GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE
Sentence Errors — Fragments

Definition

A fragment is a group of words written as one complete sentence, but which does not include an independent clause with a main subject and a main/complete verb.

Example

Students experiencing difficulty.
(experiencing = participle without auxiliary)

Explanation

There are four common types of fragments:

1. A dependent clause is written as a complete sentence.
2. A sentence is missing either a subject or a verb.
3. A gerund is used incorrectly. Usually this means a participle verb form is used without auxiliary verbs. (A participle is a verb with an -ing or -ed ending, for example: running, hiking, bored, broken.)
4. A list or example is written as a complete sentence.

Related Sections

Complex Sentences
Gerunds
Independent and Dependent Clauses
Common Linking Words and Their Uses
Participles
Simple Sentence Structure