How to Identify and Fix Sentence Fragments

Khan Academy

In this engaging grammar lesson, David and his teacher-cousin Beth break down the concept of sentence fragments using a simple, collaborative blackboard style. The video explains that a sentence fragment is an incomplete thought that mimics a sentence by ending with a period but fails to tell the "whole story." Through clear visual examples, the hosts demonstrate the two main causes of fragments: missing a subject (the "who") or missing a predicate (the "what happened"). The video explores three distinct types of fragments: those missing a predicate, those missing a subject, and phrases that lack both (like prepositional phrases standing alone). Using relatable examples like "The pancakes" and "Because of the snowstorm," David and Beth show exactly how to turn these fragments into complete sentences by combining subjects and predicates. The visual use of green and white handwriting on a black background helps distinguish between the naming part (subject) and the telling part (predicate). This resource is highly valuable for upper elementary and middle school language arts classrooms. It provides a non-intimidating entry point into sentence structure, helping students move beyond intuition to understanding the grammatical mechanics of why a sentence is complete. Teachers can use this video to introduce editing skills, support struggling writers who frequently use fragments, or reinforce the fundamental concepts of subject and predicate.