III. Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment occurs when you punctuate a partial sentence as if it were a complete sentence.  Sentence fragments are missing a subject or a predicate (verb or verb phrase)--and sometimes both. 

A. a verb is missing

Fragment: The foremost leader of the free world.                                     

Correct: The foremost leader of the free world signed a treaty to ban the testing of nuclear weapons. 

B. a subject is missing

Fragment: Separated visible light into a spectrum of color.

Correct: Isaac Newton separated visible light into a spectrum of color.

C. Relative pronouns, subordinating conjunctions, or verbal phrases begin a clause, creating an incomplete thought.

1. Relative pronouns (that, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, whomever) signal a clause that needs the rest of the sentence to complete the thought and make sense.  Don't let a phrase beginning with a relative pronoun stand alone.

   Fragment: People who work the night shift at factories.

   Correct: People who work the night shift at factories have to adjust to sleeping during the day.

2. Subordinating conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs combine an incomplete thought or phrase to a complete sentence.  If you let the phrase stand alone, you create a sentence fragment.

   Fragment: Although people may feel discouraged about the presidential debates.

   Correct: Although people may feel discouraged about the presidential debates, they still should vote in the next election.

   Some subordinating conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs:

   after	though	although	assuming that	though	although
   if	until	before	provided that	therefore	however
   as if	while	since	because	whereas	nevertheless
   how	unless	where	whenever	also	otherwise

Fragment: Mountain biking through the Allegheny foothills.

Correct: I went mountain biking through the Allegheny foothills.