Practice Workbook 8: Correcting Sentence Fragments - A worksheet designed to help students distinguish between complete sentences and sentence fragments through examples and exercises.

Task Overview:

The task is to identify whether each group of words is a sentence or a sentence fragment. A sentence expresses a complete thought and contains a subject and a predicate. A sentence fragment, on the other hand, does not express a complete thought and lacks either a subject, a predicate, or both.

Solution:

Let's analyze each group of words one by one:

---

#### 1. Thought about it for a long time.
- Analysis: This sentence lacks a subject. It is unclear who "thought about it."
- Label: Sentence Fragment

#### 2. I sat on the couch and thought.
- Analysis: This sentence has a subject ("I") and a predicate ("sat on the couch and thought"). It expresses a complete thought.
- Label: Sentence

#### 3. Might buy him a book or a tie.
- Analysis: This sentence lacks a subject. It is unclear who "might buy" the gift.
- Label: Sentence Fragment

#### 4. Had almost no money.
- Analysis: This sentence lacks a subject. It is unclear who "had almost no money."
- Label: Sentence Fragment

#### 5. Dad likes thoughtful gifts.
- Analysis: This sentence has a subject ("Dad") and a predicate ("likes thoughtful gifts"). It expresses a complete thought.
- Label: Sentence

#### 6. Not one for clothes or gadgets.
- Analysis: This sentence lacks a subject. It is unclear who or what "is not one for clothes or gadgets."
- Label: Sentence Fragment

#### 7. As I thought about a gift for Dad.
- Analysis: This is a dependent clause starting with "As." It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it depends on an independent clause to make sense.
- Label: Sentence Fragment

#### 8. I took a look at Dad’s car.
- Analysis: This sentence has a subject ("I") and a predicate ("took a look at Dad’s car"). It expresses a complete thought.
- Label: Sentence

#### 9. A really dirty, dusty machine.
- Analysis: This is a noun phrase that describes something but does not express a complete thought. It lacks a verb.
- Label: Sentence Fragment

#### 10. I ran down to the auto supply store.
- Analysis: This sentence has a subject ("I") and a predicate ("ran down to the auto supply store"). It expresses a complete thought.
- Label: Sentence

#### 11. On the way to the store.
- Analysis: This is a prepositional phrase that provides additional information but does not express a complete thought. It lacks a subject and a verb.
- Label: Sentence Fragment

#### 12. Picked up some car wax and polish.
- Analysis: This sentence lacks a subject. It is unclear who "picked up" the car wax and polish.
- Label: Sentence Fragment

#### 13. I also bought some nice soft cloth.
- Analysis: This sentence has a subject ("I") and a predicate ("bought some nice soft cloth"). It expresses a complete thought.
- Label: Sentence

#### 14. Waited until Dad was taking a nap.
- Analysis: This sentence lacks a subject. It is unclear who "waited."
- Label: Sentence Fragment

#### 15. I sneaked downstairs to the garage.
- Analysis: This sentence has a subject ("I") and a predicate ("sneaked downstairs to the garage"). It expresses a complete thought.
- Label: Sentence

#### 16. I scrubbed and polished.
- Analysis: This sentence has a subject ("I") and a predicate ("scrubbed and polished"). It expresses a complete thought.
- Label: Sentence

#### 17. When Dad saw his car in the evening.
- Analysis: This is a dependent clause starting with "When." It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it depends on an independent clause to make sense.
- Label: Sentence Fragment

#### 18. Looked like a brand-new machine.
- Analysis: This sentence lacks a subject. It is unclear what "looked like a brand-new machine."
- Label: Sentence Fragment

---

Final Answer:

Here are the labels for each group of words:

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

Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{array}{ll}
1. \text{Sentence Fragment} & 2. \text{Sentence} \\
3. \text{Sentence Fragment} & 4. \text{Sentence Fragment} \\
5. \text{Sentence} & 6. \text{Sentence Fragment} \\
7. \text{Sentence Fragment} & 8. \text{Sentence} \\
9. \text{Sentence Fragment} & 10. \text{Sentence} \\
11. \text{Sentence Fragment} & 12. \text{Sentence Fragment} \\
13. \text{Sentence} & 14. \text{Sentence Fragment} \\
15. \text{Sentence} & 16. \text{Sentence} \\
17. \text{Sentence Fragment} & 18. \text{Sentence Fragment} \\
\end{array}
}