Final answer:
The correct answer is D. All of the above, meaning one can merge sentence fragments by attaching subordinate clauses or verbal phrases to adjacent sentences, or by joining compound predicates with coordinating conjunctions to form cohesive sentences.
Step-by-step explanation:
To merge sentence fragments effectively, one could consider a variety of methods depending on the nature of the fragments. The correct approach is indeed D. All of the above, which encompasses:
- Attaching the subordinate clause to the sentence preceding or following it to ensure it is properly connected to a main clause, making it part of a complex sentence.
- Attaching the verbal phrase to an adjacent sentence to give it the subject or predicate it might be missing, creating a more complete thought.
- Joining compound predicates using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so), also known by the mnemonic device fanboys, to form a compound sentence.
These methods help in constructing cohesive sentences and avoiding unintentional sentence fragments, leading to clearer and more effective writing.