If you’re preparing for exams like the SAT, ACT, PSAT/NMSQT, GED, GRE, GMAT, AP Exams, PERT, Accuplacer, or MCAT, mastering sentence structure is essential. One of the most common grammar mistakes tested on these exams is sentence fragments—incomplete sentences that lack a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.

Sentence fragments can be tricky because they often sound correct, especially in everyday speech. However, in standardized tests, they can cost you valuable points in the writing and language sections. This guide covers what sentence fragments are, common types, strategies to fix them, and solved test-style examples—so you never lose points on sentence structure again!

What is a Sentence Fragment?

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that lacks one or more essential parts needed to form a complete thought. It may be missing a subject (who or what the sentence is about), a verb (the action or state of being), or both. In standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE, and AP exams, sentence fragments often appear as tricky choices that look like full sentences but fail to stand alone. Since these exams test your ability to recognize and correct grammar errors, understanding sentence fragments is crucial for improving your writing score.

Test-Style Example (SAT/ACT):

❌ Although I studied all night for the test.

(What happened after studying? This is incomplete!)

✔️ Although I studied all night for the test, I still found it difficult.

Why? The corrected sentence now has a complete thought.

Standardized tests often include these types of errors in Sentence Correction or Grammar-Based Questions, so knowing how to spot and fix them is crucial!

1. Missing Subject Fragments

A missing subject fragment occurs when a sentence lacks a subject, making it incomplete. Every sentence needs a subject to indicate who or what is performing the action for clarity and correctness.

👉 Tip for Exams: When you see a verb at the beginning of a sentence, check if a subject is included!

2. Missing Verb Fragments

A missing verb fragment occurs when a sentence lacks a main verb, preventing it from expressing an action or state. Without a verb, the sentence remains incomplete and fails to convey a full thought.

👉 Exam Tip: If a sentence has only nouns but no verb, it’s likely a fragment!

3. Dependent Clause Fragments

A dependent clause fragment begins with subordinating words like because, although, when, since, if, unless but fails to express a full thought. It cannot stand alone and must be connected to an independent clause to form a grammatically complete sentence.

👉 Exam Tip: If a sentence starts with a subordinating conjunction (like because or although), make sure it’s connected to a full sentence.

4. Phrase Fragments

A phrase fragment might contain a verb or noun but does not have a complete thought and is therefore incomplete. Because it is not a complete sentence, it has to be added to an independent clause in order to express a clear meaning.

👉 Exam Tip: If a sentence starts with a phrase (especially one that describes an action), check if it has a complete main clause!

Tips to Avoid Sentence Fragments on Standardized Tests

Preventing sentence fragments is important to get a high score on standard tests such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. Use the following advice to make your sentences whole and grammatically correct:

• Read the sentence carefully – Ask yourself: Does this express a complete idea?
• Check for subjects and verbs – Every sentence must have both!
• Watch out for dependent clauses – Words like because, although, if, since often indicate fragments.
• Use process of elimination – If an answer choice seems incomplete, it’s likely a fragment!
• Practice with official test questions – The best way to master this is through real SAT, ACT, or GRE practice tests.

Let’s apply what we’ve learned with test-style questions!

Explanation: "Even though" introduces a dependent clause, which cannot stand alone. To fix it, add an independent clause that completes the thought.

Explanation: This fragment lacks a subject, making it incomplete. Adding "The GRE" provides a clear subject, turning it into a complete sentence.

Explanation: "Trying to finish" is a verb phrase but lacks a subject. Adding "She" makes it a grammatically complete sentence.

Explanation: "Despite reviewing..." is a phrase that doesn't express a full idea. Adding an independent clause completes the sentence.

Summary

Sentence fragments are those pesky little errors that can take you away from points on tests. They're partial sentences that don't have a subject, verb, or complete thought—essentially, they leave you hanging! The most common types include missing subjects, missing verbs, dependent clauses, and phrase fragments. Standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT love to test your knowledge of sentence structure, so knowing how to spot and fix fragments is key to boosting your score. The best way to get better? Practice with real test questions! Once you master sentence fragments, you’ll be well on your way to acing the writing and language sections of any major exam. Now it’s your turn! Try spotting sentence fragments in practice tests and apply these strategies to fix them. Happy studying!