FFun with un with FragmentsFragments

ExploringExploringSentences and Sentence Sentences and Sentence

FragmentsFragments

A sentence is a group of words A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete that expresses a complete

thought.thought.

A sentence containsA sentence contains a a subjectsubject and a and a verbverb..

DanDan attendedattended the pep rally the pep rally before the football game.before the football game.

Sometimes part of the Sometimes part of the sentence may be missing.sentence may be missing.

Three little girls in the front rowThree little girls in the front row What’s missing?What’s missing?

Ran behind the blue couchRan behind the blue couch What’s missing?What’s missing?

In the attic at the top of the stairsIn the attic at the top of the stairs What’s missing?What’s missing?

When a group of wordsWhen a group of words fails to tell us fails to tell us

Who or what did something (Who or what did something (the the subjectsubject),),

What happened (What happened (the verbthe verb),),

Or both (Or both (the subjectthe subject and and the verbthe verb),),

we have what is known aswe have what is known as

a a sentence fragmentsentence fragment..

A A sentence sentence fragmentfragment is is only a piece of only a piece of a sentence.a sentence.

It does It does notnot express a express a complete complete thought.thought.

Let’s correct Let’s correct these these

sentence sentence fragments!fragments!

Sat behind me in Sat behind me in science classscience class

What’s missing?What’s missing?

Yes, we need a Yes, we need a subjectsubject..

The new The new girlgirl satsat behind me in behind me in science class.science class.

The bag of groceries The bag of groceries on the kitchen on the kitchen

tabletable

What’s missing?What’s missing?

Yes, we need a Yes, we need a verbverb..

The The bagbag of of groceries on the groceries on the

kitchen table kitchen table goesgoes to Grandmother's to Grandmother's

house.house.

After the rain After the rain stoppedstopped

What’s missing?What’s missing?

Yes, we need a Yes, we need a subject subject andand a a

verbverb.. After the rain After the rain stopped, the stopped, the childrenchildren ran ran

outside to play.outside to play.

Remember,Remember,a sentence must tell a sentence must tell you you allall you need to you need to

know to have a know to have a complete thoughtcomplete thought..

Watch out for Watch out for sentence sentence

fragments!fragments!

The EndThe End

Created by Wanda Epting for the C·R·E·A·T·E for Mississippi Project. Copyright 2002. All rights reserved.