Page 707 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Verbal Phrase Fragments (to, -

ing, and -ed)

3 Fix verbal phrase fragments.

To develop her creative abilities. Ann decided to take an art

class.

Anita’s dog was a familiar sight in the neighborhood. Running

through yards and tearing up flowerbeds.

Bored by his job in a warehouse. Evan bought a lawn mower and

cut grass to earn money.

The preceding examples are verbal phrase fragments. A verbal

phrase fragment begins with a verb form that is not used as a main
verb. Verbal phrase fragments include to fragments, -ing fragments,

and -ed/-en fragments.

Correct verbal phrase fragments by attaching them to a complete

sentence.