Phrases and Clauses

By Mark McDowell, M.A.

(eslwideworld.com)

A phrase is a group of related words that lack a subject or a verb, or both. A phrase cannot stand alone as a sentence, but is used in sentences as single parts of speech.? There are several types of phrases: See table of phrase types.

A clause is a group of related words that contain both a subject and a verb/predicate, thus it may be able to stand alone as a sentence: White dogs are pretty (independent clause); or it may not: Although white dogs are pretty (dependant clause).?As shown in the preceding example, a subordinating word is used in dependent clauses. This word relates the dependent clause to an independent clause, thus giving purpose to the dependent clause: Although white dogs are pretty, they are not popular. Such words are either subordinating conjunctions (such as: as, if, while, since) or relative pronouns (such as: which, that, who). Not all dependent clauses can stand alone simply by removing the subordinating word. Dependent clauses are used as single parts of speech being either: a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.?There are several types of dependant clauses: See table of clause types below.

Table of phrase and clause types

Phrases function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
Type	Definition	Example
Prepositional phrases (most common type of phrase)	Acts mostly as adverbs, sometimes as adjectives or nouns ?begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun.	I walked to the store. (adverb) With a smile I told the joke. (adjective) After sunset is a good time to go fishing. (noun)
Absolute phrases (noun or pronoun and a participle with modifiers)	Has no grammatical connection to any part of speech, instead modifies the entire rest of the sentence	An uncertain future looming, I forged ahead.
Appositive phrases	An appositive is a re-naming or amplification of a word that immediately precedes it.	My English teacher, an excellent author, just published his second book.
Verbal phrases:
Infinitive phrases	Acts as nouns	I wanted to leave.
Participle phrases	Acts as adjectives	Flying high in the air, the rocket exploded.
Gerund phrases	Acts as nouns	Getting the promotion is my only hope.

Clauses (dependant) function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
Type	Definition	Example
Relative or Adjective clauses	Acts as an adjective and begins with a relative pronoun: what, which, who, that, whatever, whoever.	Bob didn't get the job in administration, which really surprised his friends. The dress that she bought on Tuesday was torn.
Noun clauses	Acts as a noun	Whoever stole my pen must give it back.
Adverb clauses	Acts as an adverb by telling something about the verb	Mary felt happy when she found her dog.
Elliptical clauses	Grammatically incomplete, but clear in meaning	I recommend (that) you go to the doctor.?May omit “that.?lt;o:p> I knew he could fix the car better than I (could fix the car). May omit “could fix the car.?lt;/i>