EXERCISE 38.2

Identify all the sentence fragments in the following items, and explain why each is grammatically incomplete. Then revise each one in at least two ways. Example:

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  1. As soon as the seventy-five-year-old cellist walked onstage. The audience burst into applause.
    Dependent-clause fragment: As soon as the seventy-five-year-old cellist walked onstage, the audience burst into applause.

  2. The patient has only one intention. To smoke behind the doctor’s back.
    Phrase fragment: The patient has only one intention, to smoke behind the doctor’s back.

  3. Some reality shows feature people working in dangerous situations. Such as fishing for Alaskan king crab or logging in swamps.
    Phrase fragment: Some reality shows feature people working in dangerous situations, such as fishing for Alaskan king crab or logging in swamps.

  4. After writing and rewriting for almost three years. She finally felt that her novel was complete.
    Dependent-clause fragment: After writing and rewriting for almost three years, she finally felt that her novel was complete.

  5. In the wake of the earthquake. Relief workers tried to provide food and shelter to victims.
    Phrase fragment: In the wake of the earthquake, relief workers tried to provide food and shelter to victims.

  6. Forster stopped writing novels after A Passage to India. Which is one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century.
    Phrase fragment: Forster stopped writing novels after A Passage to India, one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century.

  7. Because only two students signed up. The class was canceled this semester.
    Dependent-clause fragment: Because only two students signed up, the class was canceled this semester.

  8. I started running in April. And ran my first marathon in September.
    Compound-predicate fragment: I started running in April and ran my first marathon in September.

  9. We sat stunned as she delivered her monologue. A ten-minute speech about everything we had done to annoy her.
    Phrase fragment: We sat stunned as she delivered her monologue, a ten-minute speech about everything we had done to annoy her.

  10. All primates have opposable thumbs. Which sets them apart from other mammals.
    Dependent-clause fragment: All primates have opposable thumbs, which sets them apart from other mammals.