Fragmented clauses

A sentence must have at least one independent clause. A sentence may also contain one or more subordinate clauses.

Subordinate clauses must be attached to an independent clause; they cannot stand alone. If you punctuate a subordinate clause as a complete sentence, you create a fragment.

Here are some examples of fragmented clauses:

Incorrect example sentence: If the candidate does not live within the city limits.

Incorrect example sentence: If the candidate does not meet the residency requirement.

Incorrect example sentence: Even though the candidate works within the city.

Note that each of these subordinate clauses is patterned like a sentence, with both a subject and a verb. However, each begins with a word or words that mark the clause as subordinate (If, Unless, Even though, Which).

Fragmented clauses can be fixed in one of two ways:

  1. Attach a fragmented clause to an independent clause.

    Correct example sentence: If the candidate does not live within the city limits, running for city council is an impossibility.

    Correct example sentence: It is not possible to grant an exception if the candidate does not meet the residency requirement.

    Correct example sentence: Even though the candidate works within the city, that person cannot run for office unless he or she maintains a primary dwelling within the city.

    If and even though introduce subordinate clauses. The subordinate clauses can be joined to independent clauses to to form complete sentences.

  2. Delete the word or words that mark the clause as subordinate, and turn the clause into a complete sentence.

    Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: If the candidate does not live within the city limits. Revised sentence: The candidate does not live within the city limits.

    Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: If the candidate does not meet the residency requirements. Revised sentence: The candidate does not meet the residency requirements.

    Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Even though the candidate works within the city. Revised sentence: The candidate works within the city.

Deleting the words that mark the clauses as subordinate produces complete, independent clauses that can stand as sentences.

Test for fragments

Exercises:

Sentence fragments 1

Sentence fragments 2

Sentence fragments 3

Sentence fragments 4

Sentence fragments 5