Download Phrase vs. Clause

Phrase
vs.
Clause
understanding core
differences between
phrases and clauses
Phrases & Clauses
 Phrases


and clauses can be confusing.
Both are groups of words.
Both are parts of sentences.
 Learning
the differences will help you
write strong sentences and understand
punctuation rules.
Phrases
A
phrase does not have both a subject
and a verb.
 There
are many types of phrases. Some of
these types include, noun, verb,
adjective, adverb, prepositional, and
interjection phrases. Others are gerund,
participial, infinitive, and appositive
phrases.
Parts of Speech Phrases
 There
are 8 parts of speech. Nouns, verbs,
adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and
interjections can be phrases.
 Of
those, the most common type of
phrase is a prepositional phrase.
 Lets
review them all.
Noun Phrase
 Bryan
and his friends gave the waiter a
generous tip.

“Bryan and his friends” is the noun phrase.
 It
functions as the subject of the sentence.
Verb Phrase
 Kara
should have arrived.
 “should
have arrived” is the verb phrase.
 Oftentimes,
the verb phrase only includes
the main verb and its auxillaries.
Adjective Phrase
 Students
happy about the snow day were
well rested on Tuesday.
 “happy
about the snow day” is an
adjective phrase, modifying the noun
“students.”
Adverb Phrase
 That
group works really well together.
 “really
well together” is an adverb phrase,
explaining how the group works.
Prepositional Phrase
 In
the morning, I need to charge my
phone.
 “In
the morning” is the prepositional
phrase.
A
prepositional phrase includes the
preposition, any modifiers, and its object.
Interjection Phrase
 “I
went to the park alone.”
“Oh, really!”
 “Oh,
really!” is an interjection in a phrase
format.
 Interjection
phrases are normally short
and referenced as simply “interjections.”
Verbal Phrases
 Verbal
phrases contain the verbal and
their modifiers.
 Verbals
include infinitives, gerunds, and
participles.
Infinitive Phrases
 The
 “to
dog loves to sleep on the couch.
sleep on the couch” is the infinitive
phrase.
Gerund Phrases
 Sleeping
on the couch is the dog’s
favorite pastime.
 “Sleeping
on the couch” is the gerund
phrase. It functions as the subject of the
sentence.
Participial Phrases
 Sleeping
on the couch, the dog snored.
 “Sleeping
on the couch” is a participial
phrase modifying “dog.”
 Note
that it is at the start of the sentence
and ends in a comma before the
sentence’s subject, “dog.”
Appositive Phrase
 An
appositive phrase renames a nearby
noun. It is normally set off with commas.
 The
television, an outdated model, quit
working.
 “an
outdated model” is the appositive
phrase, renaming “television.”
Review of Phrases
 Phrases
are groups of words without a
subject and a verb.
 They
are functioning as a unit.
Clauses
 Clauses
have both a subject and a verb.
 A clause will have a subject and a
predicate.
 Clauses
can be independent or
dependent.
Independent Clause
 An
independent clause is “independent”
from other words – it can function alone.
 It
is a simple sentence.
Dependent Clause
A
dependent clause depends upon the
rest of the sentence (an independent
clause) to make sense – it cannot function
alone.
A
dependent clause is not a sentence. If it
is written alone as a sentence, it is actually
a sentence fragment.
Dependent Clause:
Beginnings
A
dependent clause usually begins with a
relative pronoun or a subordinating
conjunction.
 Sometimes
a dependent clause does not
have an introductory word.
Relative Pronouns
 Relative
pronouns can introduce a
dependent clause.
 Relative
pronouns include: who, whose,
whom, which, that.
Relative Pronouns
 Stacy
wanted to know whose car stalled
in the driveway.
 “whose
car stalled in the driveway” is a
dependent clause. It begins with
“whose.” Its subject is “car” and the verb
is “stalled.”
Subordinating Conjunctions
 Subordinating
conjunctions can introduce
a dependent clause.
 Subordinating
conjunctions include: after,
although, as, as if, as long as, as much as,
as soon as, as though, because, before,
even if, even though, how, if, in order that,
lest, since, though, till, unless, until, when,
whenever, where, wherever, while
Subordinating Conjunctions
 While
Tami mails the letter, Troy will sweep
the sidewalk.
 “While
Tami mails the letter” is a
dependent clause. It begins with “While.”
Its subject is “Tami” and the verb is
“mails.”
Dependent Clauses
 Sometimes,
dependent clauses do not
have an introductory word.

The word “that” normally would be
appropriate but is omitted. (This is ok!)
 Give
the medicine (that) he requested to
him, please.
Clauses - Punctuation
 When
an independent clause begins a
sentence and is then followed by a
dependent clause, a comma is probably
not necessary.
 Ryan
put the dog in the kennel until his
mom came home.
Clauses - Punctuation
 If
a dependent clause begins a sentence,
use a comma to separate it from the
independent clause.
 The
above sentence is an example of this.
Why do I need this?
 Aside
from punctuating sentences
correctly, knowing how clauses work can
make your writing better.
 Join
two independent clauses to provide
a transition for a clear reading.
Combining - Example
 Jack
went to the pantry. His mom asked
him to get the flour.
 Combined:
Because his mom asked him
to get the flour, Jack went to the pantry.
Review of Dependent Clauses
 Anytime
you see a subject and a verb,
decide if it is an independent or a
dependent clause.
 Be
sure that you have correctly
punctuated it.
 When writing, vary the types of clauses
you use to spark interest.
Review of Independent
Clauses
 An
independent clause is a simple
sentence. It has a subject and a verb.
A
compound sentence will have two
independent clauses joined by a
correlative or coordinating conjunction.
 A semicolon can also join two
independent clauses.
Telling the Difference
 If
you can spot a phrase and a clause,
you will be able to determine the type of
a sentence and the appropriate
punctuation.
 You
will also be able to move phrases and
clauses to express yourself in writing.
Remember
 Phrases
and clauses are both units of
words, but they function differently.
 Knowing
what the groups of words are will
help you punctuate them correctly and
use them to better your writing.