2. Fragments That Start with Dependent Words
A dependent word (also called a subordinating conjunction) is the first word in a dependent clause.
A dependent clause cannot be a sentence because it does not express a complete thought, even though it has a subject and a verb. Whenever a dependent word starts what you think is a sentence, stop to check for a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
Common Dependent Words
| after | if/if only | until |
| although | now that | what (whatever) |
| as / as if / as though | once | when (whenever) |
| as long as / as soon as | since | where (wherever) |
| because | so that | whether |
| before | that | which |
| even if / even though | though | while |
| how | unless | who / whose |
You can correct a fragment by connecting it to the sentence before or after it. If the dependent clause is joined to the sentence after it, put a comma after the dependent clause.
