Sentence Problems

Looking Ahead... Most sentence errors arise when sentences are incomplete. Common sentence errors are fragments and run-ons, including fused sentences and comma splices. Misplaced and dangling modifiers also give trouble. So does faulty parallel structure.

Fragments When a sentence is incomplete, the result is often a sentence fragment.

A fragment occurs when a subject is missing, leaving only a predicate. This in turn leaves unanswered the question who? or what?

• Determined by the impact on people.
  Here the reader is left asking what is determined by the impact?
• Was let go, despite 35 years of dedication.
  Here the reader is left asking who was let go?

A fragment also occurs when a predicate is missing, leaving only a subject. This in turn leaves unanswered the question what about the subject?

• Straight news stories, which begin with the theme.
  Here the reader is left wondering, what about straight news stories?

A third kind of fragment occurs when a subordinate conjunction (e.g., after, although, as, because, before, etc.) introduces a subject and predicate:

• Although feature stories may save the key point for the end. (Although makes an otherwise independent clause dependent. Eliminate Although, and the sentence will be correct.)

TIP: To check for fragments, look for a

• complete sentence ( subject + predicate )
• subordinate conjunction before the subject and predicate.

Fragment Fix-Its

Once you discover a fragment, fix it (turn it into a complete sentence) by using one of the following methods:

1. If the subject is missing, you can add one:

   Fragment: Sank on Dec. 7, 1941.

   Fix-it: The battleship USS Arizona sank on Dec. 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor.

   — or you can add a subject and the correct verb:
   Fragment: Having sunk on Dec. 7, 1941.

   Fix-it: The battleship USS Arizona sank on Dec. 7, 1941.

   — or you can join the fragment to an independent clause:
   Fragment: Which caused a major loss for the United States at the start of WW III.

   Fix-it: The battleship USS Arizona sank on Dec. 7, 1941, which caused amajor loss for the United States at the start of WW II.
2. If the predicate is missing, add one:

   Fragment: The USS Arizona, which sank on Dec. 7, 1941.

   Fix-it: The USS Arizona, which sank on Dec. 7, 1941,plunged the United States into World War II.

   Fragment: The sinking of the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941.

   Fix-it: The United States plunged into World War II, with the sinking of the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941.
3. If the fragment is a dependent clause, either join it to an adjacent independent clause:

   Fragment: When the USS Arizona sank on Dec. 7, 1941.

   Fix-it: When the USS Arizona sank on Dec. 7, 1941, the United States wasplungedinto World War II.

   — or turn it into an independent clause:

   Fix-it: The USS Arizona sank on Dec. 7, 1941.

1			William F. Perkins, 73, of 1105 Madison St., died last night at home following a heart attack.
			A)	complete
			B)	fragment
2			Practiced law in Freeport for more than 45 years and was with the firm of O'Connor & Perkins.
			A)	complete
			B)	fragment
3			He joined the firm after graduating from Harvard Law School where he was a member of the prestigious Law Review.
			A)	complete
			B)	fragment
4			Because his law course grades were in the upper 10 percent of the class.
			A)	complete
			B)	fragment
5			Perkins served as president of the state bar association from 1980 to 1994.
			A)	complete
			B)	fragment
6			And was chairman of the local chapter of the organization then known as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.
			A)	complete
			B)	fragment
7			A local delegate for many years to the state Republican Party organization, Perkins was active in several GOP presidential campaigns.
			A)	complete
			B)	fragment
8			Survived by his widow, Josephine Parker Perkins.
			A)	complete
			B)	fragment
9			Services will be held at Heavenly Rest Chapel Wednesday.
			A)	complete
			B)	fragment
10			At 10 a.m.
			A)	complete
			B)	fragment