Scribd
Upload
53 views3 pages

Phrases and Clauses

This document discusses phrases and clauses in English grammar. It defines phrases as groups of words that function as constituents in a sentence's syntax, and clauses as parts of a sentence or independent sentences that contain verbs. The document then provides examples and classifications of different types of phrases, including noun, verb, adjective, adverbial, and prepositional phrases. It also defines and gives examples of main clauses and two types of subordinate clauses - conditional and relative clauses. Finally, it distinguishes between clauses and sentences by noting that clauses contain subjects and verbs but may or may not express a complete thought on their own.

Uploaded by

sreeram saipranitha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
53 views3 pages

Phrases and Clauses

This document discusses phrases and clauses in English grammar. It defines phrases as groups of words that function as constituents in a sentence's syntax, and clauses as parts of a sentence or independent sentences that contain verbs. The document then provides examples and classifications of different types of phrases, including noun, verb, adjective, adverbial, and prepositional phrases. It also defines and gives examples of main clauses and two types of subordinate clauses - conditional and relative clauses. Finally, it distinguishes between clauses and sentences by noting that clauses contain subjects and verbs but may or may not express a complete thought on their own.

Uploaded by

sreeram saipranitha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Phrases and Clauses

Phrases and clauses in grammar are important to understand to have better


apprehension about punctuation.

In everyday speech, a phrase is any group of words, often carrying a special idiomatic meaning;
in this sense it is synonymous with expression. In linguistic analysis, a phrase is a group of words
that functions as a constituent in the syntax of a sentence, a single unit within a grammatical
hierarchy.

Phrases and Clauses form important parts of English grammar. In this article, we will explore
different types of phrases and clauses along with examples.

Clauses: A clause is a part of the sentence or an independent sentence, which contains a verb
in it.

For example:

1. When soldiers go marching in.


2. Because he laughed at her.

Types of Clauses:

1. Main Clause: a main clause is the part of every sentence, especially compound and complex
sentences. A compound sentence is formed of two or more clauses which are linked together using
conjunctions.

For example:
she was born in india(Main clause) but her mother is from china(main clause).

2. Subordinate Clause: Subordinate clause, also called the dependent clause, could be independent
clauses or main clause but they start with words like after, even, though etc. Main clause along with
the subordinate clause make the complex sentence.

For example:
After we had dinner(Main clause), we went home(subordinate clause).

There are two different types of Subordinate Clauses:


1. Conditional Clause: the clause which usually begins with if and unless.
For example: I’ll be home by tomorrow, if the plane is on time.
2. Relative Clause: a clause which is connected to the main clause with the words like with, that,
whom, where, when and who etc.
For example: I saw her first in London where I lived in the eighties.

Phrases:  A phrase is a small group of words that forms a meaningful unit within a clause.

Different types of Phrases:

1. Noun Phrase: a phrase built around a single noun.

For example:  a vase of daisies stood on the table

2. Verb Phrase:  this is the phrase that is built around the verb found in a clause.

For example:  she had been living in New York.

3. Adjective Phrase: this is the phrase that is built around the adjective found in the sentence.

For example: a lot of kids are really keen on cricket.

4. Adverbial Phrase: this is the phrase which is built around the adverb found in the sentence.

For example: the economy recovered very slowly.

5. Prepositional Phrase: this is the phrase that is built around the preposition.

For example:  I longed to live near the sea.

DIFFERENCE between a sentence and a clause


Figuring out the difference between a clause and sentence can
sometimes be confusing for English learners. Here we’ll use
examples and explore from the very basics, so it’s easy to
understand the difference between clause and sentence.
SENTENCE
A sentence is a group of words which communicate a
complete thought or idea.
The most basic sentence in English contains only a subject
and a verb.
I ran.
He slept.
Note: sometimes the subject may be implied: Run! (you run,
implied)

CLAUSE
A clause is a group of words which contains at least a subject
and a verb. In this, clauses are like sentences, and a clause
may stand as a sentence if it makes sense as a complete
thought. 
However, clauses are not always a complete thought and so
may need to be joined with other clauses to express a
complete thought, and become a sentence.

You might also like