A sentence fragment, per Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, is a group of words that is punctuated as a complete sentence — beginning with a capital letter and ending with a full stop — but is not grammatically complete. A complete English sentence requires three things: a subject (who or what the sentence is about), a finite verb (a verb that carries tense), and an independent thought (a clause that makes sense on its own without depending on another clause). Fragments occur when one or more of these three elements is missing. The four main causes are: a missing subject (Ran across the field.), a missing verb (The tall man in the grey coat.), a dependent clause standing alone (Because she was late.), or a phrase punctuated as a sentence (Waiting for the results.). In formal academic and professional writing, fragments are always errors. In IELTS and Cambridge exams, they reduce the Grammatical Range and Accuracy score.
Formation / Rules
| Fragment Type | Example Fragment | Fixed Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Missing subject | Ran quickly through the park. | She ran quickly through the park. |
| Missing finite verb | The tall woman in the blue coat. | The tall woman in the blue coat smiled. |
| Dependent clause alone | Because she was tired. | Because she was tired, she went to bed. |
| Infinitive phrase alone | To improve her English skills. | She studied hard to improve her English skills. |
| Participial phrase alone | Running late for the meeting. | Running late for the meeting, he took a taxi. |
Examples
- Fragment: Although it was raining heavily. → Fixed: Although it was raining heavily, we continued the match.
- Fragment: The best day of my life. → Fixed: It was the best day of my life.
- Fragment: After finishing all the homework. → Fixed: After finishing all the homework, she relaxed.
- Fragment: Which caused the whole system to fail. → Fixed: A power surge occurred, which caused the whole system to fail.
- Fragment: Never thought about the consequences. → Fixed: He never thought about the consequences.
- Fragment: Waiting patiently outside the office. → Fixed: She was waiting patiently outside the office.
Common Mistakes
| Fragment | Fixed | Problem |
|---|---|---|
| Because I was nervous. | Because I was nervous, I arrived early. | Dependent clause standing alone. |
| Such as coffee, tea and juice. | Several drinks were available, such as coffee, tea and juice. | Appositive phrase without a main clause. |
| Including the manager. | Everyone was invited, including the manager. | Participial phrase detached from host sentence. |
| For example, the Thames. | Famous rivers include, for example, the Thames. | Example phrase alone is not a sentence. |
| Which is very important. | Grammar is something which is very important. | Relative clause fragment. |
Practise
Grammar Quiz
Identify whether each group of words is a sentence or a fragment.
Cloze Dropdown
Choose the correct fix to complete the fragment.
Complete the Sentence
Rewrite each fragment as a complete sentence.
Practice What You’ve Learned
LexFizz has 30 free interactive exercises — no sign-up needed.
Browse All Grammar Topics →Explore related grammar topics:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sentence fragment?
A sentence fragment is a group of words punctuated as a sentence but missing one or more of the three requirements for a complete sentence: a subject, a finite verb, and an independent thought. Examples: Running through the park. (no subject) Because she was tired. (dependent clause only)
What are the three requirements for a complete sentence?
A complete sentence must have: (1) a subject (who or what the sentence is about), (2) a finite verb (a verb that shows tense), and (3) an independent thought (a clause that makes sense on its own and does not depend on another clause to complete its meaning).
What are the most common types of sentence fragments?
The main types are: (1) missing-subject fragments (Running fast down the street.), (2) missing-verb fragments (The tall man in the blue coat.), (3) dependent-clause fragments (Because she was late.), (4) infinitive or participial phrase fragments (To pass the exam. / Waiting for hours.).
How do I fix a sentence fragment?
Fix a fragment by: (1) adding the missing subject or verb to make it complete, or (2) attaching it to an adjacent complete sentence. Example: “Because she was tired.” (fragment) → “Because she was tired, she went to bed early.” (complete sentence with main clause added).
Are sentence fragments ever acceptable in English?
In creative writing, advertising, and informal speech, intentional fragments are common for stylistic effect: Not a chance. Absolutely. Best day ever. In formal academic writing and English language exams, fragments are always errors.
What is a dependent clause fragment?
A dependent clause fragment starts with a subordinating conjunction (because, although, when, if, since, unless, while, until) and has a subject and verb but cannot stand alone because the conjunction signals that it depends on a main clause to complete the meaning.
How can I tell if a group of words is a fragment?
Ask three questions: Does it have a subject? Does it have a finite (tensed) verb? Does it express a complete thought? If the answer to any question is no, it is a fragment. Reading it aloud often helps — fragments tend to leave the listener waiting for more.
What is the difference between a fragment and a dependent clause?
A dependent clause IS a type of fragment when used alone. It has a subject and verb but is introduced by a subordinating conjunction that makes it incomplete: “Although the film was long” has a subject and verb, but “although” signals it depends on a main clause.
Can a phrase be a sentence fragment?
Yes. Any phrase (a group of words without both a subject and finite verb) is a fragment if punctuated as a sentence: “Running to catch the bus.” is a participial phrase fragment. “In the middle of the night.” is a prepositional phrase fragment. Add a subject and finite verb to fix them.
Are sentence fragments penalised in IELTS writing?
Yes. Sentence fragments affect Grammatical Range and Accuracy scores in IELTS Task 1 and Task 2. Examiners expect complete, well-formed sentences. A fragment signals that the writer cannot reliably produce independent clauses, which limits the band score achievable.