Complete and Incomplete Sentence
Definition & Examples
Understand the definition of a complete sentence and of an incomplete sentence, and learn the differences between them. Examine examples of complete and incomplete sentences.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is another name for an incomplete sentence?
An incomplete sentence is also called a fragment. A fragment or an incomplete sentence lacks either a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.
What is an example of an incomplete or fragment sentence?
Ex: Although John, Jane, and Lucy had just arrived at JFK airport.
This is an example of an incomplete or a fragment sentence because it is missing a complete thought.
What is a complete sentence?
A complete sentence is a sentence that contains a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. If any one of these elements is missing, then that sentence is not a complete sentence.
What are five complete sentences?
Three books are stacked on my table.
Sam lived in Australia for two years.
Berlin is the capital city of Germany.
You need a sharper pencil.
It is raining outside.
What is a Complete Sentence?
A Complete Sentence Definition
A complete sentence is a sentence that has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
The subject in a sentence is a noun or a pronoun that either performs the action of the sentence or receives the action of the sentence.
Jon washed all the dishes last night.
Jon is the subject of this sentence. It is a noun that performs the action, washed of the sentence.
The dishes were washed last night.
In this sentence, the dishes is the subject. The subject in this sentence receives the action, were washed, of the sentence.
The verb of a sentence is the action of a sentence. Also, all the words that come after the subject, including the verb, are called the predicate of a sentence.
Sandy worked for Southwest Gas Company for twenty years.
In this sentence, Sandy is the subject, and worked for Southwest Gas Company for twenty years is the predicate.
No sentence is considered complete if it does not have the two components of a subject and a verb. The lack of a complete thought in a sentence, leads a reader to anticipate receiving more information. However, the reader of a complete sentence does not anticipate receiving more information.