* Predicate fragments are not complete grammatical units. They are parts of a sentence that *could* be a complete predicate but are missing something crucial, like a verb. For example, "running fast" is a predicate fragment because it doesn't have a verb.
* Sentences require a predicate. The predicate is the part of the sentence that tells what the subject does or is. It always includes a verb, and often includes other words describing the action or state of being.
So, what happens if a sentence lacks a predicate?
* It's not a complete sentence. A sentence needs both a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a predicate (what the subject does or is).
* It might be a phrase or clause. For example, "The big, red ball" is a noun phrase, but not a complete sentence.
* It might be a sentence fragment. This means it is a part of a sentence that has been separated from the rest, leaving it incomplete.
Example:
* Incorrect: "The cat." (This is missing a predicate)
* Correct: "The cat sleeps." (This has a subject and a predicate)
In summary: A sentence cannot "lack" a predicate fragment because predicate fragments are not complete grammatical units. Sentences require complete predicates to be grammatically correct.