Part I Effective Sentence for Writing
Chapter 3 Fragment Sentence
B. Exercises
Fragment: By paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader unwilling to propose innovative policies.
Possible Revisions:
o Remove preposition: Paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader unwilling to propose innovative policies.
Fragment: For doing freelance work for a competitor got Phil fired.
Possible Revisions:
o Remove preposition: Doing freelance work for a competitor got Phil fired.
o Rearrange: Phil got fired for doing freelance work for a competitor.
These last three examples of fragments with no subjects are also known as mixed constructions, that is, sentences constructed out of mixed parts. They start one way (often with a long prepositional phrase) but end with a regular predicate. Usually the object of the preposition (often a gerund, as in the last two examples) is intended as the subject of the sentence, so removing the preposition at the beginning is usually the easiest way to edit such errors.
B. Exercises
9. _____ In front of the last house 10. _____ Through she didn’t complain 11. _____ The fog began to lift
12. _____ What we need is some free time 13. _____ The new singing rage on television 14. _____ The alarm rang at seven o’clock 15. _____ As early as possible
16. _____ Hardly another person on the street
17. _____ The plane travels faster than the speed of sound 18. _____ Without damaging the metal
19. _____ We are investigating the surface of the moon 20. _____ Learning more about our solar system each day 21. _____ Come here
22. _____ Are you ill
B. Mark the complete sentences with an S and the sentence fragments with an F.28
1. That lay on the floor
2. The old tree was struck by lightning 3. The creaking sound of a rusty gate 4. Just as I fell asleep
5. Jud crawled into the tent 6. He laughed
7. The girls laughing and crying 8. If we get enough rain 8. Riding through the fog
9. The fire gone from the stove 10. I live in that hotel
11. At the other end of the rope 12. He turned as slowly as he could 13. They were gathering rocks 14. The cake is ruined
15. If the cookies are burned
16. Brought the first valentine to Mother 17. The car turning the corner
18. After Joe finished his dinner 19. Tall building on the right
28 Ibid
20. Over the lawn and onto the porch 21. Ground covered with snow
C. Decide whether each of the following word groups is a sentence or a sentence fragment. Remember: A sentence contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. If the word group is a sentence, write S on the line provided. If it is a sentence fragment, write F.29
EXAMPLES
F 1. Because canoeing can be dangerous.
S 2. A canoeist should learn proper technique and safety rules _________ 1. Taking a canoe trip in Canada.
_________ 2. Sufficient food for a week’s journey.
_________ 3. Others had camped there before us.
_________ 4. Ashes indicated the place.
_________ 5. Where their fire had been.
_________ 6. How clearly was the trail marked?
_________ 7. An Ojibwa village at the end of the trail.
_________ 8. The group spent the morning together.
_________ 9. Talking over plans for the afternoon.
_________ 10. As we rounded a bend in the river.
_________ 11. Could you hear the noise of the waterfall?
_________ 12. Before you could see it.
_________ 13. We could not paddle against the wind unless the guide helped us.
_________ 14. The wind blowing spray over us.
_________ 15. Drenched to the skin.
_________ 16. The rapids in the river were occasional hazards.
_________ 17. The excitement of shooting the rapids.
_________ 18. We steered and balanced carefully.
_________ 19. Around boulders in the stream.
29https://www.tangischools.org/cms/lib/LA01001731/Centricity/Domain/1901/Sen tences%20and%20Fragments.pdf
_________ 20. Deciding whether to go through the rapids or portage the canoe around them.
_________ 21. On our knees in the canoe, we became painfully cramped.
_________ 22. There was no chance, however, to stretch our legs.
_________ 23. From the beginning of the rapids to the end.
_________ 24. Grazing the side of the canoe on rounded boulders.
_________ 25. After we had taken a swim in the calm water beyond the rapids.
D. Decide whether each of the following groups of words is a sentence or a sentence fragment. If the word group is a sentence, underline the subject once and the verb twice, and write S for sentence on the line provided. If the subject you is understood, write you in parentheses at the end of the item. If the word group is a sentence fragment, write F for fragment.30
EXAMPLES
S 1. The director is looking for talented, hardworking performers.
F 2. Kneeling near the edge of the stage.
S 3. Raise the curtain. (you)
_________ 1. The audience moved by his dramatic performance.
_________ 2. Mrs. Linares, the director of this classic tragedy.
_________ 3. Near the end of the first act.
_________ 4. Was playing the part of Lady Macbeth.
_________ 5. Walking aimlessly about and rubbing her hands.
_________ 6. At the final curtain came a loud burst of applause.
_________ 7. The actors staying in character during five curtain calls.
_________ 8. The most successful performance of the season.
_________ 9. What is the director planning next?
30https://www.tangischools.org/cms/lib/LA01001731/Centricity/Domain/1901/Sen tences%20and%20Fragments.pdf
_________ 10. In the spring she will direct the well-known musical West Side Story.
_________ 11. That story based on Romeo and Juliet?
_________ 12. Are you interested in musicals?
_________ 13. Hoping for the role of Bernardo?
_________ 14. Practice the part now, and memorize the lines in time for the audition.
_________ 15. Who will play Maria?
_________ 16. A production of the play on public television.
_________ 17. The necessity of a good cast.
_________ 18. Although many of the songs from West Side Story have become famous.
_________ 19. The performers must act, sing, and dance well.
_________ 20. A very difficult and trying task for inexperienced actors.
Task 2. 31
Identify and correct fragments
Step 1 Read each sentence. Decide if it is a fragment or a sentence.
Write
for fragment and S for sentence.
Step 2 Then correct each fragment by adding an independent clause.
Write your new sentences on the lines provided _F_ 1. Before I learned to speak English well.
____2. Every night, after I finish my homework.
____3. As soon as we heard the crash.
____4. The bicycle racers stopped to rest before they started up the mountain.
____5. Wait until you hear the bell.
____6. Whenever my children have a school holiday.
____7. I work at night while my husband stays home with the children.
31 Hogue, First Steps in Academic Writing Second Edition.
1. Before I learned to st?eak English well. I was afraid to use the telephone.
2. ___________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________
6. ___________________________________________________
7. ___________________________________________________
CHAPTER 4