Sentence Fragments: Complex Sentences

Introduction

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Is this a sentence?

When I was in the army.

 Follow below as we discuss sentence fragments and complex sentences.

To view the prior lesson, Sentence Fragments and Compound Sentences, click here.

Common Types of Fragments

I'm sure you've heard your teachers say, "Write in complete sentences only."  Your teachers don't want you to write fragments in formal writing.  But are you always sure whether what you've written is a complete sentence or not? 

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.  One of the most common types of sentence fragments is a dependent (or subordinate) clause that has not been attached to a main or independent clause. Another common type of sentence fragment is a long noun clause, where there is no verb to complete the sentence.

Subordinate Clause Fragments

The presence of subordinate fragments in formal writing is unacceptable.  On the other hand, the presence of subordinate clause fragments in conversation is common and acceptable when answering questions.  Let's take a look at a few common and acceptable fragments in conversation.

Marta: When did you save their lives?
Alexandre: When I was in the army.
Marta: Why did you rescue them from the railroad tracks?
Alexandre: Because it was my duty to do so.

We'll look at the same dialogue using complete sentences.

Marta: When did you save their lives?
Alexandre: I saved their lives when I was in the army.
Marta: Why did you rescue them from the railroad tracks?
Alexandre: I rescued them from the railroad tracks because it was my duty to do so.

We'll look at the same dialogue in prose style:

I saved their lives when I was in the army.  I rescued them from the railroad tracks because it was my duty to do so.

Here's another example of an acceptable dialogue:

Marta: When did you realize your whole body had been shaking?
Sonya: After the wedding.

Here's the same question and answer using complete sentences.

Marta: When did you realize your whole body had been shaking?
Sonya: After the wedding, I realized my whole body had been shaking.

Here's the same question and answer in prose writing using complete sentences.

Marta asked me when I realized my whole body had been shaking. I told her that I didn't realize it until after the wedding.

How to Repair a Dependent Clause Fragment

There are often multiple ways of repairing a dependent clause fragment. In each case, however, the dependent (or subordinate) clause will be attached to the main (or independent) clause. The fragments below come from students' writing.

Problem 1:  

When I was in the army.  I saved two men's lives.  I rescued them.  Because it was my duty to do so.

Solution:

When I was in the army, I saved two men's lives.  I rescued them because it was my duty to do so.

Problem 2:

After the wedding.  My husband told me that when I came into the chapel.  My whole body was shaking.

Solution:

After the wedding, my husband told me that when I came into the chapel, my whole body was shaking.  

Next lesson...

Continue with our next few lessons:  Fragments and Complex Sentences beginning with

  • when

  • before and after

  • because

  • although

  • but

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