Just outside my apartment window is a huge tree. which turns the most beautiful shade of gold in the autumn. i look
forward to the view of the fall color every year.
what is the fragment?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
In the sentence you provided, the fragment is “which turns the most beautiful shade of gold in the autumn.” This phrase is a dependent clause that does not express a complete thought on its own. To form a complete sentence, it requires an independent clause to provide context and meaning.
Explanation of the Fragment
- Definition of a Fragment: A fragment is a group of words that is not a complete sentence. It may lack a subject, a verb, or fail to express a complete idea. In this case, the fragment begins with “which,” indicating that it is dependent on another part of the sentence.
- Dependent Clauses: The fragment in question is a dependent clause because it starts with a relative pronoun (“which”). It provides additional information about the “tree” but cannot stand alone. For example, if you say, “The tree is beautiful, which turns the most beautiful shade of gold in the autumn,” it gives context by establishing what “which” refers to.
- How to Fix the Fragment: To correct the fragment, you can integrate it into a complete sentence. One way to do this is by combining it with an independent clause, like so: “The tree outside my apartment window is huge, which turns the most beautiful shade of gold in the autumn.” This revision includes an independent clause (“The tree outside my apartment window is huge”) that provides a subject and a verb, thereby creating a complete thought.
- Importance of Complete Sentences: Using complete sentences is essential for clarity and coherence in writing. Fragments can lead to confusion for the reader because they lack a full context, making it difficult to understand the writer’s intended message.
In summary, identifying and correcting fragments is a key aspect of effective writing, ensuring that each idea is fully expressed and easily understood.