Sentence Fragments and Complete Sentences | How to Identify and Fix Incomplete Sentences (+ Quiz)

Summary

In this English grammar lesson, Jennifer from Sparkle English teaches viewers how to identify and fix sentence fragments while distinguishing them from complete sentences. She explains that a complete sentence must have a subject and a verb and convey a full thought, while fragments may be missing a subject, verb, or independent thought. The lesson covers imperative sentences, gerunds, auxiliary verbs, and dependent clauses with connecting words like 'because' and 'after.' Jennifer provides clear examples, demonstrates corrections, and guides viewers through a quiz, helping learners practice turning incomplete sentences into grammatically correct, complete sentences.

Takeaways

• 😀 A complete sentence expresses a full thought and contains both a subject and a verb.
• 😀 Imperative sentences are complete even if the subject is not explicitly stated; the subject 'you' is implied.
• 😀 A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that may be missing a subject, a verb, or both.
• 😀 To fix fragments missing a subject, simply add the appropriate subject to the sentence.
• 😀 To fix fragments missing a verb, add a main verb or auxiliary verb to complete the thought.
• 😀 Some fragments contain both a subject and a verb but are still incomplete due to dependent clauses introduced by words like 'because,' 'when,' or 'after.'
• 😀 Dependent clauses cannot stand alone and need an independent clause to form a complete sentence.
• 😀 Gerunds (verb forms used as nouns) can act as the subject of a sentence, e.g., 'Laughing is good for your soul.'
• 😀 Correcting sentence fragments often involves adding subjects, verbs, or connecting the fragment to an independent clause.
• 😀 Commands and imperatives are correct without an explicit subject because 'you' is understood.
• 😀 The video provides a quiz with examples of sentence fragments and explains how to correct each one.
• 😀 Understanding the difference between complete sentences, fragments, and dependent clauses is essential for clear writing.

Q & A

What is a complete sentence?

A complete sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought, contains a subject and a verb, and can stand on its own.

What are imperative sentences and how do they differ from regular sentences?

Imperative sentences give a command or make a request. They are complete sentences even if they do not explicitly include a subject because the subject 'you' is implied.

What is a sentence fragment?

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that may be missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought, and it cannot stand on its own.

How can you correct a sentence fragment missing a subject?

To correct a fragment missing a subject, you add an appropriate subject. For example, 'Was having a snack downstairs' becomes 'Brandon was having a snack downstairs.'

How can you correct a sentence fragment missing a verb or auxiliary verb?

To correct a fragment missing a verb, you add the main verb or auxiliary verb. For example, 'The children sitting downstairs' becomes 'The children are sitting downstairs.'

Why do some sentence fragments with subjects and verbs still remain incomplete?

Some fragments are incomplete because they are dependent clauses introduced by words like 'because,' 'when,' 'after,' or 'although' and require an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

Can a gerund function as the subject of a complete sentence?

Yes, a gerund, which is the noun form of a verb, can act as the subject of a sentence. For example, 'Laughing is good for your soul' is a complete sentence where 'laughing' is the subject.

How do you correct a dependent clause fragment?

To correct a dependent clause fragment, you need to add an independent clause either before or after it. For example, 'After you get home from your appointment' becomes 'We will watch a movie after you get home from your appointment.'

Are all sentences with subjects and verbs automatically complete?

No, not all sentences with subjects and verbs are complete. If the sentence begins with a connecting word like 'because,' 'when,' or 'although,' it may still be a fragment unless it expresses a full thought.

How can you identify if an imperative sentence is complete?

An imperative sentence is complete if it clearly gives a command or request. The subject 'you' is implied, so it does not need to be written. For example, 'Stop making that noise' is complete.

What are the key steps to fixing a sentence fragment?

To fix a fragment, first identify what is missing: subject, verb, or independent clause. Then, add the missing element to form a complete thought that can stand alone.

Can auxiliary verbs help in correcting sentence fragments? Give an example.

Yes, auxiliary verbs are often needed to correct fragments, especially in continuous or perfect tenses. For example, 'Having a hard time opening the jar' becomes 'I am having a hard time opening the jar.'