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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Are Your Sentences Complete or Incomplete? Take the Quiz!

Think you can check for incomplete sentences? Complete the incomplete sentences and find out!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for quiz spotting complete versus incomplete sentences on dark blue background.

Are you ready to sharpen your grammar skills and master the difference between complete vs incomplete sentences? Whether you're a student polishing your writing or a wordsmith who cares about clarity, this free quiz will help you identify an incomplete thought at a glance. Dive in and learn to check for incomplete sentences as you test "is this an incomplete sentence?" on every prompt. Along the way, you'll practice how to complete the incomplete sentences and see examples that reinforce your understanding. Feeling curious? Jump into our complete sentences quiz or take the next step and finish these sentences to build confidence and precision in your writing. Ready to ace it? Start now!

Which of the following is an incomplete sentence?
They called to confirm.
I locked the door before leaving.
She walked to the store.
Because I forgot my keys.
"Because I forgot my keys." is a subordinate clause that lacks an independent clause to complete the thought. It introduces a reason but never states what happened as a result. Sentence fragments like this one cannot stand alone. Purdue OWL on Sentence Fragments
Which of the following is a complete sentence?
Under the bright, warm sun.
After checking his email.
The conference begins at nine o'clock sharp.
Before she could answer.
"The conference begins at nine o'clock sharp." contains a subject ("The conference") and a predicate ("begins at nine o'clock sharp"), forming a complete thought. The other options are dependent clauses or phrases missing either a subject or a verb. A full sentence must express a complete idea. Grammarly on Complete Sentences
Identify the fragment that is missing a subject.
Cooked dinner quickly.
Susan cooked dinner.
While she cooked dinner.
In the bright kitchen.
"While she cooked dinner." is a dependent clause that has both subject and verb but cannot stand alone because it begins with "while." It needs a main clause to complete the idea. Sentence fragments often start with subordinators like "while," "because," or "if." StudySmarter on Sentence Fragments
Which example is a fragment missing a predicate?
The machinery malfunctioned unexpectedly.
After the malfunction subsided.
They repaired the broken gears.
The intricate machinery in the factory.
"The intricate machinery in the factory." lacks a verb or action, making it a fragment. It provides a subject but no predicate to complete the thought. A complete sentence needs both subject and predicate. UNC Writing Center on Fragments
Which of the following is an independent clause?
After the rain stopped.
Before the sun rose.
While they waited impatiently.
The children played in the park.
"The children played in the park." expresses a complete thought with a subject and predicate and can stand alone. The other options are dependent clauses beginning with subordinating conjunctions and cannot stand by themselves. Independent clauses form complete sentences. Grammarly on Clauses
Which sentence below is a fragment?
She answered all the questions.
Running through the hallway.
They enjoyed the movie afterward.
He was late for the meeting.
"Running through the hallway." lacks a subject and verb structure to form a complete thought. It's just a participial phrase and cannot stand alone. Complete sentences need both a subject and a finite verb. UW - Madison Writing Center
Choose the complete sentence.
Because the traffic was terrible.
After a long, exhausting journey.
They finally arrived at the hotel after midnight.
Although tired from the trip.
"They finally arrived at the hotel after midnight." has a clear subject and predicate and expresses a full thought. The other choices are dependent clauses that cannot stand alone. Full sentences must include an independent clause. Grammarly on Fragments
Which of the following is a complete complex sentence?
After she studied for hours.
Studying hard every evening.
Because of the heavy traffic.
Although she studied hard, she didn't pass the exam.
"Although she studied hard, she didn't pass the exam." combines a dependent clause ("Although she studied hard") and an independent clause ("she didn't pass the exam"), forming a complete complex sentence. The other options are sentence fragments. UNC Writing Center on Clauses
Identify the fragment caused by a missing main verb.
We discussed the solutions at length.
The potential solutions to the problem.
She presented her findings.
After the meeting ended.
"The potential solutions to the problem." lacks a verb to show action or being, making it a fragment. A complete sentence needs a subject and a finite verb. Grammarly on Verbs
Which option best corrects the fragment: 'While waiting for the train.'?
She read a book while waiting for the train.
While waiting for the train, in the station.
Waiting for the train in the station.
Because she was waiting for the train.
Adding "She read a book" provides an independent clause to complete the thought. The original phrase "While waiting for the train" is a dependent clause needing a main clause. Purdue OWL on Fragments
Which of these is a dependent clause, not a complete sentence?
If the weather improves tomorrow.
They arrived home safely.
He finished his homework.
We will go hiking.
"If the weather improves tomorrow." begins with the subordinating conjunction "if" and cannot stand alone. It needs an independent clause to complete the sentence. Grammarly on Dependent Clauses
Choose the correctly punctuated complete sentence.
Because it rained. We canceled the picnic.
It rained so we canceled the picnic.
It rained; we canceled the picnic.
Raining heavily, the picnic was canceled.
"It rained; we canceled the picnic." consists of two independent clauses joined correctly with a semicolon. The others are either fragments or comma splices. GrammarBook on Semicolons
Which item is a phrase rather than a complete sentence?
Walking the dog every morning.
Every morning the dog is walked.
She walks the dog every morning.
They walk the dog every morning.
"Walking the dog every morning." is a participial phrase with no finite verb or clear subject performing the action. The other choices each have a subject and verb. UNC on Phrases
Identify the sentence that is incomplete because of a dangling modifier.
After finishing dinner, she washed the dishes.
If you need help, let me know.
Walking to the store, the rain started pouring.
Because he was late, John ran quickly.
In "Walking to the store, the rain started pouring," the introductory phrase should modify a person, not "the rain." This creates a dangling modifier and leaves the thought incomplete. A complete sentence must link modifiers to the correct subject. Purdue OWL on Dangling Modifiers
Which of the following is a grammatically complete sentence despite lacking an explicit subject?
While waiting for your response.
After the meeting ends promptly.
Close the door before you leave.
Having finished the report earlier.
Imperative sentences like "Close the door before you leave." omit the subject "you" but are still complete. The verb "close" and the rest of the clause express a full command. Fragments arise from missing finite verbs or incomplete clauses, not from omitted subjects in commands. Grammarly on Imperative Sentences
Identify the sentence fragment containing an absolute phrase.
Because her arms were folded.
Her arms folded across her chest.
She stood with her arms folded across her chest.
Folding her arms across her chest.
"Her arms folded across her chest." is an absolute phrase fragment lacking a main verb for the clause. An absolute phrase describes a noun but doesn't have a finite verb to make a complete sentence. Writing Explained on Absolute Phrases
Which example is a sentence fragment due to an unattached relative clause?
We missed the friends who left earlier.
Meeting the deadline was her priority.
That she arrived late to the meeting.
The report that she submitted was thorough.
"That she arrived late to the meeting." is a relative clause without a main clause to attach to. It leaves the reader wondering what "that" modifies. A complete sentence must have an independent clause. Grammarly on Relative Clauses
Which choice is a complete sentence with an elliptical construction?
I ordered coffee; tea she.
Ordering coffee, and she tea.
I ordered coffee, and she tea.
I ordered coffee, she tea.
"I ordered coffee, and she tea." is complete: it uses ellipsis to omit the repeated verb "ordered." Both clauses are independent, and the omitted part is understood. Fragments result when the verb is missing entirely. Grammar Clinic on Elliptical Constructions
Identify the fragment created by a misplaced modifier.
Nearly finished, the marathon runner smiled.
Nearly finished the marathon, the crowd cheered loudly.
The crowd nearly finished cheering before she arrived.
The marathon, nearly finished, was inspiring.
"Nearly finished the marathon, the crowd cheered loudly." incorrectly attaches "nearly finished the marathon" to "the crowd," creating a fragment with a dangling idea. A complete sentence must clearly connect modifiers to the correct subject. UNC on Modifiers
Which of the following is a noun clause that functions as a complete subject?
That she decided mattered.
What she decided mattered to everyone.
Because she decided matters.
Deciding mattered to everyone.
"What she decided mattered to everyone." uses a noun clause as the subject and has a predicate ("mattered to everyone"), forming a complete sentence. Fragments lack either a subject or predicate. Grammarly on Noun Clauses
Choose the sentence that is incorrectly identified as complete but is actually a fragment.
Everyone followed the instructions clearly.
Provided the instructions clearly, everyone followed them.
After providing the instructions clearly, everyone followed them.
Instructions provided clearly, everyone followed them.
"Provided the instructions clearly, everyone followed them." is a fragment because the introductory participle "Provided" lacks an explicit subject. A complete sentence needs a clear subject-verb relationship. UNC on Fragments
Which of the following is a fragment because it's a pseudo-sentence lacking a predicate?
The technicians confirmed all systems were go for launch.
Ready for launch.
All systems go for launch.
Launch preparations complete.
"All systems go for launch." in technical shorthand lacks a finite verb like "are," making it a fragment despite common usage. A complete sentence in formal writing must include a clear predicate. Cambridge Journal on Fragments
Identify the advanced sentence fragment that omits an understood subject and verb but is acceptable only in informal contexts.
The next stop is downtown.
Next stop, downtown station.
Next stop: downtown.
They announced the next stop: downtown.
"Next stop: downtown." omits the verb "is" and the subject "the next stop," which are understood in announcements. It's a fragment acceptable in signage and informal speech but not in formal prose. Chicago Manual of Style on Fragments
Which example shows an incomplete sentence due to ellipsis in academic writing?
Because the sample was small, the findings were limited.
The findings were significant; however, the sample was small.
The findings were significant and the sample was small.
The findings were significant; however,...
"The findings were significant; however,..." ends with ellipsis and leaves the second clause unfinished. Academic writing requires complete clauses; leaving off the rest makes it a fragment. ACS Publications Guide
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Complete vs Incomplete Sentences -

    Quickly spot complete vs incomplete sentences by recognizing whether a sentence expresses a full idea or an incomplete thought.

  2. Analyze Incomplete Thoughts -

    Pinpoint missing elements in fragments and understand why an incomplete thought fails to meet sentence criteria.

  3. Apply Strategies to Check for Incomplete Sentences -

    Use proven techniques to check for incomplete sentences, like verifying subject - predicate pairs, to ensure each sentence stands alone.

  4. Complete Fragments with Confidence -

    Practice how to complete the incomplete sentences by adding necessary elements, turning fragments into grammatically accurate sentences.

  5. Evaluate Sentence Completeness in Real Time -

    Hone your skills in answering "is this an incomplete sentence?" quickly and accurately during writing and editing.

  6. Reinforce Overall Grammar Skills -

    Boost your writing clarity and confidence by mastering the difference between complete and incomplete sentences.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Core Components: Subject and Predicate -

    A complete sentence requires both a subject that names who or what the sentence is about and a predicate that describes an action or state (Purdue OWL). Checking for these elements helps you easily spot fragments and master complete vs incomplete sentences. Try the mnemonic "S-V" (Subject-Verb) to reinforce this before you write or edit.

  2. Detecting Incomplete Thoughts -

    Incomplete sentences, or fragments, lack either a subject or a predicate or fail to express a full idea (University of North Carolina Writing Center). Phrases starting with -ing or dependent conjunctions like "because" often sneak in as hampering incomplete thought. Challenge yourself: ask if your phrase stands alone - if not, you're dealing with an incomplete sentence.

  3. Using the S-V-O Mnemonic -

    The Subject-Verb-Object formula is a quick way to craft and evaluate sentences (Cambridge Dictionary). By ensuring each statement follows this pattern, you turn a fragment into a full statement, reinforcing the complete vs incomplete sentences rule. For example, "The cat (S) chased (V) the mouse (O)" clearly meets all criteria.

  4. Avoiding Common Fragment Pitfalls -

    Gerund phrases ("Running late for class…") or clauses introduced by subordinators ("Although she smiled…") often end up as dangling fragments (Grammarly blog). Recognizing these patterns helps you edit fragments into complete thoughts by adding missing elements. Practice converting "Although she smiled…" into "Although she smiled, she felt nervous about the exam."

  5. Quick Completeness Checklist -

    Before finalizing, ask: Who or what performs the action, and what is happening? (University of Michigan Writing Center). This simple "Who - What" test ensures your sentence isn't an incomplete thought and aligns perfectly with complete vs incomplete sentences guidelines. Spending a few seconds on this check builds confidence and polish in your writing.

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