A complete sentence tells a whole thought: it says who or what, and what happened. A fragment is only a piece. 'The tiny kitten on the pillow' names who but never says what happened, and 'Jumped onto the pillow' says what happened but never says who. Second graders often write fragments because they know what they meant, even though the reader cannot tell who did the action or what happened. This worksheet gives six sets of three groups of words, and the child circles the one that is a complete sentence.
The other two are fragments made from the same words: one with no verb, one with no subject, or one that starts with Because or When and never finishes the thought. Ask your child to check two things: is there a who or what, and is there what happened? A complete sentence has both, begins with a capital letter and ends with a mark.
What your child will learn
Tell a complete sentence from a fragment
Check for a subject and a verb
Notice the capital letter and the end mark
Common Core standard: L.2.1.F
Worked example
'The tiny kitten jumped onto the pillow.' is complete. 'The tiny kitten on the pillow.' has no verb, and 'Jumped onto the pillow.' has no subject.
Common mistake
Choosing the longest group of words because it sounds like a sentence.
Helpful hint
A complete sentence has who or what, and what happened.
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