Which sentence is a fragment?

• A. Running late for the appointment.
• B. The appointment was on time.
• C. The patient completed the form.
• D. The nurse checked the chart.

Answer: (A)

A complete sentence expresses a full idea with a subject and a finite verb. A fragment is missing one of those elements or a complete thought. The phrase “Running late for the appointment” is a participial phrase that describes someone being late but does not say who is running or what happened. It lacks a finite verb and a clear subject performing an action, so it doesn’t stand as a complete sentence on its own. When you attach a main clause, it becomes complete, for example: “I was running late for the appointment” or “Running late for the appointment, I hurried to the clinic.” The other options give a clear subject and a complete verb, forming full sentences.