A complete thought in grammar refers to an idea that is expressed in its entirety, including all the necessary components to stand alone as a complete sentence. This means it has both a subject and a predicate, conveying a clear concept without leaving the reader wanting more information.
For example, the phrase ‘She runs’ is a complete thought because it tells us who is performing the action (the subject ‘She’) and what that person is doing (the predicate ‘runs’). In contrast, ‘When she runs’ is not a complete thought; it leaves the reader hanging, waiting for more information about what happens when she runs.
Understanding complete thoughts is crucial in writing, as they help to create clear and coherent sentences that communicate ideas effectively. In essence, a complete thought provides the full context needed for understanding without requiring additional information.