Sentence Fragments Worksheet

Lesson Overview

About this worksheet

A sentence fragment is a group of words that LOOKS like a sentence but is missing one of the three pieces every complete sentence needs: a subject, a verb, or a complete thought. Sentence fragments are one of the most common revision targets in elementary writing because students are taught to capitalize the first word and end with a period before they are taught what makes the words in between actually work as a sentence.

Section A on page 1 gives students 12 groups of words in a two-column grid. The student labels each one sentence or fragment. The mix alternates complete sentences (Maya painted a bright sunset; The bus stopped at the corner) with the three most common fragment types: missing-subject (Sang a happy song), missing-verb (Three loud crows on the fence), and dependent-clause fragments (Because the rain stopped; When the lights went out).

Section B on page 2 raises the difficulty: each of 6 items is a fragment, and the student rewrites it as a complete sentence in a generous work box. There is more than one right way to fix each fragment, so the answer key gives sample sentences and accepts any answer that adds the missing piece – subject, verb, or completion of thought.

Page 3 is a complete answer key. The Section A grid gives the one-word label; Section B gives a sample completed sentence for each fragment.

How to Use This Lesson

Read the reference box aloud and slow down on the three missing-pieces – subject, verb, or complete thought. Use the dog-ran examples to show how each fragment fails.

Work Section A item 1 together: ‘Maya painted a bright sunset.’ has a subject (Maya) AND a verb (painted) AND a complete thought, so it is a sentence. Item 2 (‘Under the kitchen table.’) has no subject and no verb, so it is a fragment.

Assign the rest of Section A independently or in pairs.

Demonstrate Section B item 13 together: ‘Behind the old red barn.’ is missing a subject and a verb. Ask students for ideas (A fox lives behind the old red barn; The kids built a fort behind the old red barn) and show any complete sentence is correct.

Use the answer key on page 3 for self-check or aide spot-check; remind students any complete sentence that uses the fragment counts.

Pair with the Complete Sentences Worksheet or Subject and Predicate Worksheet for additional sentence-structure practice.

Printable Resource

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