PHRASES AND CLAUSES
The various parts of speech are grouped into phrases and clauses which make up the basic sentence.
1) PHRASES
Phrases are groups of related words that do not contain a subject-verb combination or express a complete thought. There are noun, prepositional, participial, verb, and infinitive phrases.
Example:
- Noun: my brand new car, the sad old horse.
- Prepositional: over the wall, around the world.
- Participial: playing the fool, buying the book.
- Verb: will be given, is coming.
- Infinitive: to think, to draw.
2) CLAUSES
Clauses are groups of related words that contain a subject-verb combination. Independent clauses express a complete thought and can stand by themselves as sentences. Subordinate clauses serve as part of a sentence but do not express a complete thought and cannot stand by themselves. They are subordinate to independent clauses.
Independent Clauses:
- The weather was warm and dry.
- John got free tickets to the play.
- They took the wrong road.
Subordinate Clauses:
- By the time June arrived.
- Because he works at the theater.
- When they came to the turn.
Complete Sentences:
- By the time June arrived, the weather was warm and dry.
- John got free tickets to the play, because he works at the theater.
- When they came to the turn, they took the wrong road.
NOTE:
- The following words are commonly used subordinate conjunctions and relative pronouns. If a group of words that has a subject and a verb begins with one of these subordinate conjunctions or relative pronouns, the clause is a dependent clause. Be able to recognize these words.
|
Subordinate Conjunctions |
Relative Pronouns |
|
After Although As As if Because Before Even though How If Since So that Than Though Unless Until What When Whenever Where Whereas Wherever Whether While |
That Which Whichever Who Whoever Whom Whomever Whose |
- However, many of the words in the list are also adverbs or prepositions. As such, they will not precede a subject and a verb; hence, the group of words will not be a dependent clause.
Example:
- While running for the train. (participial phrase)
- Because of her competence. (prepositional phrase)
