Sentences, Fragments, and Run-On Sentences - Free Printable

Let's solve the task step by step.

Task:

We are given a list of 18 groups of words. For each group, we need to determine if it is a complete sentence or a fragment.

- If it's a complete sentence, write S on the line.
- If it's a fragment, write F on the line.

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Definitions:

- A complete sentence has:
- A subject
- A predicate (verb)
- Expresses a complete thought

- A fragment is:
- Missing a subject or verb
- Incomplete thought
- Often just a phrase or clause

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Now let’s analyze each item:

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1. Yesterday when I got off the school bus.
→ This is a dependent clause ("when I got off the school bus") with no independent clause. It doesn't express a complete thought.
✔ F

2. My friend Sheila and I saw a brown toad hopping on the sidewalk.
→ Subject: "My friend Sheila and I"
→ Verb: "saw"
→ Complete thought.
✔ S

3. Yelled and screamed when she saw it.
→ No subject. "Yelled and screamed" is a verb phrase, but who did it?
→ Missing subject → fragment
✔ F

4. My friend Sheila, who is scared of all reptiles.
→ This is a noun phrase with a relative clause. No verb for the main clause.
→ Not a complete thought.
✔ F

5. I picked up the toad and looked closely at it.
→ Subject: "I"
→ Verbs: "picked up", "looked"
→ Complete thought.
✔ S

6. Had dry, bumpy skin on its body.
→ No subject. Just a verb phrase.
→ Fragment
✔ F

7. Sheila said, “I don’t want to see that ugly toad!”
→ Subject: "Sheila"
→ Verb: "said"
→ Quoted speech is a complete sentence within the quote.
→ Entire structure is a complete sentence.
✔ S

8. Said, “Then close your eyes Sheila.”
→ No subject. "Said" is a verb, but who said it?
→ Fragment
✔ F

9. Sheila was mad and she ran off.
→ Two clauses: "Sheila was mad" and "she ran off"
→ Both have subjects and verbs. Complete thought.
✔ S

10. I put the toad in my backpack.
→ Subject: "I"
→ Verb: "put"
→ Complete thought.
✔ S

11. Took it home to show my brother.
→ No subject. "Took" is a verb, but who took it?
→ Fragment
✔ F

12. My brother wasn’t home from school yet.
→ Subject: "My brother"
→ Verb: "wasn’t"
→ Complete thought.
✔ S

13. Then I put the backpack on the living room sofa.
→ Subject: "I"
→ Verb: "put"
→ Complete thought.
✔ S

14. The toad was still inside.
→ Subject: "The toad"
→ Verb: "was"
→ Complete thought.
✔ S

15. My mother opened the backpack to see what homework I had.
→ Subject: "My mother"
→ Verb: "opened"
→ Complete thought.
✔ S

16. Hopped out of the backpack and began jumping around the living room floor.
→ No subject. "Hopped" and "began" are verbs without a subject.
→ Fragment
✔ F

17. Screamed loudly!
→ No subject. "Screamed" is a verb.
→ Fragment
✔ F

18. Do you think my mother will let me keep this little brown toad?
→ This is a question, but it has:
- Subject: "you"
- Verb: "think"
- Complete thought (even as a question)
→ Complete sentence
✔ S

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Final Answers:

1. F
2. S
3. F
4. F
5. S
6. F
7. S
8. F
9. S
10. S
11. F
12. S
13. S
14. S
15. S
16. F
17. F
18. S

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Summary:

- Complete Sentences (S): 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18 → 10 sentences
- Fragments (F): 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 16, 17 → 8 fragments

This exercise helps students distinguish between full thoughts and incomplete phrases—key for writing clear, grammatically correct sentences.