Download Phrases and Clauses

C. Putnam
L. Raney
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Clause – a group of words that have a subject
and a verb that must always agree
Phrase – a noun, verb, or preposition with all
its modifiers
- does NOT have a subject and verb which agree
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Noun phrases
Verb phrases
Prepositional phrases
Appositive phrases
Definition:
-A noun with all its modifiers
-A complete subject is always classified
as a noun phrase.
Example:
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The frustrated, irritated teachers...
Noun: teachers
Modifiers:
the, frustrated, irritated
Defined as a verb with all of its modifiers
EXAMPLE:
…completely
frightened the seventh grade students.
Verb - frightened
Modifier - completely
EXAMPLE:
…would like to improve her grammar skills.
Verb phrase - would like to improve
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Gerunds
– verbs that end in “ing” but DO NOT function as a verb
- function as nouns
- example: One teacher enjoys frightening new seventh
graders. (noun as a direct object)
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Infinitives
- verbs that begin with “to”
- function as a nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
- example: The language arts classroom is a place
students do not want to enter.
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Participles
- verbs that function as an adjective
- example: The screeching teacher frightened
the students.
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Defined as the preposition,
the object of the preposition (preposition who or what),
and all its modifiers
Example:
The frustrated, irritated teachers enrolled
in Mr. Ruff’s “ Grammar for Dummies” class.
preposition - in
object of the preposition - class
modifiers – Mr. Ruff’s, “Grammar for Dummies”
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Definition:
A noun phrase that renames the noun it
follows.
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Also known as a parenthetical phrase
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Example:
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Brad Ruff, the grammar guru, empowers teachers.
Appositive phrase?
- the grammar guru
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Definition:
Words that contain a subject and a verb
which must always agree.
Two types of clauses:
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Independent Clause
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Dependent Clause
An independent clause MUST HAVE a subject
and a verb which agree.
Example:
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The frustrated, irritated teachers finally
understood the basic grammar concepts.
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All the words in an independent clause can
act alone as a sentence.
They are a complete thought.
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The subject and verb agree, but the words CANNOT
stand alone as a complete sentence.
also known as subordinate clause or relative clause
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Examples:
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since the teachers seek proficiency in grammar
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which sheltered the children from the storm
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Clauses can be joined with:
1. Coordinating conjunctions (join two independent clauses)
- AKA “FANBOYS” for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
2. Subordinating conjunctions (join dependent clause to independent clause)
Some examples:
- if, since, because, with, when, whether, while
3. Relative Pronouns
- who, whose, whom, which, that
- NOTE: If a relative pronoun is used to begin a dependent clause,
that pronoun also has a function within the dependent clause. It
will also have an antecedent in the independent clause.
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coordinating conjunction:
- The busses lumbered along the boulevard, and the children
eagerly looked for the first sight of Disneyland.
subordinating conjunction:
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The busses lumbered along the boulevard while the children
eagerly looked for the first sight of Disneyland.
Relative pronoun:
- The busses, which were slowly lumbering along the
boulevard, were filled with eager children looking for their
first sight of Disneyland.
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WHO OR WHOM?
WHO
– used as the subject of a clause
WHOM – used as an object
 Direct object
 Indirect objects
 Object of a preposition
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Example:
Because the wind violently sliced through the
branches, the toddler, who/whom was
terrified, joined its howling.
- antecedent?
- function in the clause?
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While the frustrated teachers were
industriously taking notes, they relaxed,
and the light bulbs went off in their brains,
which indicated miraculous understanding
of the grammar concepts.
# of
Independent Clauses
Type of Sentence
-Simple Sentence
-Compound Sentence
- Complex Sentence
-Compound/Complex
Sentence
1
2+
1
2+
# of
Dependent Clauses
0
0
1+
1+