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.)
