Examples Of Sentence Fragments

‘On the table’, ‘over there’, ‘this thing’ and ‘If I walk home’ – did you get any information from these phrases? In most of the cases, a big ‘No’ would be the answer because no one understands these parts of sentences; they are known as sentence fragments. Separated from the main clause and written as a dependent clause or a phrase, they are incomplete parts of a sentence which do not communicate the complete idea. In English, every sentence must have a subject, predicate and a verb and must convey the complete thought. It is on either one of these parameters that a sentence fragment falls short. To correct a sentence fragment, we can remove the period that separates the sentence fragment and the sentence or add punctuation to the newly formed sentence. Though it is fine to use sentence fragments in conversational language, one should always avoid them in formal writing as they are just parts of a sentence and cannot stand on their own. Read on to know more about sentence fragments and their examples.

Sentence Fragment Types

Missing Subject

If the subject is missing in a sentence, it does not convey the information on the writer. These sentences can be completed by adding a subject to the fragment as in the examples,

Met the people (The President met the people).
Went to office. (He went to office).

Missing Predicate

If the sentence lacks a predicate, it can be made complete by adding a predicate.

The sound from the room. (This is a sentence fragment - missing predicate).
The sound from the room was loud. (This is a complete sentence)

Written As A Dependent Clauses Or Subordinate Clause

If a sentence contains a subject and a predicate, but still does not convey a complete thought, it is a sentence fragment. The below mentioned sentences are dependent clauses and do not convey the complete thought without the help of an independent clause as in,

After they finished dinner. (‘After they finished dinner, they went to the movies.’ Or ‘They went to the movies after they finished dinner.’).
Because he lost his car keys. (‘Because he lost his car keys, he had to catch the bus home.’ or ‘He had to catch the bus home because he lost his car keys’.)
Since you were not home. (‘Since you were not home, I left a note at your door.’ or ‘I left a note at your door since you were not home.’)

Other Examples

Coach Dietz exemplified this behaviour by walking off the field in the middle of a game. Leaving her team at a time when we needed her. (Revision: ‘Coach Dietz exemplified this behaviour by walking off the field in the middle of a game leaving her team at a time when we needed her.’)
Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. (Revision: ‘Purdue offers many majors in engineering such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.’)
I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well. (Revision: ‘I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isn't working out too well.’)
Joe is. (Revision: ‘Joe is a good singer’ or ‘Joe is a wonderful guy.’)
The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which is why we believe the proposed amendments should be passed. (Revision: ‘The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands which is why we believe the proposed amendments should be passed.’).

Examples From Newspapers

Using sentence fragments as dependent clauses or as separate sentences is a practise followed by newspaper journalists to provide emphasis to their writing. However, it must be avoided in academic writing or formal writing. Some of these fragments are not pieces which are unattached to the main clause, instead they are written as main clause without a subject and a main verb.

By paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader unwilling to propose innovative policies. (Revision: ‘Paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader unwilling to propose innovative policies.’).
With the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product. (Revision: ‘The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.’)
She told a story. A story with deep thoughts and emotions. (Revision: ‘She told a story with deep thoughts and emotions.’)
Toys of all kinds thrown everywhere. (Revision: ‘Toys of all kinds were thrown everywhere.’)

Examples From Observations And Magazines

“I'm home, but the house is gone. Not a sandbag, not a nail or a scrap of wire.” ~ Tim O'Brien, "LZ Gator, Vietnam". The New York Times Magazine.
"Today I woke up half a century old. I am not ready. Too much yet to do. Too much everyday living. Too much left unsaid, unimagined.” Anonymous
"Departures from 22 North American gateways. Connections to over 170 European destinations. Making the world seem ever smaller." ~ A newspaper advertisement.

It is important to identify and avoid these sentence fragments in formal communications. However, the same fragments come quite handy in creative writing or fiction writing.

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Examples Of Sentence Fragments

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