Sentence Fragments

Sentence Fragments: Sentence fragments can be corrected by adding a missing subject or verb. Fragments that begin with a preposition or a dependent word can be corrected by combining the fragment with another sentence.

Missing subject fragment: Walked around the lab.   (Add a subject)

Fixed: The students walked around the lab.

Missing verb fragment: Time management as a part of student life.  (Add a verb)

Fixed: Time management as a part of student life is challenging.

Better: A challenging part of student life is time management.

Prepositional phrase fragment: In a lab on the other side of town.  (Add a subject and verb)

Fixed: Her backpack sat in a lab on the other side of town.

Better: She left her backpack in a lab on the other side of town.

Verbal phrase fragment: Figuring it was his only chance to succeed.  (Connect to the sentence the phrase modifies)

Fixed: Figuring it was his only chance to succeed, he sent Dr. Gonzalez the email.

Better: He figured that sending Dr. Gonzalez the email was his only chance to succeed.

Dependent clause fragment: Since he really needed advice.  (Connect to the sentence before or after)

Fixed: Since he really needed advice, he was glad Dr. Gonzalez was now his advisor.

Dependent clause fragment: Which really bothered Travis. (Connect to the sentence before)

Fixed: Alexis refused to clean his lab space thoroughly, which really bothered Travis.

Afterthought fragment: As if to send him a silent message.  (Connect to the sentence be)

Fixed: She blinked twice at him, as if to send him a silent message.

Fragment with -ing verb: Five of their best students attending the conference. (Put the verb in a proper tense).

Fixed: Five of their best students attended the conference.

The MLCKRB (Master List Code Key and Rule Book): An English Grammar & Style Handbook by Jared Aragona, CC BY 4.0