Notes on Fragments, Fragments, and Sentence Patterns (Simple, Compound, Complex)

Key Concepts

• Sentence structure is built from two core parts: a subject and a predicate (which contains a verb). A sentence expresses either an action or a state of being.
• Three basic sentence types are focused on for building blocks: simple, compound, and complex. Each adds layers of complexity but can be traced back to a simple sentence core.
• Fragments are incomplete sentences lacking essential components (subject, predicate, or a complete thought). They often arise from dependent clauses or missing elements.
• Run-ons come in two main forms: fused sentences (two independent clauses joined without appropriate punctuation) and comma splices (two independent clauses joined only by a comma).
• Editing strategy for common errors: identify independent clauses, then decide how to join them correctly using FANBOYS, a semicolon, or a conjunctive adverb, or by forming a proper complex sentence.
• Imperatives differ from other sentences because their subject is typically implied as you.
• Dependent vs independent clauses define complex sentences; dependent clauses cannot stand alone and need to attach to an independent clause.
• For assignments, expect practice with fragments, fused sentences, and comma splices, each with targeted corrective strategies.

What makes a sentence complete

• A subject that performs or is in a state of being, plus a predicate that contains a verb and expresses action or existence.
• Examples:
  • Simple sentence: "The philanthropist donated." (subject: philanthropist; predicate: donated)
  • Simple sentence with a state of being: "The Rocky Mountains are beautiful." (subject: Rocky Mountains; verb: are; complement: beautiful)
• Imperatives have an implied subject (you): e.g., "Call the plumber." This is not a fragment because the understood subject is present.
• If a sentence lacks a subject or a predicate (or a complete thought), it becomes a fragment.

Simple sentence

• Structure: Subject + Predicate (finite verb) + optional objects or complements.
• Examples:
  • "Tom reads novels." (Tom = subject; reads = verb; novels = object)
  • "The mountains are beautiful." (The Rocky Mountains = subject; are = linking verb; beautiful = subject complement)
• Key idea: the subject must perform an action or be in a state of being for the clause to be complete.

Imperatives and implied subjects

• Imperatives express commands and have implied subject (you).
• Examples:
  • "Call the plumber." (Implied subject: you)
  • "Don't kick your brother." (Implied subject: you)
• When a sentence begins with an imperative, the subject is not explicitly stated.

Fragment types and fixes

• Fragment type 1: Dependent (subordinate) clause at the beginning without attaching to a main clause.
  • Example fragment: "While they were gone to the grocery store."
  • Fix: attach to a nearby independent clause or remove the subordinating conjunction and connect to the previous or next sentence (e.g., "While they were gone to the grocery store, [something happened]." or "They were gone to the grocery store. [Main clause]" )
• Fragment type 2: ING-form fragment (IEG fragment) with missing auxiliary verb.
  • Example fragment: "I’m walking" vs. "I walking" (needs a helping verb like "was" or "has been")
  • Fix: add an auxiliary verb: "I was walking" or reframe to include a subject and finite verb.
• Fragment type 3: Missing subject in a series of actions.
  • Example fragment: "Security set off the alarm and evacuated the building. Close all the entrances." (missing explicit subject for the second clause)
  • Fix: reintroduce the subject or connect to the previous sentence: "Security set off the alarm, evacuated the building, and closed all the entrances." or split into two sentences with clear subjects as needed.
• Fragment type 4: Transitional or introductory phrases standing alone (e.g., starting with "for example", "including", "furthermore").
  • Example fragment: "For example, clean water and electricity." (needs to attach to a preceding sentence or be embedded in a complete sentence)
  • Fix: attach to the previous sentence: "Basic amenities include clean water and electricity."; add a subject: "Basic amenities include clean water and electricity. Internet is also essential."
• Fragment type 5: Miscellaneous stylistic fragments with implied context.
  • Fix: reinsert the missing subject, adjust punctuation, or reconnect to a nearby sentence to restore a complete thought.
• Practical rule of thumb: if you can easily connect the fragment to a neighboring sentence and preserve meaning, do so. If not, reintroduce the missing subject or rewrite to form a complete independent clause.

Common types of run-on errors and how to fix them

• Fragments vs. run-ons vs. dependent clauses:
  • Fragments are incomplete thoughts (missing subject or predicate or both).
  • Run-ons include fused sentences and comma splices where independent clauses are not properly separated.
• Fused sentences (two or more independent clauses fused together without proper punctuation):
  • Strategy: break into simple sentences first, then combine using a proper method (FANBOYS, semicolon, or conjunctive adverb).
• Comma splices (two independent clauses joined by a comma only):
  • Strategy: treat as a fused sentence and fix with one of the same methods used for fused sentences.
• Examples of fixes for two independent clauses:
  • Fanboys connection: "Tom writes music, and he plays the guitar." (comma + FANBOY)
  • Semicolon: "Tom writes music; he plays the guitar." (no conjunction needed)
  • Conjunctive adverb: "Tom writes music; however, he plays the guitar." (semicolon + comma after however)
• Note on FANBOYS: the seven coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Use one to join two independent clauses with a comma before the conjunction.
• Semicolon rules: use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses; it cannot join a dependent clause or a fragment. The second clause still must be a complete sentence.
• Conjunctive adverbs: common ones include however, furthermore, for example, nevertheless, thus, consequently, etc. When used to connect two independent clauses, a semicolon precedes the conjunctive adverb and a comma follows it.
• Strategy for editing run-ons: break the sentence into simple independent clauses, then reassemble using an appropriate method (FANBOYS, semicolon, or conjunctive adverb) to improve flow and coherence.

Complex sentences

• Definition: a complex sentence contains at least one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause.
• Independent clause: can stand alone as a complete sentence.
• Dependent clause: cannot stand alone; depends on an independent clause to complete its meaning.
• Construction patterns (three common forms discussed):
  1) Independent followed by dependent: "Jack reads comics, although Tom reads novels." (dependent clause at the end)
  2) Dependent at the start, followed by independent, separated by a comma: "Although Tom reads novels, Jack reads comics." (leading dependent clause followed by independent)
  3) The implicit structure with appropriate punctuation to show the relationship between the clauses.
• How to tell a fragment vs. a complete sentence in complex forms:
  • If the dependent part stands alone, it is a fragment (e.g., "Although Tom reads novels."), unless attached to an independent clause.
• Practical note: complex sentences allow you to vary rhythm and provide additional information, contrasts, or concessions within one sentence.

Making sense of examples and transformation strategies

• Fragment-to-complete strategies: connect fragments to neighboring sentences, or revise to reintroduce missing elements (subject, verb, or both).
• Compound sentence strategies:
  • Use FANBOYS to join two independent clauses with a comma before the conjunction.
  • Use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction.
  • Use a conjunctive adverb with a semicolon and a following comma to connect related independent clauses (e.g., "however,").
• Complex sentence strategies:
  • Attach dependent clauses to the appropriate independent clause via comma placement.
  • Begin with a dependent clause, then attach the independent clause after a comma.
• Contextual note on writing quality:
  • Avoid stacking too many simple sentences with only coordinating conjunctions (e.g., "This and this and this"). Vary sentence patterns to improve readability and emphasis.
• Example exploration (from the transcript):
  • Fragment example and fix process: start with a fragment like "While they were gone to the grocery store" and connect it to a complete thought such as "While they were gone to the grocery store, Sugar Land banned it." or attach to the preceding sentence.
  • Complex sentence transformation: start with a dependent clause and attach an independent clause, e.g., "While she writes music for Coldplay, he plays the guitar for the band." (dependent first, then independent)

Practical exam-oriented notes

• You should be able to identify:
  • Simple sentence vs. compound sentence vs. complex sentence
  • Independent vs. dependent clauses
  • Fragments and the typical causes (dependent clause at the start, missing subject, missing auxiliary for -ing forms, etc.)
  • Run-ons: fused sentences vs. comma splices
• You should be able to edit given sentences by:
  • Attaching fragments to nearby sentences or reintroducing missing subjects/verbs
  • Converting two independent clauses into a proper compound sentence using FANBOYS, semicolon, or conjunctive adverb
  • Rewriting dependent clauses to create clear, correct complex sentences
• Assignment expectations (as described in the transcript):
  • Three types of errors: fragments, fused sentences, and comma splices
  • Five questions related to fragments, five related to fused sentences, and five related to comma splices
• Real-world relevance:
  • Clear sentence structure improves readability, reduces ambiguity, and enhances communication in everyday writing and formal contexts.

Quick reference cheatsheet

• Simple sentence: A + V (+ Object) e.g., "Tom reads novels."
• Compound sentence: two independent clauses joined by a comma + FANBOYS, or by a semicolon, or by a semicolon + conjunctive adverb (comma after the adverb) e.g.:
  • "Tom reads novels, and Jack reads comics."
  • "Tom reads novels; Jack reads comics."
  • "Tom reads novels; however, Jack reads comics."
• Complex sentence: independent clause + dependent clause; forms include:
  • Independent, dependent at end: "Jack reads comics, although Tom reads novels."
  • Dependent at start: "Although Tom reads novels, Jack reads comics."
• Fragment fixes: attach to neighbor sentence or complete with missing subject/verb.
• Run-on fixes: break into simple sentences, then join properly using FANBOYS, semicolon, or conjunctive adverb.

Example recap (key sentences from the transcript)

• Simple sentence: "Tom reads novels." (subject: Tom; predicate: reads novels)
• Simple sentence with state: "The Rocky Mountains are beautiful." (subject: The Rocky Mountains; verb: are; complement: beautiful)
• Dependent clause at start (fragment): "While they were gone to the grocery store" -> fix by attaching to a main clause
• Independent + dependent (complex): "Jack reads comics, although Tom reads novels." -> dependent at end
• Dependent at start (complex): "Although Tom reads novels, Jack reads comics." -> dependent precedes independent with a comma
• Compound via FANBOYS: "She writes music, and he plays the guitar."
• Compound via semicolon: "She writes music; he plays the guitar."
• Compound via conjunctive adverb: "She writes music; however, he plays the guitar."

If you want, I can tailor these notes further to target specific sections of your course or convert them into a one-page condensed cheat sheet.