Fragments Vs Sentences Worksheets

Understanding the Difference between Fragments and Sentences

In the English language, a sentence is a unit of language that expresses a complete thought. It typically has a subject and a predicate, and it can stand alone as a complete thought. On the other hand, a fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. Fragments are often missing a subject or a verb, and they cannot stand alone as a complete thought.

In this article, we will explore the difference between fragments and sentences, and we will provide worksheets to help you practice identifying and correcting sentence fragments.

What is a Sentence Fragment?

A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. It is often missing a subject or a verb, and it cannot stand alone as a complete thought. Here are some examples of sentence fragments:

• The big red car. (This fragment is missing a verb.)
• Running down the street. (This fragment is missing a subject.)
• Because I forgot my lunch. (This fragment is missing a main clause.)

What is a Complete Sentence?

A complete sentence is a sentence that expresses a complete thought. It typically has a subject and a predicate, and it can stand alone as a complete thought. Here are some examples of complete sentences:

• The big red car drove down the street. (This sentence has a subject, “the big red car,” and a verb, “drove.”)
• I am running down the street. (This sentence has a subject, “I,” and a verb, “am running.”)
• I forgot my lunch, so I had to buy a sandwich. (This sentence has a main clause, “I forgot my lunch,” and a subordinate clause, “so I had to buy a sandwich.”)

Identifying Sentence Fragments

To identify sentence fragments, look for groups of words that do not express a complete thought. Check to see if the group of words has a subject and a verb, and if it can stand alone as a complete thought. If it does not, it is likely a sentence fragment.

Here are some tips for identifying sentence fragments:

• Look for groups of words that are missing a subject or a verb.
• Check to see if the group of words can stand alone as a complete thought.
• Be aware of words that can be used as verbs or nouns, such as “running” or “jumping.”

Correcting Sentence Fragments

To correct sentence fragments, you need to add a subject or a verb, or both, to make the group of words express a complete thought. Here are some tips for correcting sentence fragments:

• Add a subject to the fragment, such as “I” or “the dog.”
• Add a verb to the fragment, such as “run” or “jump.”
• Combine the fragment with another sentence to make a complete thought.

Here are some examples of correcting sentence fragments:

• The big red car. ( Fragment) → The big red car drove down the street. (Complete sentence)
• Running down the street. (Fragment) → I am running down the street. (Complete sentence)
• Because I forgot my lunch. (Fragment) → I forgot my lunch, so I had to buy a sandwich. (Complete sentence)

Worksheets

Here are some worksheets to help you practice identifying and correcting sentence fragments:

Worksheet 1: Identifying Sentence Fragments

Directions: Identify whether each sentence is a complete sentence or a sentence fragment.

1. The big red car. _____________________________________
2. I am running down the street. _____________________________________
3. Because I forgot my lunch. _____________________________________
4. The sun is shining brightly. _____________________________________
5. Running down the street. _____________________________________

Worksheet 2: Correcting Sentence Fragments

Directions: Correct each sentence fragment by adding a subject or a verb, or both.

1. The big red car. _____________________________________
2. Running down the street. _____________________________________
3. Because I forgot my lunch. _____________________________________
4. The sun is shining brightly in the clear blue sky. _____________________________________
5. Jumping up and down. _____________________________________

Worksheet 3: Writing Complete Sentences

Directions: Write a complete sentence using each of the following prompts.

1. The big red car _____________________________________
2. I am running _____________________________________
3. Because I forgot _____________________________________
4. The sun is shining _____________________________________
5. Jumping up and down _____________________________________

📝 Note: Remember to check your work carefully and make sure each sentence expresses a complete thought.

In summary, understanding the difference between fragments and sentences is crucial for effective communication. By identifying and correcting sentence fragments, you can improve your writing skills and express your thoughts more clearly. Remember to check your work carefully and make sure each sentence expresses a complete thought.