What is fragmentary? Pronunciation and usage in English

fragmentary means . Learn how to pronounce and use fragmentary through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of fragmentary

fragmentaryadjective

/ˈfræɡməntri//ˈfræɡmənteri/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "fragmentary." It's a bit of a tricky one! Here's a breakdown, with phonetic guide and explanations:

1. Phonetic Transcription (IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet):

/ˈfræɡmənt(ə)ri/

2. Breakdown and Explanation:

  • ˈfræg-: This is the most important part. It sounds like "frag" as in "fragrant." The stress is on this syllable.
  • -ment: This part is similar to "ment" as in "element" or "comment."
  • -ary: This ending is pronounced like "airy" - like the air you breathe. The vowel sound here is somewhat reduced, almost like "uh-ree."

3. Putting it Together - A Step-by-Step Guide to Saying it:

  1. "Frag": Say "frag" like you're smelling something pleasant.
  2. "ment": Add the "ment" sound – low and short, like in "element."
  3. "airy": Finish with the "airy" sound – light and quick.

4. Listen for Examples:

  • Google it: Search for "fragmentary pronunciation" on Google and listen to several examples. Hearing it spoken is crucial.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/fragmentary/ – This website has pronunciations by native speakers from various regions.

5. Common Mispronunciations and How to Avoid Them:

  • Not saying the "r": Many people drop the "r" sound in "-ary." Make sure you include it.
  • Overly emphasizing the "a": "Frag" should be a clear "frag," not stretched out.
  • Making it sound like "fragment-ree": The 'ry' is crucial and should be as close to "airy" as possible.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (Pronunciation can vary slightly by region.)

Usage and examples with the word fragmentary in English

Let's break down how to use the word "fragmentary." It's a great word to add to your vocabulary, but it can be a little tricky.

What does "fragmentary" mean?

"Fragmentary" describes something that is broken into pieces, incomplete, or only partly formed. It suggests a lack of wholeness or clarity. Think of a shattered vase – that's a good visual example.

Here's how to use it, broken down with examples:

1. Describing Physical Remains:

  • Most Common Use: It's often used to describe physical objects that are broken or incomplete.
    • "The archaeologist unearthed fragmentary pottery shards, offering clues about the ancient civilization." (The pottery pieces are broken and incomplete.)
    • "The shipwreck yielded only fragmentary remains of the ship’s timbers." (The timbers are broken and not a complete picture of the ship.)
    • "The ruins were fragmentary, with only a few walls still standing." (The ruins are incomplete – only parts of them remain.)

2. Describing Memories, Documents, or Accounts:

  • Memories: It can describe hazy or incomplete memories.

    • "His recollections of the event were fragmentary, fading with the passage of time." (He doesn’t remember clearly; his memory is broken.)
    • “She had only fragmentary memories of her childhood home.” (She remembers bits and pieces, but not the whole picture.)

  • Documents/Texts: Used for texts that are damaged, incomplete, or parts are missing.

    • “The manuscript was fragmentary, with several pages lost to time.” (The manuscript is incomplete because pages are missing.)
    • “The historical record remains fragmentary, relying on scattered accounts and archaeological findings.” (The historical accounts are incomplete—we only have bits and pieces.)

  • Accounts/Stories: For stories or narratives that are incomplete or difficult to piece together.

    • "The witness’s account was fragmentary, offering only glimpses of what happened." (The story is broken and hard to understand fully.)

3. Figurative Use (Less Common, but Possible):

  • You can sometimes use it more metaphorically to describe something that's only partially understood or developed. Be careful with this – it can sound a bit pretentious if not used correctly.
    • "His artistic style was fragmentary, exhibiting moments of brilliance interspersed with awkward experimentation." (His style is not fully formed or consistent.)

Key Things to Remember:

  • Synonyms: Words like "incomplete," "broken," "partial," "scattered," "disjointed," and "patchy" can often be used interchangeably with "fragmentary."
  • Context is key: The specific nuance of "fragmentary" will depend on what you're describing.

Let's test your understanding:

Which of these sentences uses "fragmentary" correctly?

a) “The detective had a fragmentary recollection of the crime scene.” b) “The detective had a complete recollection of the crime scene.” c) “The detective’s report was fragmentary.” (Referring to the report itself being incomplete)

Answer: a) is the best answer. "Fragmentary" is most appropriate when describing a partial or broken memory.

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples?
  • Provide a sentence using “fragmentary” in a specific context (e.g., a historical description, a literary analysis)?

Synonyms for the word fragmentary

Practice with vocabulary fragmentary

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Due to the damage from the fire, much of the historical record is now only __________, making it difficult to reconstruct a complete picture of the event.
  2. The initial reports from the field were __________ and contradictory, hindering a clear understanding of the evolving situation.
  3. The project team faced significant challenges in compiling the final report because the data collected was __________ and inconsistent.
  4. Before the meeting, please ensure all participants have access __________ the updated agenda.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Archaeologists often work with __________ evidence, piecing together the past from broken pottery, worn texts, and scattered artifacts. a) comprehensive b) coherent c) fragmentary d) incomplete e) holistic

  2. The eyewitness accounts were so __________ that investigators struggled to form a cohesive narrative of what transpired. a) detailed b) cohesive c) unified d) disconnected e) fragmentary

  3. The legacy code's documentation was largely __________, making it extremely challenging for the new team to understand its architecture and functionality. a) exhaustive b) extensive c) thorough d) partial e) fragmentary

  4. The company's strategy appeared __________ due to various departments pursuing their own objectives without proper coordination. a) unified b) coherent c) disjointed d) integrated e) consistent

  5. His argument was ultimately __________ because it lacked substantial evidence to support its claims. a) convincing b) substantiated c) compelling d) unsubstantiated e) baseless

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: Because the reports were incomplete and only offered small pieces of information, it was hard to get a full understanding. Rewrite (using "fragmentary" or related word forms):

  2. Original: Historians had to reconstruct the ancient text from several damaged sections that were found separately. Rewrite (using "fragmentary" or related word forms):

  3. Original: The available evidence was so sparse and lacked cohesion that it couldn't fully prove the theory. Rewrite (without using "fragmentary", using a suitable replacement word):

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Due to the damage from the fire, much of the historical record is now only fragmentary, making it difficult to reconstruct a complete picture of the event.
  2. The initial reports from the field were fragmentary and contradictory, hindering a clear understanding of the evolving situation.
  3. The project team faced significant challenges in compiling the final report because the data collected was disparate and inconsistent.
  4. Before the meeting, please ensure all participants have access to the updated agenda.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) fragmentary, d) incomplete
  2. d) disconnected, e) fragmentary
  3. d) partial, e) fragmentary
  4. c) disjointed
  5. d) unsubstantiated, e) baseless

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite: The fragmentary nature of the reports hindered a full understanding.
  2. Rewrite: Historians faced a significant challenge in reconstructing the ancient text, which was only available in fragmentary sections.
  3. Rewrite: The available evidence was incomplete and lacked cohesion, preventing a full proof of the theory.

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