Comments on: Clauses that need companionship

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:44:46 +0000

Sorry, I guess I didn’t make my example obvious enough.

Edited version:
“Because they depend on another clause in the sentence.” That last sentence, beginning with because, was a subordinate clause that I forced to stand on its own.

By: J2R

J2R — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:37:56 +0000

Just a humble suggestion to the author, but I think it would help a lot if you added some examples.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:50:49 +0000

Jay, thanks for the comment.

I did not know about the “Is it true that…” check, good one!

By: Jay Wagers

Jay Wagers — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:38:12 +0000

This is one part of a lesson I teach when covering sentence fragments, comma splices, and run-ons. (I teach college English.)

You are correct about the word “because.” It creates more sentence fragments than any other word, with the runner-up probably being “whether,” when used at the beginning of a sentence.

One very easy method to determine if a sentence fragment exists or not is to put these four words at the beginning of the clause: “Is it true that . . .”

This will create a question. If the writer can answer the question, it is a sentence. If the question can’t be answered, it is a fragment (subordinate clause).

Good post. I’m glad I found your site and will visit very often.