Incomplete Sentence: Too many of you have this habit

Source:  Advice on Sentence Fragments: Examples and solutions

Since he came to New York. Because my dog loves it. Unless you see me. Is there anything wrong with these sentences?  All of these sentences end too quickly.  After reading these sentences, the reader asks questions because he/she needs more information. Sentence Fragment The Reader Asks... Since he came to New York.   Since he came, what (has he been doing)? Because my dog loves it.    Because the dog loves it, (so what)? Unless you see me.   Unless you see me, what (will happen)? These sentences have incomplete ideas and end too quickly.  They are calledsentence fragments.  Take a look at the following sentences: I slept. Jim flew the plane. He cried. Are these sentence fragments?  The answer is no.  Now, you may want to ask, “These last three sentences are shorter than the first three.  Why aren’t the last three sentence fragments?”  That’s a great question.  We’re glad you asked. Let’s explain.  book recommendation Action Grammar: Fast, Easy Answers on Everyday Usage and PunctuationThe author, Joanne Feierman, focuses on the grammar most of us need in everyday life, from "Five Lies Your English Teacher Told You" to "Simple Business Verbs You Should Know." She also includes helpful sections on memos, letter writing, and e-mail etiquette, as well as an appendix of troublesome words and phrases, and words that are easy to misspell.  Click here for more information. A sentence fragment has nothing to do with size or amount of words.  Therefore, a very short sentence with a complete idea is NOT a sentence fragment.  A sentence fragment is a sentence that is incomplete.  It is incomplete because it is either a phrase or a dependent clause.   However, we do not want to get too complicated here.  Therefore, let's us define what a sentence is.  A sentence consists of 3 components: 1 subject the person, place, or thing performing or doing the action 2 verb the action 3 complete idea the reader isn't left waiting for another word Take a look at this sentence: I hit the ball. Subject=I Verb=hit Is it a complete idea? Yes. Therefore, this is a good sentence. The ball is a direct object.  Not all sentences require a direct object.  For example Birds fly. Subject=birds Verb=fly Is it a complete idea? Yes. There is no direct object here; however, it is still a complete idea and a good sentence. Here's another example. I take. Subject=I Verb=take Is it a complete idea? No. This sentence requires a direct object.  This sentence is called a sentence fragment.  It is actually the verb which determines whether the sentence requires a direct object or not.  If the sentence requires a direct object, it is called a transitive verb.  If the verb does not need a direct object, it is called anintransitive verb.  If you are unsure about some verbs, use a dictionary.  Dictionaries often denote transitive and intransitive verbs with the initials t.v. and i.v., respectively.  So, what's a sentence fragment?  A sentence fragment is a sentence that lacks a subject or lacks a verb or is not a complete idea (one reason could be because it does not have a direct object if the verb needs one). Here's one more example. Murray takes the train to school Mom rides the bus. Subject=Murray AND Mom Verb=takes AND rides Is it a complete idea? It is TWO complete ideas.  Therefore, this is a run-on sentence.  For more information on run-on sentences, please see our lesson on this subject by clicking here. One more way to find a sentence fragment Sometimes the sentence has a subject, verb, and direct object, but it is still a sentence fragment.  How?  If a sentence contains one of any of the words on the following 2 blackboards, the sentence requires a second part to finish the idea. Therefore, if you use any of the words on these lists, you MUST add another part. Blackboard #1 after   even if   once whenever   although even though only if   whereas   as   every time since whether or not   as if   if   the first time whichever   as soon as   in case though whoever   because in the event that unless while   before   just in case until    by the time   now that   when   If you use any of the following prepositions, which are usually used to create prepositional phrases, you MUST add another part, or you will probably write a sentence fragment.   Blackboard #2 Prepositions about   beneath in till   above   beside into to across besides like   toward after between near   under against beyond of   underneath along   by   off   until   among despite on up   around down out upon at during over   with before except   since within behind for through   without   below   from throughout     For example Look at the following sentence: Because you wanted it. Since you bought the radio. Do these two sentences have subjects, verbs, and direct objects (if needed)? YES.  Are they sentence fragments?  YES.  Why?  They both contain words from the two blackboards.  They need second parts: I gave you the ice cream because you wanted it. Since you bought the plane tickets, I will pay for the hotel room. Now, these are good sentences. How do you fix it? We suggest 3 ways to fix sentence fragments: book recommendation Better Sentence Writing in 30 Minutes a Dayfeatures clear discussions of rules and strategies for good writing. Clear explanations and lots of exercises reinforce the skills needed for strong written communication. From filling in the blanks to joining short sentences into longer and more graceful combinations, this book will improve your writing. All the answers to the quizzes are given in the back of the book.  Click here for more information. Method #1 Attach the sentence fragment to another sentence.  That other sentence could be before or after the sentence fragment.  Sentence Fragment Fixed and Now a Complete Sentence After seeing the doctor. I felt much better after seeing the doctor.   -or- After seeing the doctor, I felt much better. Method #2 Add a subject, verb, or both to make the sentence complete. Sentence Fragment Fixed and Now a Complete Sentence Under the bed.   I found my socks under the bed.   Method #3   Take away the word or phrase that makes it a sentence fragment. Sentence Fragment Fixed and Now a Complete Sentence While Fred was in Paris. Fred was in Paris. NOTE:  If you use method #3, make sure the meaning does not change.  The words and phrases listed above usually add important information to the sentence.  Therefore, if you take them out, the meaning may change.  Be careful! Quiz Directions: The following paragraph contains five sentence fragments.  Find the sentence fragments and correct them using one of the above two methods.   My Wonderful Discovery      After I had gotten up.  I ate my breakfast.  While I was eating breakfast.  I heard a squeaking sound at my door.  It was a little puppy that was crying.  I wept.  It was really cute.  That I picked it up and took it inside in order to give the puppy a big bowl of warm milk and a soft blanket.   I took the day off so that I could take him to the veterinarian.  The vet told me he was fine.  Because I had given him what he needed: milk and a warm blanket.  He still needed a home.  I asked all my friends to take him. They wanted the little guy.  However, they couldn't keep pets in their apartments.  By the time we got home.  Now, he is my pet and friend.

s.f.= sentence fragment  My Wonderful Discovery      After I had gotten up.  I ate my breakfast.  While I was eating breakfast.  I heard a squeaking sound at my door.  It was a little puppy that was crying.  I wept.  It was really cute.  That I picked it up and took it inside in order to give the puppy a big bowl of warm milk and a soft blanket.   I took the day off so that I could take him to the veterinarian.  The vet told me he was fine.  Because I had given him what he needed: milk and a warm blanket.  He still needed a home.  I asked all my friends to take him. They wanted the little guy.  However, they couldn't keep pets in their apartments.  By the time we got home.  Now, he is my pet and friend. 1.  The first s.f. is the first sentence.  It has the word "after," which is on blackboard #2. This sentence needs another part to complete the idea. 3.  "That I picked it up..." is the third s.f. because of the word "that."  This sentence is very long, but it is an incomplete idea. 2.  The third sentence is our second s.f.  It has the word "while," which is from blackboard #2.  "I wept" is a very short sentence, but it is NOT a sentence fragment. 4.  "Because I had given him..." is the fourth s.f.  The word "because" makes this sentence a dependent clause. 5.  "By the time we got home..." is our fifth s.f.  "By the time" is from blackboard #1.

The corrected version is. . .   My Wonderful Discovery      After I had gotten up, I ate my breakfast.  While I was eating breakfast, I heard a squeaking sound at my door.  It was a little puppy that was crying.  I wept.  It was really cute.  I picked it up and took it inside in order to give the puppy a big bowl of warm milk and a soft blanket.   I took the day off so that I could take him to the veterinarian.  The vet told me he was fine because I had given him what he needed: milk and a warm blanket.  He still needed a home.  I asked all my friends to take him. They wanted the little guy.  However, they couldn't keep pets in their apartments.  By the time we got home, I had realized that I should keep him.  Now, he is my pet and friend.

Rules to Remember!

1	Sentence fragments can make your writing very confusing.  Avoid sentence fragments in professional writing, formal writing, essays, business letters, and compositions.
2	Sentence fragments are written and acceptable in the following types of writing: poetry quotes and quoted speech (click here to see more about this subject). plays Sentence fragments are acceptable in these situations because the author wants to capture what was actually said or felt.
3	See our lesson run-on sentences to better understand this topic.

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