependent-word fragments 2. ing and -to fragments 3. Added- detail fragments 4. Missing-subject fragments

1. DEPENDENT-WORD FRAGMENTS EXAMPLES:

After I learned the price of new cars.

The word group beginning with the dependent word after in the example above is a fragment. To correct the fragment, it must be attached to a statement that makes sense standing alone. After I learned the price of new cars , I decided to keep my old Buick.
The little boy who plays with our children. = The little boy who plays with our children just came down with German measles. Because the weather is bad. = The football match has been postponed because the weather is bad. = Because the weather is bad, the football match has been postponed.
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2. -ING AND TO FRAGMENTS EXAMPLES: Looking tired and drawn. = Looking tired and drawn, the little girls parents sat in the waiting room. To saw wood for his fireplace. = Jack went outside on the bitterly cold day to saw wood for his fireplace.

I spent almost two hours yesterday. Trying to find a garage

to repair my car.

= I spent almost two hours yesterday, trying to find a garage

to repair my car.

3. ADDED-DETAIL FRAGMENTS This type of fragments lacks a subject and a verb. It often begins with one of the following words : also, except, including, especially, such as, and for example. EXAMPLES: My mother loves to cook and eat Italian food. Especially spaghetti and lasagna. = My mother loves to cook and eat Italian food especially spaghetti and lasagna. The meeting often starts late. For example, yesterday at a quarter after nine

instead of at nine sharp.

= The meeting often starts late. For example, yesterday it began at a quarter

after nine instead of at nine sharp.

4. MISSING-SUBJECT FRAGMENTS EXAMPLES: Mary tried most of the appetizers on the table. And then found

that, when the dinner arrived, her appetite was gone. = Mary tried most of the appetizers on the table. She then found that, when the dinner arrived, her appetite was gone.

PRACTICE 1 : Each word group in the paragraph below is numbered. Write C if a.

word group is a complete sentence and F if it is a fragment.
A Disastrous First Date

(1) My first date with Rosy was a disaster. (2) I decided to take her to a small Italian
restaurant. (3) That my friend told me had reasonable prices. (4) I looked over the menu and realized I could not pronounce the name of the dishes. (5) Such as veal piccata and fettucini Alfredo. (6) Then I noticed a burning smell. (7) The candle on the table was starting to blacken. (8) And scorch the back of

my menu. (9) Trying to be casual, I quickly poured half my glass of water onto the menu. (10) When the
waiter returned to our table. (11) He asked me if I wanted to order some wine. (12) I ordered a bottle of BIN. (13)The only wine that I had heard of and could pronounce. (14)The water brought the wine, poured a small amount into my glass, and waited. (15) I said, You dont have to stand there. We can pour the wine ourselves.(16) After the waiter put down the wine bottle and left. (17) Rosy told me I was supposed to taste the wine. (18) Feeling like a complete fool. (19) I managed to get through the dinner. (20) However for weeks afterwards, I felt like jumping out of a tenth-storey window.
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PRACTICE 1 (Key)
1.
C
C C

2.

C
C

3.

F F F F

4.

C C C C

5.

6.
11.

7.

8.
13. 18.

9.
14. 19.

10. F
15. C 20. C

12. C 17.
C

16. F

PRACTICE 2 : Underline the

fragment(s) in each item. Then rewrite the item to correct the fragments. 1. Gathering speed with enormous force. The plane was suddenly in the air. Then it began to climb sharply. And several minutes later leveled off. 2. Before my neighbor went on vacation. They asked me to watch their house. I agreed to check the premises once a day. Also, to take in their mail. 3. Its hard to keep up with bills. Such as the telephone, gas, and electricity. After you finally mail the checks. New bills seem to arrive a day or two later. 4. Many people find it hard to get up for work. Especially on Monday after a long weekend.