Fragment vs We have one particle left

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Fragment

Top 2,000 (common)B2noun

We have one particle left

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Fragment
 FragmentWe have one particle left
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈfræɡmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfræɡmənt/"]/🇬🇧 //wiː hæv wʌn ˈpɑːtɪkl lɛft//🇺🇸 //wi hæv wʌn ˈpɑrtɪkl lɛft//
MeaningA small piece or part of something, not complete.We have one small piece left.
ExamplePolice found fragments of glass near the scene.After the experiment, we have one particle left to analyze.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsfragment of evidence, fragment of text, fragment of memory, glass fragment, fragment of a conversationleft particle, remaining particle, small particle, single particle, last particle
Antonymswhole, complete, entire-
Common mistakesConfusing 'fragment' with 'fragmented' (which means broken into parts)., Using 'fragment' as a verb instead of its noun form., Mispronouncing it as 'frag-ment' instead of 'frag-ment'Confusing 'particle' with 'participle'., Using 'particles' when referring to just one., Overcomplicating the phrase with unnecessary adjectives.
Usage notesUse 'fragment' to refer to incomplete objects or parts in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using in very casual conversations where simpler words like 'piece' might suffice.This phrase is commonly used to refer to a remaining item. It is neutral and can be used in both casual and formal contexts, though it's more frequent in informal conversations. It may not be used in scientific discussions where precision is required.

See it in real clips

We have one particle left

Frequently asked questions: Fragment vs We have one particle left

What's the difference between Fragment and We have one particle left?

Fragment: A small piece or part of something, not complete. We have one particle left: We have one small piece left.

Which is more common: Fragment and We have one particle left?

Fragment is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Fragment: Police found fragments of glass near the scene. We have one particle left: After the experiment, we have one particle left to analyze.

Can I use Fragment and We have one particle left interchangeably?

Not always. Fragment and We have one particle left are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons