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)

A sentence fragment happens when a group of words does not express a complete thought because it’s missing a main clause with a subject and a verb.

The example that remains incomplete is the one beginning with a conditional word "If." It signals a condition but doesn’t tell what happens if you arrive early, so it can’t stand alone as a sentence. That’s what makes it a fragment.

The other lines form complete ideas. The rain stopped has a clear subject and verb. Because the rain stopped, we walked outside combines a dependent clause with an independent clause to express a full thought. Walking to the bus, the rain began has a subject and a verb in the main clause, so it’s a complete sentence too, though the introductory phrase creates a confusing or dangling modifier.