Fragments & Phrases

If a group of words is not a sentence, what is it?  A FRAGMENT.

 A fragment is a piece of something larger.  Any word or groups of words can be a part of a sentence, but not every group of words IS a sentence.  There are two types of fragments:

A PHRASE is a group of words that go together but that is missing a subject, or missing a predicate, or missing both.  Because it is missing these items, it cannot express a complete thought

• Ate too much for dinner (Has a predicate, but no subject)
• My friendly dog Spike (has a subject, but no predicate)
• Her favorite, fluffy, fuzzy blue (Does not have a subject or a predicate)
• With a friendly smile (this is a prepositional phrase; it has no predicate, and no subject, although there is a noun)

A CLAUSE is a group of words that has a subject AND a predicate; however, it does NOT ALWAYS make a sentence.

Rule of Thumb: PHRASE

Write a sentence, then cross out either the complete subject, the complete predicate, or both of them.  The left-over words should make a phrase.

Mike went to the store. --- sentence

Went to the store  --- phrase – no subject

To the store --- phrase – no subject, and no predicate; this is a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE – “to” is a preposition

The puppy had brightly-colored bows.  --- sentence

The puppy --- phrase – no predicate

Had brightly-colored bows – phrase – no subject

Brightly colored bows – phrase – no subject, no predicate