What is a sentence fragment?

A sentence fragment is defined as a group of words that does not express a complete thought. It often lacks either a subject or a verb or may begin with a dependent clause that cannot stand alone. For instance, phrases like "Although I tried" or "Running through the park" do not form a complete thought on their own, which is characteristic of sentence fragments. This definition highlights the importance of a complete thought in distinguishing a fragment from a full sentence.

In contrast, complete sentences contain both a subject and a verb and convey a complete idea, while interrogative and exclamatory sentences are specific types of complete sentences that serve particular purposes, such as asking questions or expressing strong emotions. Therefore, the identification of a sentence fragment hinges on its inability to express a fully formed thought, making the chosen answer the correct one.