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Fragment Exercise
Activity 1: Underline the dependent-word fragment in each item. Then rewrite the items, correcting each
fragment by attaching it to the sentence that comes before or the sentence that comes after itwhichever
sounds more natural. Use a comma after the dependent-word group if it starts the sentence.
1.

My cat flattens herself and tries to get out of the room. Whenever I turn on the vacuum.
Apparently, she thinks something is coming to eat her.
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2.

Philadelphia was originally a Quaker colony. That was founded by William Penn in 1681. By
1777, it had become the capital of the new United States.
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3.

Anna is the manager of the new neighborhood garden. That was started to encourage people to
grow their own food. She has been making sure everyone is using only organic products.
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4.

Since Connor first began watching NOVA. He has been fascinated with space travel. He has
decided to become an astronaut.
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5.

Roman law was first recorded in 450 B.C. in what was known as the twelve tablets. It lasted for
many centuries. Until the fall of the eastern Roman Empire nearly 2,000 years later.
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Activity 2: Underline the -ing fragment in each of the following items. Then correct the item by using the
method described in parentheses.

1.

Ramses II ruled over Egypt from 1279 to 1212 B.C. Making his country stronger than ever before.
He was both ambitious and intelligent. (Add the fragment to the preceding sentence.)
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Fragment Exercise

2.

A noisy fire truck suddenly raced down the street. Coming to a stop at my house. My home
security system had sent a false alarm. (Correct the fragment by adding the subject it and changing coming to the
proper form of the verb, came.)

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3.

I couldn't find any books on Egyptian history in the library. They had all been checked out. The
reason for this being that a research paper had just been assigned to students in an ancient history
class. (Correct the fragment by changing being to the proper form of the verb, was.)
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Activity 3: Underline the -ing or to fragment in each item. Then rewrite each item, correcting the
fragment.
1.

Knowing she had not finished the book. Madelyn was very nervous about going to class. She was
sure the teacher was going to give a quiz.
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2.

I hired a neighbor boy. To mow my lawn and weed the garden. He has been doing a great job.
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3.

Searching for the right filament for his incandescent light bulb. Thomas Edison (18471931)
found that a strip of carbonized bamboo could glow for 1,200 hours.
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4.

Cullen and Bryson have been friends since first grade. Graduating from high school this May.
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5.

To get his company to grow rapidly. Harvey Firestone launched a vigorous marketing campaign.
In 1906, he sold 2,000 sets of tires to the Ford Motor Company.
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Fragment Exercise
Activity 4: Underline the fragment in each of the following items. Then make it a sentence by rewriting it,
using the method described in parentheses.

1.

Mary Jane likes working at the department store. She enjoys the fringe benefits. For example,
purchasing clothes at a discounted price. (Correct the fragment by adding the subject and verb she purchases.)
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2.

Henry Ford (18631947) is credited with the invention of the assembly line, not the automobile.
Several nineteenth-century inventors had designed self-propelled vehicles. Like the one that ran on
high-pressure steam. (Attach the fragment to the preceding sentence.)
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3.

I love to eat b vegetables because they are full of vitamins. Such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
and beans. They also taste great. (Correct the fragment by inserting it in the preceding sentence.)
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Activity 5: Underline the added-detail fragment in each item. Then rewrite to correct the fragment.
1.

The music festival had an amazing lineup. For example, The Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, and
Coldplay. I was very excited when I was able to purchase tickets.
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2.

Some European countries remained neutral during World War II. Such as Switzerland and
Portugal. Most South American countries refused to take sides as well.
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3.

The house was overrun with cats. At least twenty of them. It was incredibly smelly and filled with
fur balls.
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Fragment Exercise
4.

Chlo loves to collect rare pieces of pottery. Like jasperware. Her most prized piece is a Yixing
teapot that is several hundred years old.
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5.

I know why I had to learn certain subjects in high school. Such as American history. Becoming a
responsible citizen requires knowledge of our country's past and of its system of government.
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Activity 6: Underline the missing-subject fragment in each item. Then rewrite that part of the item needed
to correct the fragment.
1.

Ben loves to study math and science. But refuses to study history. He says he doesn't want to
focus on the past.
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2.

My favorite pizza place is Sammy's Pizza and Pub. They have an amazing gluten-free spinach
pizza. With fresh nut-free pesto.
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3.

Kendall is allergic to dairy. She goes into anaphylactic shock. And loses her ability to breathe.
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4.

When we arrived in Chicago, we took a train from the airport to the center of the city. Then
walked a few blocks to our hotel. The trip was easy.
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5.

Next fall, I plan to take a course in calculus. And to join the mathematics club. By the time the
year is over, I will have decided whether to become a mathematics teacher.
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Fragment Exercise

REVIEW TEST 1
Each word group in the following student paragraph is numbered. In the space provided, write C if a word
group is a complete sentence; write F if it is a fragment. You will find eight fragments in the paragraph.
______ 1.
_

For children in areas that get snow. 2There are stages of snow

______ 2.
_

days. 3The first day is always fun, exciting, and filled with

______ 3.
_

possibilities. 4It usually consists of sledding. 5Making snowmen,

______ 4.
_

drinking hot chocolate, and watching movies. 6The kids know

______ 5.
_

they have been given a gift of a day away from school. 7If the

______ 6.
_

first day is followed by more, days two through four continue

______ 7.
_

with the initial excitement of day one. 8But often lead into cabin

______ 8.
_

fever, boredom, and frustration. 9This is especially true if

______ 9.
_

days two through four are very cold. 10Although movies are

______ 10. still an option. 11Parents begin to feel guilty that their kids are not
_
______ 11. learning anything; this begins a tug-o-war. 12And studying
_
______ 12. suggested. 13If school is reopened, family sanity can be saved.
_
______ 13.
_

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However, if more snow days occur. 15Reality sets in and

______ 14. despondency grows in the parents. 16Parents' sanity is

_
______ 15. jeopardized as they try to maintain normalcy. 17And
_
______ 16. start bargaining with the school district by offering to
_
______ 17. do whatever is necessary to reopen the schools. 18The final stage
_
______ 18. for parents is despair. 19As the kids grow more and more
_
______ 19. restless. 20Countless families have been known to abandon hope
_
______ 20. that the snow will ever melt and life will become normal.
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Fragment Exercise

REVIEW TEST 3
Read the paragraph below. In the space between the lines, correct each fragment.
It is very common for college students and young adults to find themselves in debt. As a result of poor
spending habits. In order to learn how to effectively manage money. Students should be required to take
economic classes. From elementary school all through high school. Starting in elementary school,
students could learn how to budget allowances. How to save for items like toys and college, and how to
run small businesses like lemonade stands or lawn mowing services. Games could be used in the
classroom to allow students hands-on learning. As students get older. Elasses could be more
sophisticated. Students could learn about different concepts. Like compound interest, opportunity costs,
and trade-offs. They could also be taught about the history of economics. How the government influences
the economy, and how and why countries trade. High school students' courses would take economics
even further. Explaining general investing, paying for college, and planning for retirement. Students could
be required to intern at various businesses. To learn economics from the business side. Teaching
economics on all educational levels could help many students avoid poor spending choices. And enjoy
better financial situations throughout their lives.