Which are fragments (dependent clause fragments, relative clause fragments, or -ing fragments)? Driving an automobile while talking on a cell phone to his girlfriend.

Before I had my driver's license, I used to ride the bus.
Lucy fell behind her teammates during the 6K race.
When John went to his first day of classes at the local community college.

1 answer

Let's analyze each of the provided phrases or sentences to determine which are fragments:

Driving an automobile while talking on a cell phone to his girlfriend.
- This is a -ing fragment. It does not form a complete thought because it lacks a main clause to complete the idea.
Before I had my driver's license, I used to ride the bus.
- This is a complete sentence. The phrase "Before I had my driver's license" is an introductory dependent clause, but it is followed by an independent clause, so the entire sentence is complete.
Lucy fell behind her teammates during the 6K race.
- This is a complete sentence. It has a subject ("Lucy") and a predicate ("fell behind her teammates during the 6K race"), making it independent.
When John went to his first day of classes at the local community college.
- This is a dependent clause fragment. It begins with "When," indicating it is subordinate, and it lacks a main clause to complete the thought.

In summary:

Fragments: 1 (Driving an automobile while talking on a cell phone to his girlfriend) and 4 (When John went to his first day of classes at the local community college).
Complete sentences: 2 (Before I had my driver's license, I used to ride the bus) and 3 (Lucy fell behind her teammates during the 6K race).