Is it a complete sentence or a fragment?

Key Notes:-

1. What is a Complete Sentence?

• A complete sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.
• It has two main parts:
  1. Subject: Tells who or what the sentence is about.
  2. Predicate: Tells what the subject is doing or what is happening to the subject.
• Example: “The cat sleeps on the couch.”
  • Subject: The cat
  • Predicate: sleeps on the couch
  • Complete Thought: Yes

2. What is a Sentence Fragment?

• A fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought.
• It might be missing a subject, a predicate, or both.
• Example: “On the couch.”
  • Subject: Missing
  • Predicate: Missing
  • Complete Thought: No (This is a fragment)

3. How to Identify a Complete Sentence?

• Ask: Does it have both a subject and a predicate?
• Ask: Does it make sense on its own?
• If the answer is yes to both, it’s a complete sentence.

4. How to Identify a Fragment?

• Ask: Is something missing? (Either the subject or predicate or both)
• Ask: Does it leave you asking more questions? (e.g., “Who?” or “What happened?”)
• If the answer is yes, then it’s a fragment.

5. Examples of Complete Sentences:

• “The dog barks loudly.”
• “She finished her homework.”
• “Birds fly in the sky.”

6. Examples of Fragments:

• “Barks loudly.” (Missing the subject)
• “In the sky.” (Missing the subject and predicate)
• “After the game.” (Missing the subject and predicate)

7. How to Fix a Fragment?

• Add the missing part to make it a complete sentence.
• Example: “After the game.” → “We went home after the game.”

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Starting with a dependent word: Words like “because,” “if,” “when,” and “after” often lead to fragments if not connected to a complete sentence.
• Example: “Because I was late.” (Fragment) → “Because I was late, I missed the bus.” (Complete Sentence)

9. Practice:

• Complete Sentence: “The sun sets in the west.”
• Fragment: “Sets in the west.” (Missing the subject)
• Fix: “The sun sets in the west.”