Kaitlin Bandy
Megan Rittmeyer
A sentence is a word or word group that
contains subject and a verb and that
expresses a complete though
A sentence fragment is a word or word group that is capitalized
and punctuated as a sentence but that does not contain both a
subject and a verb or does not express a complete thought.
FRAGMENT Was waiting by the door. [no subject]
SENTENCE The clerk was waiting by the door.
FRAGMENT The room with the high ceiling. [no verb]
SENTENCE The room with the high ceiling glowed in the sunset.
FRAGMENT After you have finished the text. [not a complete thought]
SENTENCE Exit quietly after you have finished the test.
Some sentences contain an understood subject (you).
EXAMPLES:
[You] Stop!
[You] Pass the asparagus, please.
Decide whether each of the following word groups is a sentence is a sentence fragment. If the
word group is a sentence, correct it’s capitalization and punctuation. If the word group is a
sentence fragment, revise it to make a complete sentence. Be sure to use correct capitalization
and punctuation.
EXAMPLES 1. here are your glasses
1. Here are your glasses.
2. before going out
2. Before going out, I always turn off the lights.
1. on Mondays or later this week 11. on the way to the science fair
2. patiently waiting for the mail carrier 12. stand up
3. will you be there tomorrow 13. learning English
4. Four people in a small car 14. when id the marathon
5. just yesterday I discovered 15. it is time
6. Two strikes and no one on base 16. to the left of the spiral staircase
7. It runs smoothly 17. romping along the shore this morning
8. Leaning far over the railing 18. it is theirs
9. Give me a hand 19. you surprised me, Ellen
10. While waiting in line at the theatre 20. how are you