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Common English Error - Incomplete Sentences

Common English Errors of Local Students

Author of Basic Grammar In Context - Li Po Lung
Instructor of HK University of Science & Technology

Incomplete Sentences

There should be a main verb in each complete sentence. The main verbs are marked in bold in the following examples:
Example
The Mayor has resigned because of the recent scandal.
Laboratory reports are generally written in a formal style.
Example
  Jennifer has a lot of hobbies. For example, swimming, jogging, playing tennis, chatting on the ICQ chat-line, etc.
Explanation
  For example, swimming, jogging …, etc.’ is wrong because there is not any main verb in it; this is not a complete sentence.
Correction
  Jennifer has a lot of hobbies, for example, jogging, playing tennis, chatting on the ICQ chat-line, etc.
Example
  Owing to the fact that the Government has spent a lot expanding tertiary education. It is now much easier to enter the university compared with two decades ago.
Explanation
  ‘Owing to the fact that the Government has spent a lot expanding tertiary education’ is not really a sentence. It is an adverb clause.
Correction
Owing to the fact that the Government has spent a lot expanding tertiary education, it is now much easier to enter the university compared with two decades ago.
 
It is important to correct those incomplete sentences. Otherwise, readers will find it difficult to understand those sentences.
 
Exercise on Incomplete Sentences
Correct the following incomplete sentences sentences.
1. Many job interviews are conducted in English. Which means spoken English is important.
2. Due to the fact that there is not enough exposure to English outside the classroom. Students’ standards of English have been declining over the last ten years.
3. The Government has decided not to interfere in the stock market. Though what the Government did last time was proved to be successful.
4. Since Tommy has made a lot of effort. Therefore his results in the public examination are very much better than expected.
5. An investigation was conducted after the project had been finished. Which is used to find out what improvements can be made in the future.
Suggested Answers of the Exercise.
1. Many job interviews are conducted in English. This means spoken English is important.
2. Due to the fact that there is not enough exposure to English outside the classroom, students’ standards of English have been declining over the last ten years.
3. The Government has decided not to interfere in the stock market, though what the Government did last time was proved to be successful.
4. Since Tommy has made a lot of effort, his results in the public examination are very much better than expected.
5. An investigation was conducted after the project had been finished. This is used to find out what improvements can be made in the future.