Download Phrases and Clauses - Corcoran Connection

Phrases and Clauses
Another Fun Grammar lesson
Teaching you how to express yourself in the clearest
and most economical way.
Phrase
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A phrase is a group of words that acts in a sentence as a single part of speech
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A phrase is usually part of a larger construction like a clause or sentence.
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A phrase is not a sentence because it is not a complete idea with a subject, and a verb.
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Examples in italics:
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On a farm, one gets accustomed to working in the heat.
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By midsummer the corn was in tassel.
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Learning a new language is difficult for many people.
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I have always wanted to learn woodworking.
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Many cities encourage residents to separate recyclable items.
Noun Phrase
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A noun phrase, has one or more words working together to give more information about a noun.
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A noun phrase can function as a subject or object.
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Examples in italics:
•
all my dear children
•
the information age
•
seventeen hungry lions in the rocks
•
huge and muddy hippos in the river
Adjective Phrase
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In an adjective phrase, one or more words work together to give more information about
an adjective.
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Examples in italics:
•
so very sweet
•
earnest in her desire
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very happy with his work
•
seemingly disgruntled with the result
Verb Phrase
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A verb phrase, has one or more words working together to give more meaning to a verb.
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A verb phrase consists of the verb plus any auxiliary or helping verbs.
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The most common are forms of be and have.
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Examples in italics:
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We will weed the vegetable garden this morning.
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Sandra has already weeded all the peppers and the tomatoes
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We were weeding the flowerbeds when the rain started.
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I was running in my dream.
Adverb Phrase
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an adverb phrase, gives more information about an adverb.
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An adverb phrase modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
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Examples in italics:
•
especially softly
•
formerly of the city of Perth
•
much too quickly to see clearly
Prepositional Phrases
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A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition.
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A prepositional phrase ends with a noun or a pronoun,
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This noun or pronoun is called the object of the preposition.
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Examples in italics:
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The new picture hangs on the wall. [Wall is the object of the preposition on.]
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The room beside the kitchen is empty. [Kitchen is the object of the preposition beside.]
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That puzzle is too difficult for me. [ Me is the object of the preposition for.]
Clauses
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A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb.
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A clause can function as a sentence by itself or as part of a sentence.
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There are two types of clauses:
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Main or Independent Clauses
 A Independent
 Every

clause has a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.
sentence must have at least one main clause.
Dependent or Subordinate Clauses
 Has
 It
a subject and verb, but does not express a complete thought.
cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Clause Types
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There are three types of Subordinate Clauses:
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Adjective Clauses
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Adverb clauses
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Modify nouns or pronouns
Modify verbs, adjectives or adverbs
Noun Clauses
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Function as nouns
A subordinate clause is dependent on the rest of the sentence.
A relative pronoun usually introduces a subordinate clause.
Clauses
Clause Examples
Main Clause
Subordinate Clause
I enjoy a hot bath after I work a full day.
Main Clause
Subordinate Clause
Bath salts that energize are my favorite.
Main Clause
Subordinate Clause
Whoever likes baths will enjoy bath salts.
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