Name:
Sentence Fragments and Completed Sentences Questions
(In class exercise using power point slides, October 3rd)
1. Compare each item from the fragment column with the item in the sentence column. What
changed?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. In some cases, the subject was left out. Find two examples.
 ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. In some cases, the verb was left out. Find two examples.
 ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. In some cases, a word was added, turning the sentence into a “dependent clause.” A
dependent clause has a subject and a verb, but because of that extra word, more is needed to
finish the clause and make it a complete sentence. “Joe hiccupped” is a sentence. “When Joe
hiccupped” is not. It is dependent on something else to finish it. For example, it could be
completed like this: When Joe hiccupped, he woke up his father. Find two sentences that are
fragments because of an added word.
 ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Fragment Exercises for Homework October 3rd
Directions: Read these sentence fragments aloud. They sound unfinished. Think of two different
ways to turn each into a complete sentence.
1. The singer with the tattoo on his right elbow.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. Sipping some lemonade.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. After the house burned down.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. While Rosario pouted.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. Clapping her hands and screaming with joy.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
6. The fluffy white kitten sitting on Anna’s doorstep.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
7. When they heard the sound of screeching tires.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
8. The food in the container at the back of the refrigerator.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Words That Turn Perfectly Good Sentences into Fragments
(In class exercise using power point slides, October 4th)
1. )
2. )
3. )
4. )
5. )
Fragment Exercises for Homework October 4th
Exercise #1 – Identifying the fragments in the paragraph
1. Which two sentences in the paragraph below are not fragments?
 ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. Re-write the paragraph to eliminate any sentence fragments. You should add information as
needed, but don’t leave out any information. (Remember that details help bring a paragraph to
life.)
When Roberto looked out the window of his bedroom. What he saw. He tried to stay calm.
Home alone. Calling his best friend, David, who lived several blocks away near a convenience
store that was open all night. He asked David to pick up some things. Such as a roll of tape.
And a six-pack of soda. After David finally knocked on the door around midnight. Looking
outside. Fast enough. Bravely stepping out into the dark.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Exercise #2 – For each item below, do two things: (a) Turn the sentence into
a fragment by adding one word. (b) Then, turn that fragment back into a
complete sentence by adding an independent clause.
1. Rose saw the sunrise.
Add a word - ______________________________________________________________________
Add an independent clause - _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. The microwave wasn’t working.
Add a word - ______________________________________________________________________
Add an independent clause - _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Audrey was homesick.
Add a word - ______________________________________________________________________
Add an independent clause - _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. Aunt Ethel’s cooking wasn’t the best.
Add a word - ______________________________________________________________________
Add an independent clause - _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. Yosef got a job appearing in a soap opera.
Add a word - ______________________________________________________________________
Add an independent clause - _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
6. Alicia can learn to swim.
Add a word - ______________________________________________________________________
Add an independent clause - _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
7. Barnaby was really tired of studying English.
Add a word - ______________________________________________________________________
Add an independent clause - _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
8. Use the same model as above and create your own example.
Add a word - ______________________________________________________________________
Add an independent clause - _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Fixing “ing” Fragments
(In class exercises for October 5th)
Part A – Directions: Correct each fragment below by adding a helping verb. Re-write the sentence
on the lines provided.
1. Ramona Vigil running for governor at age 21.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. All day, Justin and his friend insisting that they saw a grizzly bear in the back yard.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Lisa’s little sister flirting outrageously with the pizza delivery boy.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Part B – Directions: Correct each fragment below by adding an independent clause on the line
provided.
1. Worrying about his son’s future, ___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. Noticing that something with wings was moving around in the soup, ______________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Talking nonstop while he loaded the dishwasher, ______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. Blushing with embarrassment, ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. Closing his mouth firmly, _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
“Ten Minute Homework”
(In class exercise for October 9th)
Directions: Some of the items below are complete sentences. Some are run-ons, and others are
fragments. If an items is correct, put and “S” for sentence beside its number and leave it alone. If
it is a fragment, put an “F” for fragment beside its number and correct it. If it is run-on, put an “R”
for run-on beside its number and correct it in a way that makes sense.
1. _____ Emmett really wanted to go camping with his best friend and his family over Labor Day
weekend, but his mother insisted that he needed to support his sister by attending her ballet
recital.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. _____ Emmett hated ballet, he hated all kinds of dance.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. _____ Wishing that his sister hated dancing, too.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. _____ He became very upset when his mother told him he couldn’t go, later he was a little bit
embarrassed about it.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. ____ He went to the dance recital under protest, he hated it just as much as he thought he
would.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
In Class exercises for October 10th
Directions: Decide whether each item below is a sentence or a run-on. If it is a sentence, write “S” in
the space and leave it along. If it’s a run-on, write “R” in the space and correct it. Remember there are
several ways to correct a run-on sentence: (a) with an end punctuation mark, (b) with a semicolon, (c)
by adding a comma and a coordinating conjunction, FANBOYS, or (d) by making one of the sentences a
fragment by adding a word.
1. _____ Although she hates poached eggs more than just about anything on earth, Yolanda also
believes in being polite that’s why she tried to eat the breakfast her grandmother set down in
front of her.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. _____ Yolanda thinks that poached eggs are disgusting; her grandmother thinks they are a
special treat.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. _____ If you want something great for breakfast, pancakes should be your choice.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. _____ Pancakes are good, poached eggs are bad.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. _____ The runny yolk of a poached egg turned Yolanda’s stomach, after she took a bite she had
to excuse herself quickly.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. _____ Lark decided to audition for the lead in the play, she was pretty sure she would get it.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. _____ When Julia heard that Lark was going to audition for the lead, she decided she didn’t
have much of a chance, but she decided to try out anyway.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
8. _____ Lark did not get the lead, neither did Julia.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
9. _____ The director decided to cast Rai in the role after Rai’s boyfriend found out, he decided to
try out for the other lead role he got it.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
10. _____ The play was a huge success, Rai’s boyfriend went on to become a famous movie star.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
See the next page for additional in-class exercises…
Directions: Which of the following items are complete sentences? Put an “F” below fragments, an “R”
below run-ons, and an “S” below complete sentences.
1. Because he had practically memorized every Star Wars movie, including the very first one.
_____
2. Spike hates peas, he also hates carrots.
_____
3. The 20-story building on the corner of Oak Street and 10 th Avenue.
_____
4. Popping his knuckles over and over again in a way that was setting everyone’s teeth on edge.
_____
5. Whenever Ling rents a movie, always choosing comedies.
_____
6. Praying when a friend is in trouble is a way some people have of dealing with problems.
_____
20 Sentence Review
Directions: Label the following sentences with an “S” if it is a complete sentence, “F” if it is a fragment,
and an “R” if it’s a run-on. If you’ve labeled the sentences with an “F” or “R,” please also correct the
sentence.
1. _____ It’s a small world after all.
2. _____ After Sergio finally figured out how to remove the virus and then rebooted the
computer three times.
3. _____ Kimbra vowed never to let her sister borrow her new belt. Even if she begged and
promised to do her chores for a whole month.
4. _____ Why was the train late, Kate didn’t really care?
5. _____ Hoping to receive a wonderful scholarship that would allow him to attend the college of
his choice, absolutely free.
6. _____ Hand had homework, so he did it.
7. _____ About a million green bugs eating the leave of the tomato plants in the back yard.
8. _____ The scariest movie made in the last 50 years.
9. _____ Because she knew how to speak Japanese, Marie got the job.
10. _____ Zachariah was quite a photographer, he rarely let anyone see his photographs, though.
11. _____ LeRoy was thrilled to get an mp3 player now his father didn’t complain all the time
about his “rotten taste in music.”
12. _____ Whenever he set up his box and started performing for the tourists, everyone though
that Enrico was a brilliant dancer, but Vincent secretly thought that he was a lot better he
intended to show Enrico soon.
13. _____ The annoying spring in the foldout sofa of the couch at his grandfather’s house making it
nearly impossible to sleep there.
14. _____ Amelia liked her coffee black; Suzanna liked hers with cream.
15. _____ Wondering how she was going to get out of this jam.
16. _____ Kang wanted to take the train, but William insisted on walking.
17. _____ Argued about what they had really seen in the dark the night before on their way home.
18. _____ The parents were thrilled when their son came in first, unfortunately, he had cheated.
19. _____ The dog’s front paw.
20. _____ The Wanners had several names in mind for their new kitten. Such as Denise. And
Fluffy.