Complete Sentences

 A sentence is grammatically complete group of words that expresses a thought. A sentence

express either an action of state of being and contain something that performs the action.

Every sentence starts with a capital letter and finishes with an end mark of punctuation – a period,
question mark or exclamation point.

 A sentence fragment is a group of words that is not grammatically complete. Avoid sentence
fragments in formal writing.

Because sentence fragments starts with capital letter and end with an end mark of punctuation, they
look just like sentences, but they are not.

Examples

Fragment: Ended with a question (What ended with a question)

Fragment: The letter to the editor (What did the letter say or do?)

Sentence: The letter to the editor ended with a question.

Fragment: Although the letter to the editor ended with a question.

(The word although sets up a new expectation for information, it turns the

sentence into an incomplete thought.)

sentence: Although the letter to the editor ended with a question, its message was clear.

Every sentence has one of four purposes:

1. Declarative sentences make a statement. They end with a period.

Example: Ancient Villages lay hidden for centuries.

2. Imperative sentences make a command or a request. They end with either a period or (if the

command shows strong feeling) an exclamation point.

Example: Read about the exciting discovery of the Mayan city of Copan.

3. Interrogative sentences ask a question. They end up with a question mark.

Example: When was the first Mayan city discovered?

4. Exclamatory sentences express strong feeling. They end with an exclamation point.

Example: What a great discovery that was!

Exercise 1 identifying Sentence Fragments

For each numbered item, circle the letter before the words that form a complete sentence.

1. a. A trip to the dentist’s office, which many people fear.

b. A trip to the dentist’s office, which many people fear, is rapidly becoming less dreadful.

2. a. Technological advances are resulting in safer, more accurate, and less painful methods of

treating teeth.

b. Technological advances for safer, more accurate, and less painful methods of treating teeth.

3. a. Dentists cut through teeth, which are the body’s hardest surfaces.

b. Because dentists cut through teeth, the body’s hardest surfaces.

4. a. The use of laser light as a new method for repairing teeth.

b. The use of laser light is a new method for repairing teeth.

5. a. New, computerized X-rays mean less radiation and more safety for patients.

b. New, computerized X-rays less radiation and more safety for patients.

Exercise 2 Writing Complete Sentences

On a separate piece of paper, rewrite the following notes, which are sentence fragments, as a
paragraph made up of complete sentences. Work with a partner or small group. Be sure to begin
each sentence with a capital letter and to end with an appropriate end punctuation mark.

Squid

A mollusk; large head, fairly large brain

Common squid, 12 -18 centimeters; giant squid, 60 centimeters or more – largest invertebrate giant
squid found deep in ocean – 1.000 – 2.000 deep

Has two fins; has arms near mouth; has tentacles; grabs prey with tentacles, holds prey with arms

A cephalopod – in same class as nautilus and octopus

Swims faster than any other invertebrate – forces water out of a tube – water going in one direction
causes squid to move quickly in opposite direction – like a jet

Deep-sea squid shoots out ink – when chased