Definify.com

Definition 2024

incomplete_sentence

incomplete sentence

English

Noun

Examples
Joe took the... (Indicates that the subject took something, but lacks an object) The shiniest of the red balls. (Identifies an object but lacks a verb which assigns any action to the object)

incomplete sentence ‎(plural incomplete sentences)

(grammar) A group of words which appears to convey only part of a complete thought, lacking some component which is grammatically necessary to complete the thought.

Translations

a group of words which appears to convey only part of a complete thought (grammar)

Chinese:
Mandarin: 不完整的句子 ‎(bù wánzhěng de jùzi)
Finnish: epätäydellinen lause (fi)
French: phrase incomplète f

German: unvollständiger Satz m
Japanese: 不完全な文章 ‎(ふかんぜんなぶんしょう, fukanzen na bunshō)
Russian: непо́лное предложе́ние n ‎(nepólnoje predložénije)

Usage notes

A sentence can be very long but still be an incomplete sentence if it lacks an element necessary to complete a thought. By contrast, a very short sentence can be a complete sentence if the missing elements are provided by context: Are you going to the beach today? I am.