English Toolkit

9.5Sentence fragments

TYPICAL ERROR In 1827, Cunningham ventured overland from the Hunter region. Discovered what he named the Darling Downs. And a pass through the mountains!

CORRECTION In 1827, Cunningham ventured overland from the Hunter region, discovering what he named the Darling Downs and a pass through the mountains!

EXPLANATION The person who wrote the sentence above broke it into fragments. Such fragmentation often happens if people write the way in which we sometimes speak; that is, in phrase groupings. Fragmentation also often occurs when people do not know how to punctuate correctly. When writing formally, such fragmentation should be avoided.

Rewrite each of these groups of fragments as one sentence.

aAt my new school I have met some wonderful have the same interests as I do.

bI have just seen the latest Harry Potter was even better than the others.

cHearing our parents on the phone talking about their learn, from the youngest age, that gossip is the lifeblood of society.

dHe does not wish to come with he does not like to swim.

eIt has been a far distant journey, but I have finally reached the other end.