Sentence Fragment Practice worksheet - Free Printable

Let's go through each item on the worksheet and determine whether it is a complete sentence or a fragment.

🔹 Rules:

- A complete sentence has:
- A subject (who or what the sentence is about)
- A predicate (what the subject does or is)
- It expresses a complete thought.
- A fragment is missing either a subject, a predicate, or both — or it’s just a phrase without a full thought.

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✔ Answers with Explanations:

1. ride the bicycle
→ Fragment
✘ No subject (who is riding?)
✔ Example of a complete version: *She rides the bicycle.*

2. we took our dog for a walk
→ Sentence
✔ Subject: *we* | Predicate: *took our dog for a walk*
✔️ Complete thought.

3. the amazing baseball player
→ Fragment
✘ Just a noun phrase; no verb or action.
✔ Could be part of a sentence: *The amazing baseball player hit a home run.*

4. spinning the web in the rain
→ Fragment
✘ No subject; just a present participle phrase.
✔ Example: *The spider was spinning the web in the rain.*

5. a turtle crawled down the road
→ Sentence
✔ Subject: *a turtle* | Predicate: *crawled down the road*
✔️ Complete thought.

6. the frog leaped
→ Sentence
✔ Subject: *the frog* | Predicate: *leaped*
✔️ Complete thought.

7. ran down the long football field
→ Fragment
✘ No subject (who ran?)
✔ Example: *The player ran down the long football field.*

8. green and leafy vegetables
→ Fragment
✘ Noun phrase only; no verb.
✔ Example: *I like green and leafy vegetables.*

9. performing for a huge audience
→ Fragment
✘ Present participle phrase; no subject or main verb.
✔ Example: *The singer was performing for a huge audience.*

10. the friendly waitress
→ Fragment
✘ Noun phrase; no verb.
✔ Example: *The friendly waitress brought me water.*

11. she noticed the falling star
→ Sentence
✔ Subject: *she* | Predicate: *noticed the falling star*
✔️ Complete thought.

12. his phone case was blue
→ Sentence
✔ Subject: *his phone case* | Predicate: *was blue*
✔️ Complete thought.

13. the bouncing beach ball
→ Fragment
✘ Noun phrase; no verb.
✔ Example: *The bouncing beach ball rolled into the ocean.*

14. did you see the movie
→ Sentence
✔ Even though it starts with "did," it has a subject (*you*) and a verb (*see*).
✔️ This is an interrogative (question) sentence — still a complete sentence.

15. the crashing waves
→ Fragment
✘ Noun phrase; no verb.
✔ Example: *The crashing waves woke us up.*

16. punching the swinging bag
→ Fragment
✘ Present participle phrase; no subject or main verb.
✔ Example: *He was punching the swinging bag.*

17. I stared
→ Sentence
✔ Subject: *I* | Predicate: *stared*
✔️ Complete thought.

18. gave me a birthday present today
→ Fragment
✘ Missing subject (who gave it?)
✔ Example: *My brother gave me a birthday present today.*

19. the picture frame is shiny
→ Sentence
✔ Subject: *the picture frame* | Predicate: *is shiny*
✔️ Complete thought.

20. the girl's curly hair
→ Fragment
✘ Noun phrase; no verb.
✔ Example: *The girl's curly hair shimmered in the sun.*

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✔ Final Answers:

| # | Group of Words | Answer |
|---|----------------------------------------|--------------|
| 1 | ride the bicycle | fragment |
| 2 | we took our dog for a walk | sentence |
| 3 | the amazing baseball player | fragment |
| 4 | spinning the web in the rain | fragment |
| 5 | a turtle crawled down the road | sentence |
| 6 | the frog leaped | sentence |
| 7 | ran down the long football field | fragment |
| 8 | green and leafy vegetables | fragment |
| 9 | performing for a huge audience | fragment |
|10 | the friendly waitress | fragment |
|11 | she noticed the falling star | sentence |
|12 | his phone case was blue | sentence |
|13 | the bouncing beach ball | fragment |
|14 | did you see the movie | sentence |
|15 | the crashing waves | fragment |
|16 | punching the swinging bag | fragment |
|17 | I stared | sentence |
|18 | gave me a birthday present today | fragment |
|19 | the picture frame is shiny | sentence |
|20 | the girl's curly hair | fragment |

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✔ Summary:
- Complete Sentences: 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19
- Fragments: All others

Let me know if you'd like this printed out or formatted for a worksheet!