Phrases and Clauses

1. Phrases and Clauses

2. Definitions of Phrases and Clauses • Phrases and clauses are groups of related words that serve as building blocks of sentences on a larger scale than parts of speech. • A clause contains both a subject and a verb whereas a phrase does not.

3. Clauses • A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb • There are two types of clauses: • 1. Independent Clauses • 2. Dependent Clauses

4. Independent vs. Dependent Clauses • An independent clause may stand alone as a complete sentence because it contains a subject and a verb and forms a complete idea. • EX: I ran down the stairs. • A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb but DOES NOT form a complete idea. • EX: While I ran down the stairs…

5. Phrases • A phrase is a group of words that work as a single part of speech. • This means that groups of several words can have the same function as a single part of speech.

6. Noun Phrases • A noun phrase is a group of words that name a person, place, thing, or idea. • EX: My slightly brain-damaged dog loves to eat his vegetarian, peach-flavored dog treats. • The italicized phrases replace single nouns (1) Snickers and (2) treats; EX: Snickers loves treats.

7. Noun Phrases Hints and Tips • The easiest way to identify a noun phrase is to see if the phrase can be replaced with “it” or “that” • EX: I don’t understand how to find the derivative of this function. • I don’t understand it. • Noun phrases always include a noun within the phrase

8. Adjective Phrases • Adjective phrases are groups of words used to describe nouns. • EX: My first car, a 1980 Honda Accord with a duct-taped bullet hole in the bumper, was everything a teenager’s first car should be. • Just like an adjective, the italicized phrase tells you What Kind of car my first car was.

9. Adjective Phrases Hints and Tips • Adjective phrases are often (but not always) separated from the rest of the sentence by commas • Adjective phrases will NEVER contain the subject or object of a sentence • Adjective phrases tell you what kind, which one, or how many

10. Verb Phrases • A verb phrase is a group of words that express an action or state of being. • EX: My friend and I will be travelling to Los Angeles. • The phrase “will be travelling” works as a singular verb, like “go” or “went.”

11. Verb Phrases Hints and Tips • Verb phrases are only constructed with verbs! • There are never any other parts of speech in a verb phrase • Make sure you know your linking verbs: • is, are, was, were, am, be, been, do, did, does, shall, should, may, might, must, have, has, had, can, could, will, would

12. Adverb Phrases • An adverb phrase is a group of words that describes adjectives, verbs, or adverbs. • EX: Because it is now third quarter, some seniors are suffering from more severe senioritis. • The adverb phrase describes why or how you are suffering from senioritis.

13. Adverb Phrase Hints and Tips • Adverb phrases often start with subordinating conjunctions • Look for words like: • after, although, however, even though, despite, since, whenever, while, etc