Fragments

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Sentence Structures

Simple sentences Compound sentences Complex sentences

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Simple Sentences

These contain a main independent clause

Travelling to outer space is possible.

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Compound Sentences

Independent Clause +

Coordinator +

Independent Clause

(i.e. at least two independent clauses)

Travelling to outer space is possible but not many can afford it.

Identify the independent clauses and the co-ordinator

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Compound Sentences

Independent Clause +

Coordinator +

Independent Clause

Travelling to outer space is possible but not many can afford it.

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Complex Sentence

1 Independent Clause and at least 1 Subordinate Clause (in any order)

Many people used to dream of travelling to outer space in the past when it was technologically impossible.

When it was technologically impossible, many people used to dream of travelling to outer space in the past.

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Fragments

A fragment is not a complete grammatical sentence.

A complete sentence needs a subject in each independent and dependent clause.

Although engineering feats have propelled mankind forward, they may also have caused a huge divide between the developed and the developing countries.

(* fragment)

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Fragments

An it subject cannot be omitted from a clause.

*Meteorologists currently find difficulty in predicting the weather because has been affected by global warming.

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Fragments

An it subject cannot be omitted from a clause.

Meteorologists currently find difficulty in predicting the weather because it has been affected by global warming.

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Fragments

A clause needs a complete verb, with its auxilaries if any. Otherwise, it is a fragment.

*The technicians been working on the project since last year.

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Fragments

A clause needs a complete verb, with its auxilaries if any.

The technicians have been working on the project since last year.

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Fragments

A phrase (without a subject or a verb) is a fragment.

The deadline for this project is drawing near. *To extend it.

The deadline for this project is drawing near but we hope to extend it.

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Fragments

A dependent clause always needs an independent clause to be a complete sentence.

*While it appeared to be medically impossible to save the terminally ill. Stem cells seem to be a possible cure for some cancers.

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Fragments

While it appeared to be medically impossible to save the terminally ill, stem cells seem to be a possible cure for

some cancers.

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Sources

Lane, A. and Lange, E. (1999). Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd ed.). Boston: Heinle and Heinle Publishers, 131-140.

Oshima, A. and Hogue, A. (2006). Writing Academic English (4th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, 183 -188.

Raimes, A. (2006). Grammar Troublespots: A Guide for Student Writers (3rd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press, 19-25.