Phrases and Clauses
1.0Clause
A group of words that contains a subject and a verb.
Independent clause makes sense on its own as a sentence. E.g. I went to school.
Dependent clause doesn't make sense on its own as a sentence. E.g. Although I wasn't feeling well, I went to school.
2.0Phrase
A group of words without a subject-verb component.
Noun phrase e.g. best friend.
Verb phrase e.g. was working.
Adjective phrase e.g. very pretty.
Adverb phrase e.g. really slowly.
Prepositional phrase e.g. in the bin.
The sentence, as we know, is a group of words that make complete sense.
Let us see the various steps that lead to a sentence.
The smallest part of the written English language is the letter - , and so on.
A group of letters forms a word - great, happy, table, and so on.
A group of words forms a phrase or a clause.
Phrases
A phrase is a group of words that either has no verb or has a non-finite verb and does not make complete sense.
Examples:
a. Two pretty girls
b. Ducks swimming in the pond
c. To sail in the ocean
d. The old Chinese lady with the wooden lantern living on the ground floor of our building. In the above examples, you can see that whether the group of words is long or short, none of them contains a finite verb and none of them makes complete sense. Such groups of words are known as phrases.
Clauses
A clause is a group of words that contains a finite verb and a subject and a predicate.
But it does not make complete sense.
Examples:
a. The chair which was very old
b. The horse which came first in the race
c. That is made of silver
In the above examples, we can see that though there is a finite verb and a subject and predicate in each of the group of words, none of them makes complete sense. Such group of words are known as clauses.
3.0Types of Phrases
A group of words, without a finite verb, doing the work of a Noun, Adjective or Adverb in a sentence is called a phrase. A phrase does not contain a finite verb but may contain an infinite verb (i.e. Participle, Infinitive, Gerund). A phrase in itself does not make complete sense, but can have meaning only in the context of the sentence. The underlined words in the following sentences are phrases:
He was a man of great courage.
A stitch in time saves nine.
He is coming at this very moment.
She denies stealing the clothes.
Adjective Phrase
A Phrase that does the work of an Adjective or modifies a Noun or a Pronoun is an Adjective Phrase.
Study the following Adjectives and the Adjective Phrases:
- The morning post was late. (Adj.)
The post in the morning was late. (Adj. Phrase)
- A blue-eyed girl (Adj.)
A girl with blue eyes (Adj. Phrase)
- A golden crown (Adj.)
A crown made of gold (Adj. Phrase)
- A silken scarf (Adj.)
A scarf made of silk (Adj. Phrase)
- A jungle track (Adj.)
A track through the jungle (Adj. Phrase)
Adverb Phrase
A Phrase that modifies a Verb, an Adjective or an Adverb is called an Adverb Phrase. It may answer these questions: When, Where, Why, How and To what extent.
Study the following sentences:
- She welcomes the guests warmly. (How) (Adverb)
She welcomes the guests in a warm way. (How) (Adverb Phrase)
- The box fell here. (Where) (Adverb)
The box fell on this spot. (Where) (Adverb Phrase)
- They are happy now. (When) (Adverb)
They are happy at this moment. (When) (Adverb Phrase)
Noun Phrase
A Phrase that does the work of a Noun is called a Noun Phrase.
Look at these sentences:
- To win the top position is my dream.
- Our boss loves to issue hard commands.
- Early to bed is a good maxim.
- I enjoy playing cards.
In these sentences the words in bold are the Noun Phrases used as Subjects or Objects of verbs.
Usually Noun Phrases answer the question what.
4.0Types of Clauses
A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a predicate.
Example: He laughed.
A clause refers to a group of related words (within a sentence or itself as an independent sentence) which has both subject and predicate.
Example: I will meet him in office.
The part of above sentence 'I will meet him' is a clause because it has a subject( 1 ) and a predicate (will meet him). On the other hand, the rest part of above sentence 'in office' lacks both subject and predicate (verb). Such group of words is called phrase.
A clause may stand as a simple sentence or may join another clause to make a sentence. Therefore, a sentence consists of one, two or more clauses.
Examples: He is sleeping.
The kids were laughing at the joker. (one clause)
The teacher asked a question, but no one answered. (two clauses)
I am happy, because I won a prize.
(two clauses)
I like Mathematics, but my brother likes Biology, because he wants to become a doctor.
(three clauses)
Clauses are divided into main clause (also called independent clause) and subordinate clause (also called dependent clause).
Types of Clauses
There are two major types of clauses main (or independent) clause and subordinate (or dependent) clause.
Main Clause and Subordinate Clause - Comparison
He is buying a shirt which looks very nice.
The above sentence has two clauses 'He is buying a shirt' and 'which looks very nice'. The clause 'He is buying a shirt' expresses a complete thought and can alone stand as a sentence. Such a clause is called Main or Independent clause.
While the clause 'which looks very nice' does not express a complete thought and can't stand as a sentence. It depends on another clause (main clause) to express complete idea. Such a clause is called Subordinate or Dependent clause.
Main or Independent Clause
Main (or independent) clause is a clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand as a sentence.
Examples: I met the boy who had helped me.
She is wearing a shirt which looks nice.
The teacher asked a question but no one answered.
He takes medicine because he suffers from fever.
He became angry and mashed the vase into pieces.
In the above sentences, underlined part shows main clause. It expresses complete thought and can stand as a sentence that is why a main or an independent clause is normally referred as a simple sentence.
Subordinate or Dependent Clause
Subordinate (or dependent) clause is a clause which does not express complete thought and depends on another clause (main clause) to express complete thought. Subordinate clause does not express complete idea and can't stand as a sentence. A sentence having a subordinate clause must have a main clause.
Examples: I met the boy who had helped me.
I bought a table that costs 100$.
He takes medicine because he suffers from fever.
The teacher asked a question but no one answered.
In the above sentences, underlined part shows dependent clause.
He likes Chinese rice which tastes good.
The clause 'which tastes good' in above sentence is a subordinate clause because it does not express complete thought and can't stand as a sentence. It depends on main clause (He likes Chinese rice) to express complete thought.
Types of Subordinate Clause
A subordinate (dependent) clause may function as a noun, an adjective or an adverb in a sentence. On the basis of their function in a sentence, subordinate clauses can be divided into following types:
(1) Noun Clause
(2) Adjective Clause
(3) Adverb Clause
Noun Clause
A dependent clause that functions as a noun, hence it is a noun clause. A noun clause works as a noun that acts as a subject, object, or predicate in a sentence. A noun clause starts with words that, what, whatever, who, whom, whoever, whomsoever.
Examples: Whatever you learn will help you in future. (noun clause as a subject)
What you said made me laugh.
He knows that he will pass the test.
Now I realize what he would have thought. (noun clause as an object)
Adjective Clause
A dependent clause that functions as an adjective in a sentence is called an adjective clause. An adjective clause works like an adjective in a sentence. The function of an adjective is to modify (describe) a noun or a pronoun. Similarly, a noun clause modifies a noun or a pronoun. Example: He wears a shirt which looks nice.
The clause 'which looks nice' in above sentence is an adjective clause because it modifies noun 'shirt' in the sentence.
An adjective clause always precedes the noun it modifies.
Examples: I met the boy who had helped me.
An apple that smells bad is rotten.
The book which I like is helpful in preparation for test.
The house where I live consists of four rooms.
The person who was shouting needed help.
Adverb Clause
A dependent clause that functions as an adverb in a sentence is called an adverb clause.
An adverb clause like an adverb modifies a verb, adjective clause or other adverb clause in a sentence. It modifies (describes) the situation in main clauses in terms of 'time, frequency (how often), cause and effect, contrast, condition, intensity (to what extent)'.
Time: when, whenever, since, until, before, after, while, as, by the time, as soon as
Cause and effect: because, since, now that, as long as, so, so that
Contrast:
Condition: if, unless, only if, whether, or, or not, even if, providing that, in case
Examples: Don't go before he comes.
He takes medicine because he is ill.
Although he tried a lot, he couldn't climb up the tree.
Unless you study for the test, you can't pass it.
I will go to the school unless it rains.
You are safe as long as you drive carefully.
You can achieve anything provided that you struggle for it.
- Words that introduce noun clauses:
How, however, where, whether, whom, whomever, that, which whichever, whose, what, whatever, who, whoever, why, when.
- An adjective clause is introduced by a relative pronoun or relative adverb as :
(i) This is the boy who won the first prize.
(ii) This is the book which I found.
(iii) This is the house where I used to live.
5.0Recall
- Not all subordinate clauses beginning with 'If' are conditional clauses. For example, if is sometimes used like when or whenever.
I usually go to the gym in the evenings if (= whenever) I have no other plans.
Dad always went jogging if (= whenever) the weather was nice.
- Words that introduce noun clauses:
how, however, where, whether, whom, whomever, that, which whichever, whose, what, whatever, who, whoever, why, when
- An adjective clause is introduced by a relative pronoun or relative adverb as:
(i) This is the boy who won the first prize.
(ii) This is the book which I found.
(iii) This is the house where I used to live.
- Adverbial Clauses of Manner begin with as, just as, as if, though, just like or the way. They often answer the question 'how'.
Examples: I want my hair cut.
How?
The way Sally has hers.
- In spoken language 'wherever' is sometimes replaced with 'everywhere'.
Everywhere we go in Kerala, we can find coconut trees.
- Conditional clauses are also called adverbial clauses of condition.
- Adverbial clauses of purpose usually begin with words like so that, in order that or so.
They answer the question 'what for'.
Examples: Always put milk in the fridge.
What for?
So, it doesn't go sour.
- A Phrase
- A group of words.
- No finite verb; May have a subject.
- Has no definite meaning.
- To obtain a definite meaning it should be fitted in a sentence.
- A Clause
- A group of words.
- Has a meaning of its own.
- A Sentence
- A group of words.
- Expresses a complete thought.