Second edition, revised and enlarged edition march 2003 language. In the following sentences, the groups of words in italics are phrases. For proper sentence structure social transformation. Some noun clauses begin with words such as that, what, why, or other words that. Writing is the primary basis upon which your work, your learning, and your intellect will be judgedin college, in the workplace, and in the community. A phrase is a group of words that does not consist of a subject and a verb. Phrase a phrase is a collection of words that may have nouns, but it does not have a subject doing a verb. A complex sentence contains more than one subject and more than one verb. Then, study your own textbook, and take advantage of any class discussions.
Although both phrases and clauses are a group of related words that can have a variety of functions within a sentence, they are very different. For example, phrases can function as nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. The sentence the dog seems all right has three phrases. Phrases provide additional information about subjects, predicates, and or objects, and understanding how they work is helpful to building an analyzing sentences. Notes on words, phrases, sentences and clauses in english, as in many other languages in the world, individual words can function as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, articles, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections, and so on. Types of clauses independent clauses dependent clauses contain both a subject and a verb contain both a subject and a verb, but cannot stand and can stand alone as a sentence. Learn to spot the differences between phrases and clauses. Cecily has authored several books about grammar and punctuation including coauthoring two books in the straightforward english series. Words, phrases and clauses a sentence is a group of words which are put together in the right order and make sense to the reader. There are two main types of word chunks, clauses and phrases. Both sentences and clauses usually consist of subjects which are generally nouns or noun phrases. Defining a phrase when we looked at nouns and pronouns, we said that a pronoun can sometimes replace a noun in a sentence. A clause is a group of words containing a subject and verb.
A phrase is a collection of words that may have nouns or verbals, but it does not have a subject doing a verb. This game is for students to practice the difference between a clause and a phrase. Correct punctuation of phrases and clauses developed by vicki hill sentence boundary problemsrunon sentences, fragments, and comma splicesare some of the most prevalent and most serious grammatical problems affecting student writing. If youre behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains.
It alone cannot stand as a sentence because it depends on the other clause independent clause to give a complete meaning. Grammar for academic writing ii contents unit 1 packaging information 1 punctuation 1 grammatical construction of the sentence 2 types of clause 3 grammar. A phrase cannot be used as a standalone utterance, e. Oct 29, 2014 things sure seem intimidating when theyre grouped in threes, dont they. An independent clause has a subject and a verb and it can stand on its own, serving as a complete sentence. Clauses and phrases for proper sentence structure purpose. A subordinate clause depends on the main clause of. Phrases do not contain a subject and a predicate, or we would call them clauses. Since they are working together to form a comprehensible sentence, this sentence has one clause. Our website makes a great companion to language arts classes, homeschooling, and esl courses. These clauses begin with a dependent word, like a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. Jun 21, 2015 phrases, clauses, sentence structure 1.
The grammatical units of english are words, phrases, clauses and sentences. Put parentheses around the phrase or phrases in each sentence. Phrase, clause, and sentence errors the chunnel actually consists of three tunnels. If they form complete thoughts, we call them independent clauses. You can also try delaying completion of your main statement, or try interrupting sentences with parenthetical elements. The biggest difference between the two is that a clause always has a subject and a predicate, while a phrase never has a subject nor a predicate. Try reading different materials, and spotting the phrases, clauses and complete sentences in a piece of text. As long as you have a subject combined with or doing a verb, a clause is a clause, whether long or short. Phrases, clauses and sentences tidewater community college. The fanboys cannot begin a sentence they are combining words. The most common clause you are likely to meet is the subordinate clause. Clauses and sentences english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary.
Clauses and phrases guided discussion necessary then, d face that is not frown draw this. Clauses are one step closer to forming a complete sentence than phrases are. Nouns and pronouns1 usually perform the following grammatical functions. Phrases and clauses are both groups of words but they each do different things. Clauses are groups of words that have a subject and a predicate. Notes on words, phrases, sentences and clauses in english, as in many other languages in the world. Things sure seem intimidating when theyre grouped in threes, dont they. Independent clauses express a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence but subordinate clauses depend on other parts of the sentence to express a complete thought. The exact nature of each clause should be figured out from the kind of function it serves in the sentence. Sentence moods declarative sentences make statements interrogative sentences ask questions imperative sentences give instructions of some kind orders, warnings, advice, invitations exclamatory sentences emphatic sentences, which are indicated by the use of an exclamation mark 19. If you submit the assignment on time you will obtain a better. Step 2 in the space next to the sentence, write r for a restrictive and nr for a nomestrictive clause.
A phrase is a group of words related to the subject, predicate, or object. The southern tunnel carries passengers from france to england, while the northern tunnel carries people from england to france. Fowler on the verbless sentence a grammarian might say that a verbless sentence was a contradiction in terms. The weather is beautiful today, so ill take a walk. A dependent clause often begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun that make the clause unable to stand. The understanding of sentence structure is essential for communication with other people. Phrases provide additional information about subjects, predicates, and or objects, and understanding how they work. Review on phrases, clauses, and sentences phrase verb. Varying word order in sentences book summaries, test. In groups they will race against each other to complete the task first. Step 1 underline the adjective clause or clauses in each sentence. Some clauses make sense all by themselves and express a complete thought.
Analysis of a clause english practice learn and practice. An independent clause is a part of a sentence that can stand alone because it contains a subject and a verb. If they form incomplete thoughts, we call them dependent or subordinate clauses. Voiceover so phrase is a group of words and it acts like a single part of speech, but its not, it will never be a full sentence, because phrases dont have both a subject and a verb. Remember to remove the pronouns to make your sentences make sense. Sentence structure te wharepurakau library, teaching and.
Sentences can be classified either in terms of the kinds of clauses they. A clause is a bunch of words with a conjugated verb in it. To make sure you use them correctly, its important to practice identifying them. As you can see the discussion above, clauses form the building blocks of sentences, and phrases are used to construct a clause. Again, you can diagram these on a computer by using highlighting, bold type labels, bullet points etc. Dependent clauses often begin with such words as although, since, if, when, and because. Create sentences with embedded clauses using the following examples.
A phrase is a group of words that act as a part of speech but cannot stand alone as. The items in a series are usually separated by commas or semicolons if the items themselves contain commas. They should watch less television here it is certainly true that the. For example, phrases can function as nouns, verbs, adjectives, or. Introduction to phrases and clauses practice khan academy. It is therefore wrong to judge a clause from the word which introduces it. The same word may introduce clauses of different kinds. It needs an independent clause to complete a sentence. Here the subordinate clause when he will arrive is the object of the verb know. Clause and phrase are two important terms in english grammar. Choose from 500 different sets of the sentence practice phrases clauses flashcards on quizlet. Clauses and phrases grammar rules blue book of grammar.
The 4 english sentence types simple, compound, complex, compoundcomplex duration. How to identify phrases, clauses and sentences by shmoop. Guided discussion may initially be highly structured. In most current nongenerative theories of syntax, a sentence can be simple i. These errors often occur in conjunction with unresolved composition problems. Or you can diagram such sentences with the penpaper or whiteboard method. When making a compound sentence, you must use the words for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so use the acronym fanboys to help you remember. Nov 11, 2014 while clauses, phrases and sentences might seem very similar at first, on closer look you can start to see how they function very differently. Chapter 6 phrases, clauses, and sentences chapter checkin recognizing phrases identifying independent and subordinate clauses understanding sentences clauses and phrases are the building blocks of sentences.
English lessons with adam learn english engvid 1,202,869 views. In english grammar, a series is a list of three or more items words, phrases, or clauses, usually arranged in parallel form. Commenting on short clauses can take commas a reader asks. Phrases are groups of related words that do not contain both a subject and a verb. Sep 05, 2012 this animation teaches the learner to define a sentence, a phrase and a clause, and identify phrases and clauses in sentences. It is helpful before teaching simple, compound, and complex sentences. Quickly recognizing and analyzing clauses is an essential gmat sc skill. Phrases and clauses are the building blocks of sentences. Acting as a noun a noun clause is a type of subordinate clause. Clause and phrase game free by jessica osborne tpt. Instead of beginning every sentence with the subject, try beginning with a modifier, an appositive, or the main verb. Sentences are divided into multiple phrases, and the difficulty for most people is in identifying where each phrase begins and ends. A clause is a group of related words with a subjectverb group.
While we collected the data, the temperature gradually increased. The book that i have read for this course is a nonfiction focus on the vietnam war. Such a group of words which makes sense, but not complete sense is called a phrase. A sentence expresses a complete thought and contains a subject, a noun.
Clauses and sentences english grammar today cambridge. Dependent or subordinate clauses a dependent or subordinate clause depends on an independent clause to express its full meaning as in because i love grammar. If youre seeing this message, it means were having trouble loading external resources on our website. A clause is a group of words that consists of a subject and a verb. Sentence structure and clauses quiz 25 questions by brennadjohnson last updated. In other words, phrases are groups of words that serve as nouns, adjectives or adverbs in sentences. Because sentences are made up of phrases and clauses, understanding these basic elements of. A phrase is a bunch of words without a conjugated verb in it. Phrases are groups of words that act as a part of speech but cannot stand alone as a sentence. The words are put together to make phrases, phrases build up to clauses and clauses are put together to make. Phrases and clauses phrase noun free 30day trial scribd.
The chapter is entitled a song of books and was written in 1887. Main clause subordinate clause relative pronoun the highwayman, who arrived at the inn, was a wanted man. Cleveland has an education in english literature, music, and library studies. The words in a phrase act together so that the phrase itself functions as a single part of speech. A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but it can not stand on its own. Phrases, clauses, and sentences share and discover. Subordinate clause or dependence clause is that clause which as alone part cannot express a complete meaning. A clause is a subject and a predicate working together.
Both sentences and clauses usually consist of subjects which are generally nouns or noun phrases, and of predicates which are generally conjugated verbs or verb phrases. Phrase, clause, and sentence 2 linkedin slideshare. In the section on nouns, you learned a key concept about chunks of words that act as nouns. Notes on phrases and clauses the building that they built, leaving what is called an elliptical clause or contact clause.
The book is thorough in its coverage but pays most attention to points that are of. However, clauses are almost always introduced by relative pronouns e. English language terminology phrases, clauses and sentences. The example has one subject, i, and one predicate, took.
Phrases, clauses, and sentences john keith 1 phrase a phrase is a group of words working together. This passage is adapted from chapter three of sir john lubbocks the pleasures of life. Jet lag affects most long by subordinating conjunctions such as because, what, if distance travelers. Dependent clauses often begin with words such as before, after, while. Happen when two or more simple sentences independent clauses are combined with each other. Learn the sentence practice phrases clauses with free interactive flashcards. Identify and punctuate sentences with adjective clauses. You can build this skill by diagramming gmat sc sentences to mark the clauses.
Within the sentence there are smaller units of meaning called clauses which are made up of phrases. Some clauses are very short jesus wept, while others are very long. A subordinate clause depends on the main clause of a sentence see the example of a. In addition for over twenty years, cecily worked at garlic press as an editor and proofreader. Sentence fragments and runon sentences lone star college. A clause is a group of words that contains a finite verb that is, a verb that indicates time such as present, past or future. An indispensable guide to english grammatical structures, this book analyses the basic elements, phrases, clauses and sentences, and highlights other aspects of english such as subjectverb agreement.