Sentence fragments:

New Topic: All about sentence fragments:


Sentences are like the infrastructures basic to a city’s needs. When sentences are not in good working order, communication may grind to a halt.

A sentence fragment is a group of words that is punctuated like a sentence, but does not express a complete thought. To correct a fragment, you can add information to complete the thought or combine the fragment with a nearby sentence.

Problem 1:      A fragment that lacks a subject

Error:               Students tried out for different roles. Wanted to play the part of Scrooge or one of the ghosts.

Revision:         Students tried out for different roles. Many wanted to play the part of Scrooge or one of the ghosts. (Add a subject to make the fragment a complete sentence.)

Revision:         Students tried out for different roles, such as the part of Scrooge or one of the ghosts. (Combine the fragment with a sentence.)

Problem 2:      A fragment that lacks a verb.

Error:               Several of my friends chose to be on the tech crew. The group in charge of scenery, lighting and props.

Revision:         Several of my friends chose to be on the tech crew.

The group is in charge of scenery, lighting, and props.

(Make the fragment a sentence by adding a verb.)

Or

Revision:         Several of my friends chose to be on the tech crew, the group in charge of scenery, lighting, and props.

                        (Combine the fragment with a sentence.)

Error:               Auditions began after school. Students sitting eagerly in the auditorium.

Revision:         auditions began after school. Students were sitting eagerly in the auditorium.

                        (Add a verb to the fragment.)

Problem 3:      A fragment that is a subordinate clause

Error:               After everyone had read a passage. Our director announced his casting decisions.

Revision:         After everyone had read a passage, our director announced his casting decisions.

                        (Combine the fragment with another sentence.)

                       

Or       

Revision:         Everyone read a passage. Our director then announced his casting decisions.

                        (Rewrite the fragment as a sentence.)

Problem 4:      A fragment that lacks both a subject and verb

Error:               Our schedule is going to be hectic. With only three weeks of rehearsals before the first performance.

Revision:         With only three weeks of rehearsals before the first performance, our schedule is going to be hectic.

                        (Combine the fragment with a sentence.)

Notes about Active and Passive Voice, and Verbals

Active and Passive Voice:

The voice is the quality of a verb which shows whether the subject is the doer or the receiver or the action.

If the subject of a sentence does something, the verb is in the active voice. If the subject of a sentence receives the action, the verb is in the passive voice. The passive voice is used to show that the action is more important than the doer.

Example          Active:             The maid does the housework.

                        Passive:          The housework is done by the maid.

The passive voice is used when the doer of the action is not known or uncertain. The doer or agent is left out of the sentence.

Example:         Active:             Someone stole Melvin’s wallet.

                        Passive:          Melvin’s wallet was stolen.

1.    The simple present tense of the verb is in the active voice is formed using the base form of the verb that agrees with the subject.

Ex:       They sweep the park every morning.

           

The present tense of the verb in the passive voice is formed using the be verbs (am, is, and are) + the past participle form of the verb

            Ex:       The park is swept every morning.

2.    The present continuous tense of the verb in the active voice is formed using the be verbs (am, is and are) + the verb ending in –ing.

Ex:       May is looking after my younger brother.

The present continuous tense of the verb in the passive voice is formed using the be verbs (am, is, and are) + being + the past participle form of the verb.

            Ex:       My younger brother is being looked after by May.

           

3.    The simple past tense of the verb in the active voice is formed using the regular or the irregular form of the past tense of the verb.

Ex:       The principal praised the pupil.

The simple past tense of the verb in the passive voice is formed using the be verbs (was and were) + the past participle form of the verb.

            Ex:       The pupil was praised by the principal.

4.    The past continuous tense of the verb in the active voice is formed using the be verbs (was and were) + the verb ending in –ing.

Ex:       Jack was bullying tom.

The past continuous tense of the verb in the passive voice is formed using the be verbs (was and were) + being + the past participle form of the verb.

            Ex:       Tom was being bullied by Jack.

5.    The simple future tense of the verb in the active voice is formed using will or shall + the base form of the verb.

Ex:       Mr. Juan will serve the guests himself.

The future tense of the verb in the passive voice is formed using will or shall + be + the past participle form of the verb.

                        Ex:       The guests will be served by Mr. Juan himself.

6.    The present perfect tense of the verb in the active voice is formed using has or have + the past participle form of the verb.

Ex:       Someone has opened the safe.

The present perfect tense of the verb in the passive voice is formed using has or have + been + the past participle form of the verb.

            Ex:       The safe has been opened.

7.    The past perfect tense of the verb in the active voice is formed using had + the past participle form of the verb.

Ex:       They had burglarized the house twice.

The past perfect tense of the verb in the passive voice is formed using had + been + the past participle form of the verb.

            Ex:       The house had been burglarized twice.

Verbals:

Verbals are based on verbs. However, the y do not function as a verb but as a noun, adjective, or adverb. There are three types of verbals – gerund, participle, and infinitive.

Gerunds differ from verbs in the present continuous form because gerunds are present participles used as nouns. They always end in ing.

            Read – reading           jog – jogging

A gerund can be the subject or the object of a sentence.

            Reading increases our knowledge. (Reading is the subject of the sentence.)

            I enjoy jogging around the park. (Jogging is the object of the sentence.)

Participle is a type of verbal used as an adjective. It ends in ing, ed, or en.

            The surrounding area is covered with tall grass.

            The overloaded bus couldn’t run fast.

            I cannot walk with my swollen legs.

Infinitive is a type of verbal used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. It consists of to + verb in its base form.

            To swim in the Olympics is my dream. (infinitive as a noun)

            She trains hard to win. (infinitive as adverb)

            The teacher has many test papers to check. (infinitive as adjective)

            She checks the test papers regularly to know if her students learn. (infinitive as adverb)

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