What is a phrase-fragment?

• A. Incomplete sentence, a partial, missing a main clause
• B. A complete sentence
• C. A dependent clause
• D. A dependent phrase

Answer: (A)

A sentence needs a main clause to express a complete thought. A phrase-fragment is exactly that kind of incomplete piece—it's a fragment made up of a phrase or dependent structure that cannot stand alone as a sentence because it lacks a main clause. A complete sentence has both a subject and a predicate and can stand on its own, expressing a full thought. A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone; it needs an independent clause to complete the thought, so it’s not a complete sentence by itself. A dependent phrase functions inside a sentence and also can’t stand alone, so it, too, isn’t a complete sentence.