Which of the following is a sentence fragment? • A) Having denied the claim. • B) She mailed the letter. • C) The insured already paid the premium. • D) Don’t forget to sign the application.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: A) Having denied the claim.
Explanation (300 words):
A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. It may be missing a subject, a verb, or both, and it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Let’s examine each choice:
A) Having denied the claim.
This is a sentence fragment. It includes a verb form (“having denied”) and an object (“the claim”), but it lacks a subject and a main verb. It sounds like part of a sentence but not a complete one.
Example of a complete version: “Having denied the claim, the company sent a written explanation.”
In this revision, “the company” is the subject and “sent” is the main verb.
Without those elements, the original phrase is incomplete.
B) She mailed the letter.
This is a complete sentence. It has a subject (“she”) and a verb (“mailed”), and it expresses a complete thought. It tells us exactly who did what.
C) The insured already paid the premium.
This is also a complete sentence. It has a subject (“the insured”), a verb (“paid”), and an object (“the premium”). It communicates a full idea.
D) Don’t forget to sign the application.
This is a command and is grammatically correct. Imperative sentences often omit the subject, but it is understood to be “you.” The verb is “forget,” and the rest of the sentence forms a complete idea.
Conclusion:
Only Option A is a sentence fragment because it lacks a subject and a main verb, making it incomplete and unable to stand alone. The other options are complete sentences that express full thoughts.