Identify the fragment sentence.

Identify the fragment sentence.

• A. Because the rain stopped, we walked outside.
• B. The rain stopped.
• C. Walking to the bus, the rain began.
• D. If you arrive early.

Answer: (D)

The thing being tested is whether a clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. A sentence fragment happens when there’s a dependent clause that doesn’t express a complete thought and lacks an independent clause to finish the idea. The phrase “If you arrive early” is a dependent clause—it sets a condition but doesn’t say what happens or who does it, so it can’t stand alone. The other options form complete thoughts: “Because the rain stopped, we walked outside” combines a dependent clause with an independent clause to make a full sentence; “The rain stopped” is a simple independent clause; and “Walking to the bus, the rain began” has a fronted participial phrase but still contains a main clause with a subject and a finite verb. So the fragment is the one that starts with “If you arrive early.”