Fragments

Orphaned Fragments:

As the name suggests, fragments are incomplete parts of a sentence. In this case fragments are groups of words that do not make up a complete thought. Most often these fragmentary groups of words are actually part of the sentence that precedes or follows them. Correcting this kind of fragment requires spotting these orphaned phrases or clauses and then changing a little punctuation.

Fragment: At 3:30 we saw Jason. Running after the Tenafly bus he had missed again.
Corrected: At 3:30 we saw Jason running after the Tenafly bus he had missed again.

Fragment: In the gym basement we found the rifle room. Used now to house ancient scenery.
Corrected: In the gym basement we found the rifle room, used now to house ancient scenery.

Fragment: The new maintenance building is near Leggett Hall. To the west of the gym and north of the cafeteria.
Corrected: The new maintenance building is near Leggett Hall - to the west of the gym and north of the cafeteria.

Fragment: In late May I handed in my portfolio. A stunning collection of insightful writings.
Corrected: In late May I handed in my portfolio, a stunning collection of insightful writings.

Fragment: We sauntered down to Swartley Hall. Which at one time was the gym of the girls' school.
Corrected: We sauntered down to Swartley Hall, which at one time was the gym of the girls' school.

Incomplete Fragments:

Sometimes, however, the fragment is an incomplete thought that requires adding a verb or a full main clause for completion.

Fragment: Because we love to sit at the back of the classroom.
Corrected: Because we love to sit at the back of the classroom, the backs of our heads are flat.

Fragment: The traits of a true teacher - confusion, irritability, and fatigue.
Corrected: The traits of a harried teacher - confusion, irritability, and fatigue - mirror those of harried students.

Quiz

1. To fix orphaned fragments one corrects -
A. the verb tense
B. the punctuation
C. the subject of the clause

2. "The portfolio turned in by the focus student achieving the highest scores in all of the categories."
A. This sentence is correct.
B. This sentence is a fragment.

3. How could one correct this sentence: "Ellida is fearful of this strange sailor. A man whom she was once engaged to."
A. Ellida is fearful of this strange sailor, a man to whom she was once engaged.
B. Ellida is fearful of this strange sailor, he is a man whom she was once engaged to.

4. "The Caribbean people kept in restraint, unhappy in their 'shanty towns.'"
A. This sentence is correct.
B. This is a fragment.

5. "Munch's painting, The Scream, was thought a portrayal of inner anguish when first displayed."
A. This sentence is correct.
B. This is a fragment.

6. How could one correct this fragment, "Spectrum's article which caused such a big flap for two days."
A. Spectrum's article caused such a big flap for two days.
B. Spectrum's article, which caused such a big flap for two days, provoked many interesting discussions.

7. "The candidate's speech, calling for the conversion of Leggett Hall to a student lounge, demanding for ice tea on Thursdays, appealing to base motives."
A. This sentence is correct.
B. This is a fragment.

8. "A glaze of ice formed over North Woodland Street, making it impossible to travel on without crashing into the stone wall.
A. This sentence is correct.
B. This is a fragment.

9. "Running with the bulls in Spain proved to be dull beside the thrill of teaching a bunch of teenagers in the throes of developmental chaos."
A. This sentence is correct.
B. This is a fragment.

10. "NYPD Mauve and Hill Street Ochre having been the best cop shows on the airwaves."
A. This sentence is correct.
B. This is a fragment.

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