Final answer:
To determine if a group of words is a sentence or a fragment, we need to ask three questions: Does it have a subject? Does it have a predicate? Does it express a complete thought?
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine if a group of words is a sentence or a fragment, we need to ask three questions:
- Does it have a subject? A sentence must have a subject, which is the part of the sentence that performs the action or is being described. For example, 'John runs' is a sentence because 'John' is the subject.
- Does it have a predicate? A sentence must have a predicate, which is the part of the sentence that tells what the subject is doing or experiencing. For example, 'John runs' is a sentence because 'runs' is the predicate.
- Does it express a complete thought? A sentence must express a complete thought or idea. It should make sense on its own. For example, 'John runs in the park' is a complete thought and therefore a sentence.
If a group of words does not have a subject, predicate, or express a complete thought, it is likely a fragment, which is an incomplete sentence.