What are complete and incomplete sentences?

A complete sentence is a sentence that contains a subject, a verb, and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a complete idea.

Example of a complete sentence: "I went to the store."

An incomplete sentence, also known as a sentence fragment, is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. It is missing either a subject, a verb, or does not make sense on its own.

Example of an incomplete sentence: "Running in the park."

Complete Sentences

- Express a complete thought.
- Have at least a subject and a verb.
- Can stand alone as a meaningful statement.

Example: The dog barked loudly.

Incomplete Sentences

- Do not express a complete thought.
- May be missing a subject, verb, or other essential element.
- Cannot stand alone as a meaningful statement.

Example: Because the storm is approaching...

Identifying Complete and Incomplete Sentences

To determine if a sentence is complete or incomplete, check:

- Does it contain a subject and a verb?
- Does it express a complete thought?
- Can it stand alone as a statement without requiring additional context?

Examples

Complete Sentences:
- The cat purred softly.
- The students studied for the exam.

Incomplete Sentences:
- While I was walking...
- The car, parked haphazardly...
- Because it was raining...