The Sentence

Sentence or Fragment?

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Complete sentence

Subject + complete verb phrase + stand-alone thought · The dog runs. · She is fast.

Fragment families

Noun phrase: The happy boy · Incomplete -ing phrase: Running in the park · Dependent clause: Because the class ended

Ask what is missing. Because and when are not wrong words; they make a clause depend on another idea.

Fragmento vs. Oración

Slide 7

Tips

Sentence or Fragment?

  1. Diagnostica lo que falta: (1) frase nominal—no dice qué pasa; (2) -ing incompleto—falta sujeto o auxiliar; (3) cláusula dependiente—because/when deja la idea conectada a otra.
  2. Fragment diagnosis: noun phrase / incomplete -ing phrase / dependent clause.