Which Of The Following Is A Complete Sentence

Which of the Following is a Complete Sentence? Mastering the Art of Grammatical Completeness

Understanding what constitutes a complete sentence is fundamental to effective writing. A complete sentence, also known as an independent clause, expresses a complete thought and stands alone. It contains a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a predicate (what the subject does or is). This seemingly simple concept can be surprisingly tricky, especially when dealing with fragments, run-on sentences, and complex sentence structures. This comprehensive guide will delve into the nuances of complete sentences, providing you with clear examples and practical strategies to identify them effectively.

Identifying the Key Components: Subject and Predicate

Before we dissect examples, let's solidify our understanding of the core elements: the subject and the predicate.

The Subject: Who or What is the Sentence About?

The subject is the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that performs the action or is described in the sentence. It's the "who" or "what" of the sentence.

• Examples:

  • The cat sat on the mat. (Subject: The cat)
  • She laughed heartily. (Subject: She)
  • The old oak tree stood tall against the wind. (Subject: The old oak tree)
  • My best friend and I went to the movies. (Subject: My best friend and I)

The Predicate: What the Subject Does or Is

The predicate explains what the subject does or is. It always includes the verb and may contain objects, complements, and modifiers.

• Examples:

  • The cat sat on the mat. (Predicate: sat on the mat)
  • She laughed heartily. (Predicate: laughed heartily)
  • The old oak tree stood tall against the wind. (Predicate: stood tall against the wind)
  • My best friend and I went to the movies. (Predicate: went to the movies)

Distinguishing Complete Sentences from Fragments

Sentence fragments lack either a subject, a predicate, or both. They are incomplete thoughts and cannot stand alone as grammatically correct sentences.

Common Types of Sentence Fragments:

• Verbless Fragments: These lack a verb and only contain a subject or other phrases.

  • Example: The fluffy, white kitten. (Missing a verb – what does the kitten do?)

• Subjectless Fragments: These lack a subject, starting with a verb or a prepositional phrase.

  • Example: Ran quickly down the street. (Missing a subject – who ran?)
  • Example: After the long meeting. (Missing both a subject and a verb – what happened after the long meeting?)

• Dependent Clause Fragments: These contain a subject and a verb, but are introduced by a subordinating conjunction (e.g., because, although, since, if, while) making them dependent on another clause to complete their meaning.

  • Example: Because it was raining. (Needs an independent clause to complete the thought; e.g., "Because it was raining, the game was canceled.")

Recognizing Run-on Sentences: The Opposite Extreme

While fragments are incomplete, run-on sentences are overly long and combine multiple independent clauses without proper punctuation or conjunctions. This creates confusing and grammatically incorrect sentences.

Types of Run-on Sentences:

• Comma Splices: Two independent clauses are joined only by a comma.

  • Example: The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day. (Incorrect; needs a semicolon, a conjunction, or separation into two sentences.)

• Fused Sentences: Two independent clauses are joined without any punctuation or conjunctions.

  • Example: The dog barked the cat ran away. (Incorrect; needs a semicolon, a conjunction, or separation into two sentences.)

Analyzing Examples: Identifying Complete and Incomplete Sentences

Let's examine several examples to practice identifying complete sentences versus fragments and run-on sentences:

Example Set 1:

1. The birds sang sweetly at dawn. (Complete Sentence)
2. Running through the park. (Fragment – Verbless)
3. Although she studied hard. (Fragment – Dependent Clause)
4. He went to the store, he bought milk and bread. (Run-on Sentence – Comma Splice)
5. The tall, dark stranger smiled mysteriously. (Complete Sentence)
6. Because of the storm. (Fragment – Dependent Clause)
7. Slowly and cautiously, she approached the door, she opened it slowly. (Run-on Sentence - Comma Splice)
8. The vibrant colors of the sunset. (Fragment – Verbless)
9. She finished her work and went home. (Complete Sentence)
10. Despite the challenges. (Fragment – Dependent Clause)

Example Set 2 – More Challenging Examples:

1. Having completed his assignment, John felt a sense of relief. (Complete Sentence – Although the initial phrase is a participial phrase, the main clause is complete.)
2. The shimmering lake, reflecting the sunset's glow. (Fragment – Missing a verb.)
3. Before the meeting began, the attendees quietly took their seats, and the anticipation was palpable. (Complete Sentence – Contains multiple clauses correctly joined.)
4. If you want to succeed. (Fragment – Dependent Clause)
5. With a heavy heart, she walked away from the old house, leaving behind memories both sweet and bittersweet. (Complete Sentence – Multiple clauses properly joined with commas.)
6. The wind howled fiercely, the trees swayed dramatically, and rain lashed against the windows. (Complete Sentence – Multiple clauses correctly connected using commas and the conjunction "and".)
7. After a long, tiring day. (Fragment – Dependent Clause)
8. He ate a big breakfast, then he went to work. (Run-on Sentence – Comma Splice)
9. A beautiful, sun-drenched meadow, filled with wildflowers. (Fragment – Verbless)
10. She laughed, and he smiled. (Complete Sentence – Two independent clauses correctly joined by a conjunction.)

Strategies for Identifying Complete Sentences

To confidently identify complete sentences, utilize these strategies:

1. Look for a subject and a verb: Every complete sentence must have both.
2. Check for dependent clauses: Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, since, if, while, etc.) often indicate a dependent clause, which needs an independent clause to form a complete sentence.
3. Watch out for fragments: Identify missing subjects, verbs, or complete thoughts.
4. Identify run-on sentences: Check for comma splices and fused sentences. Use semicolons, conjunctions, or separate the clauses into individual sentences to correct them.
5. Read your writing aloud: This helps catch grammatical errors and incomplete thoughts.
6. Use a grammar checker: While not foolproof, tools can help identify potential sentence structure issues.

Mastering Complete Sentences: A Key to Effective Communication

The ability to construct and identify complete sentences is the cornerstone of clear and effective writing. By understanding the fundamentals of subjects, predicates, and the pitfalls of fragments and run-on sentences, you can significantly improve the clarity and grammatical correctness of your writing, leading to better communication and a more professional writing style. Practice makes perfect! Continue to analyze sentences, practice writing, and review your work to hone your skills in mastering the art of the complete sentence. With consistent effort, you'll become proficient at identifying and constructing grammatically sound and impactful sentences.