UGANDA MARTRYS UNIVERSITY-NKOZI CAMPUS

GROUP one

THE STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE

YEAR TWO; SEMESTER TWO

Question
Discuss the different types of clauses .vuse examples
Explain the different kinds of phrases . Use examples.
a.
According to Merriam-webster dictionary and Collins dictionary, a clause is defined as a group
of words containing a subject and a predicate functioning as a member of a complex or
compound sentence.
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb that have a relationship. this
relationship is crucial in a way that a clause conveys information about what the subject is doing
or isn’t doing rather than simply being a random grouping of words.
A clause expresses an action or state of being.
A clause can often but not always function as an independent statement.
There are two main types of clauses namely
Independent clauses
Dependent (subordinate clauses)

Independent clause
An independent clause is a complete sentence that contains the main verb and the subject.
An independent clause can stand by itself in a sentence.
Independent clauses can be joined by a semicolon or a conjunctive adverb.
For example
Jesus wept
The baby slept
She went swimming
I love eating chips
The kids are playing
All these sentences are independent because they have a main verb and have the subject doing
the action.

Dependent or subordinate clauses.

These are clauses that can not stand on their own because they do not express a complete thought
however they depend on independent clauses to make meaning.
There are various types of dependent clauses namely; noun clauses, adjective clauses and
adverbial clauses
Noun clause
A noun clause is used as a subject or an object that is to say it is used the same way as a noun.
It may function as a subject, a predicate, a normative, a direct or indirect object, an object of a
preposition or an opposite.
The words used to introduce noun clauses are question words such as what, who, when, where,
whose. Whether, if and that.
For example
His story was interesting.
I heard about what you said.
What is your name?
Where was she coming from?

Adjective clauses.
An adjective clause can also be called a relative clause.
This refers to a dependent clause that modifies, describes, identifies or gives more information
about a noun or a pronoun.
Most adjective clauses begin with a relative pronoun such as that, which, who, whom, whose or a
relative adverb when, where, why.
However still under adjective clauses there are essential and non-essential clauses
An essential clause is a clause that identifies a noun or a pronoun.
This clause is not separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.
A non-essential clause doesn’t identify a noun or a pronoun.
For example
That book which is on the table is mine.
I thanked the boy who helped me get a mango
The man with whom you fought is my brother.
Adverb clause
This a subordinate clause that functions as an adverb that is to say It modifies a verb, an
adjective or another verb.
It provides additional information about the action or state described in the main clause.
For example
Patience came to the cafeteria when food had already been served.
Before going to sleep, the baby disturbed its mother.
It always begins with a subordinating conjunction which is a word that shows the relationship
between the subordinate clause and the independent clause.
However, besides the dependent and independent clauses there are other clauses namely;
interrogative clauses, coordinate clauses, principal clauses, imperative clauses and non-finite
clauses.
Interrogative clauses
These are types of independent clause that function as a question within a sentence. they in most
cases begin with wh-questions, what, why, when, where, who and an auxiliary verb such as do,
does, is are, can and many others.
They play a crucial role in forming questions and obtaining information within the sentence.
Interrogative clauses include; wh-questions, for example, what is your name?
Mixed questions such as why is Benah crying. She is crying because she is hungry.
Question tag questions for example, she is beautiful, Isn’t she!
Embedded questions for example, do you know why he is coming?
Exclamative clauses
These refer to a type of dependent clause that express strong emotion or surprise.
They often begin with an exclamation such as what, how, wow and are followed by a subject and
a verb.
They are used to express surprise, strong emotion, amazement, disbelief, joy and many others.
For example
What a beautiful girl she is!
Wow! I have made it
What!
Coordinate clause
These are independent clauses that are joined together by coordinating conjunctions such as for,
and, but, or. they are also joined by correlative conjunctions either…or, neither …nor, both, not
only and many others.
This clause allows the combination of multiple independent clauses into a single sentence.
The clauses are grammatically equal and can stand alone as separate sentences.
For example
She wants to go for evening prayers
He loves to watch movies
Imperative clauses
These are a type of dependent clause that function as a command, request or instruction.
They always begin with an imperative verb such as stop, go, do, and many others.
They are often used to give orders, make requests or offer advise.
For example
Request. Excuse me sir, may I come in?
Would you help me with your pen please?
Command. Can you get out.
Instruction. Turn off the television.

b
Ann.et.al (1990), define a phrase as a group of words that functions as a single part of speech but
it lacks a subject and a verb(predicate) or both.
There are four main types of phrases namely
Noun phrases
Prepositional phrases
Verbal phrases.
Noun phrase.
Appositive phrases.

Noun phrase.
Noun phrase is a type of phrase or group of words that consists of a noun or a pronoun for
example he, she, it and other words that modify the noun.
These can be modifiers, quantifiers or possessives. modifiers can be articles (a, an, the.) and
quantifiers (some, a lot, a little and many others). They can also have demonstrators such as this,
that, those. Possessives such as his, hers, theirs, ours, yours and many others.
The purpose of noun phrases is to give more information about a noun. these can act as a subject,
an object or a complement in a sentence.
For example
The little girl laughed loudly. The noun phrase is, the little girl.
Our brown car is always in the compound. the noun phrase is brown car.
The handsome man was here today. The noun phrase is handsome man which adds more
information on the looks of the man.
The red dress on the hang line belongs to Maria. The noun phrase is red dress.
We watched an interesting movie in the auditorium. The noun phrase is interesting movie.

Prepositional phrases
Prepositions are words used to combine sentences for example on, above, about, near, besides
and many others
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that consists of a preposition and an object including
any other modifiers of the object.
It also includes other modifiers however these are not essential in the sentence.
This phrase can act as an adjective or adverb in the sentence that is to say they are used to
modify nouns and verbs within a sentence.
However, it also gives a relationship between a subject and a verb in a sentence
Examples of prepositional phrases are; adverb phrases and adjective phrases.
Adjective phrase
An adjective phrase refers to a group of words that consists of an adjective and other words that
modify or complement.
These are used to describe, modify or add more information to a noun or pronoun.
These can come before or after a noun.
For example
We live near Uganda Martyrs University.
The lady with long legs is an athlete.
He ate some sugar-coated cookies.
The short beautiful girl is my sister.
The indecently dressed ladies around campus are from the BAM faculty. The adjective phrase is
indecently dressed.

Adverb phrase
An adverb phrase is also known as an adverbial phrase
This refers to a group of words that consist of an adjective and often other modifiers.
These serve the same purpose as an adverb in a sentence.
They are used to modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs
They appear before or after the elements they modify.
For example
I attend lectures every day. The adverb phrase is every day.
She goes to the beach every weekend. The adverb phrase is every weekend.
He very carelessly carried her bag. The adverb phrase is very carelessly.
Verbals (verbal phrases)
Verb phrase (verbal phrases)
A verb phrase is a group of words that consists of a head or main verb and other verbs such as
copular verbs that join the sentence to the subject for example seems, appears and many others.
Then auxiliaries or helping verbs for example do, be, have, has, was and many others. modal
verbs will and shall
It has the function of a verb in a sentence.
Verbals are verb forms that function as nouns, adjectives or adverbs.
Their purpose is to express action or being and they may take complements.
There are three main types of verbals namely; gerunds, participles and infinities.
Gerund phrase
A gerund is a verbal that ends in ‘ing’ and it functions as a noun while keeping some properties
of a verb.
It expresses action or being and it may take a complement such as a direct or an indirect object.
The gerund phrase consists of a gerund, its modifiers and its complements.
It serves the purpose of a noun within a sentence.
I enjoy watching Nigerian movies.
The teacher started dictating the notes.
The boy is sleeping under the bed.
Auxiliary phrases
Auxiliary verbs are helping verbs that support the sentence’s main verb to communicate complex
grammar concepts for example have, has, was, do and many others.
For example
I did my coursework
She has been having breakfast

Participle phrases
A participle is a verb form that can function as an adjective while still keeping some properties
of a verb
It expresses action or being and it may also take a complement.
there are three types of participles; present participle, past participle and absolute.
past participle and present participle phrase
Refers to a group of words comprising of a present participle that is to say verb + ing or a past
participle that is to say the second form of the verb , modifiers and other linked words.
It is punctuated with a comma or two commas.
It always works as an adjective in a sentence
For example
The students, raising up, beat the teacher.
The chair, made of wood, if beautiful.
The girl, being lazy, failed the exams.

Absolute phrase
An absolute phrase is also known as a nominative phrase.
It consists of a noun or a pronoun, a participle and connected modifiers
Its purpose is to modify or add information to the sentence.
In most cases it looks like a clause but has no finite verb.
It is separated by a comma in a sentence.
For example
Betty carrying her books, she was going to the lecture.
The mother with lots of joy in her eyes, she smiled on seeing her newly born baby boy.
The man with a lot of anger, he beat up his wife and children.

Infinitive phrases
These are a group of words containing an infinitive to the first from of a verb and a modifier or
other related words to the infinitive.
It may also take a complement.
It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
For example
I like to eat apples.
Success in life is the dream of every child.
Appositives and appositive phrases
An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed near another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it.
Appositive phrases explain or identify or explain a noun or a pronoun.
These include all the words or phrases that modify an appositive.
There are two main types of appositives that is to say essential and non-essential appositives.
An essential appositive or essential appositive phrase is one that is necessary to the meaning of
the sentence.
This kind of appositive should not be separated from the sentence by a comma.
A non-essential appositive phrase is an appositive that is not necessary to the meaning of a
sentence such an appositive should be set off by a comma or commas.
For example
The English lecturer, Akurut Catherine, teaches well.

In conclusion, phrases and clauses are the building blocks of sentences in language though
clauses are complete thoughts that can function on their own. the knowledge on these ideas can
make one perfect in constructing grammatically correct sentences.
REFERENCES
Ann et.al, English (1990), page 579-594
Betty.S. A (1993) Understanding and using English grammar. Second edition
Evelyn , Robert. M, (2010) English Grammar understanding the basics. Page 113
www.dictionary.com. What is a phrase?
www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/phrase vs clauses (2024
www. Study and exam.com
www.study,smart.uk