1. Dependent Clauses Not Constituting a Sentence ("Sentence Fragments") -- Students sometimes write a dependent clause when they think they are writing a sentence. This is one of the worst writing errors one can make. Dependent clauses left standing alone are often referred to as sentence fragments. While they contain a subject and a verb, they nonetheless represent incomplete thoughts. Be sure that you understand the difference between a dependent clause and a sentence. The following are examples of dependent clauses that, like all such clauses, do not constitute sentences.