Question

which of the following is a sentence fragment?
barack obama won the presidential election in 2008 and was inaugurated in 2009.
inaugurated in 2009, barack obama had won the presidential election in 2008.
barack obama, who won the presidential election in 2008 and was inaugurated in 2009.
in 2008, barack obama was elected, and he was inaugurated in 2009.

Explanation:

A sentence fragment lacks a complete independent clause (a subject and a predicate that can stand alone).

1. The first option has a clear subject (Barack Obama) and predicate (won...and was inaugurated) – it is a complete sentence.
2. The second option starts with a participial phrase ("Inaugurated in 2009") but has a subject (Barack Obama) and a complete predicate (had won) – it is a complete sentence with an introductory modifier.
3. The third option has a subject (Barack Obama) but the relative clause "who won...2008" modifies him, and there is no main predicate to complete the independent clause. This is a fragment.
4. The fourth option has a subject (Barack Obama) and two linked predicates (was elected, and he was inaugurated) – it is a complete sentence.

Answer:

C. Barack Obama, who won the presidential election in 2008 and was inaugurated in 2009.