PHRASES
AND CLAUSES
A.
PHRASES
A phrase is a group of words that does
not have a subject, verb combination and does not form a predicate. It does not
have a subject or predicate but it can contain a noun or a verb. A phrase can
never stand alone as a sentence.
In a sentence, the functions of a phrase
is as a noun, verb, adverb, adjective or preposition. The function of a phrase
depends on its construction. Based on their function and construction, phrases
devided into; noun phrase, verb phrase, adverb phrase, adjective phrase, and prepositional
phrase.
1.
Noun
Phrase
A
noun phrase consists of a noun as the main word and other words (usually
modifiers and determiners) which come after or before the noun. The whole
phrase works as a noun or pronoun in a sentence.
Examples:
The
people in the bus escaped through the emergency exit.
They
are testing some
new equipment.
Many
of us consider her the best candidate.
He
can finish all
these other works.
2.
Verb
Phrase
A
verb phrase can consist of main verb, its auxiliaries, its complements and
other modifiers.
Examples:
He plays football every day.
They are my students.
The shop has closed for the day.
We were waiting for you in the lobby.
3.
Adverb
Phrase
An
adverb phrase consists of adverbs or other words (preposition, noun, verb,
modifiers) that make a group with works like an adverb in a sentence. It functions
like an adverb to modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb. A
prepositional phrase can also act as an adverb phrase.
Examples:
I entirely agree with you.
He sat in a corner of the room.
The description was remarkably accurate.
Certainly, we should be grateful
4.
Adjective
Phrase
An adjective
phrase consists of adjectives, modifier and any word that modifies a noun or
pronoun. An adjective phrase functions like an adjective to modify (or tell
about) a noun or a pronoun in a sentence.
Examples:
Mary likes children.
Tom is afraid that no one will believe
him.
He was a tall man, dressed in a blue
suit.
The photographs were quite
professional.
5.
Prepositional
Phrase
A
prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, object of preposition (noun or
pronoun) and may also consist of other modifiers. In a sentence, the functions of
a prepositional phrase is as an adjective or adverb.
Examples:
I am the person that you are waiting for.
The picture is worth looking at.
After the storm, the sky brightened.
I took several courses in history.
B.
CLAUSES
A clause is a group of words that can
act as a sentence, but is not necessarily a complete sentence on its own. All
clauses contain both a subject and a predicate, which always contains a verb. Some
clauses can stand alone as a complete sentence, others cannot.
Based on their stand capability, clauses
devided into:
1.
Independent
Clause
It
is the clause that can stand by itself, and form a complete sentence with
punctuation.
Examples:
I met the boy
who had helped me.
The teacher asked a
question but no one answered.
2.
Dependent
Clauses
It
is the clause that can't stand independently by itself and become a complete
sentence with subordinate conjunction. Instead, the dependent clause is
dependent upon another clause, it can't make a complete sentence by itself.
Examples:
I
met the boy who
had helped me.
The
teacher asked a question but no one answered.
Based
on their function in a sentence, subordinate clauses can be divided in to
following types:
1)
Noun
Clause
A noun clause is a dependent clause that
functions as a noun in a sentence. 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, whomever”.
Examples:
What he did
made us laugh.
I
know that you
will pass the examination.
2)
Adjective
Clause
An adjective clause is a dependent
clause that functions as an adjective in a sentence. The function of an
adjective is to modify (describe) a noun or a pronoun.
Examples:
The
medicines which
is in that box is mine.
The
gift that you
gave to me is really nice.
3)
Adverbial
Clause
An adverbial clause is a dependent
clause that functions as an adverb in a sentence. An adverb clause like an
adverb modifies a verb, adjective clause or other adverb clause in a sentence.
The subordinating conjunctions used for
adverb clauses are as follows:
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 : although, even, whereas, while, though
Condition : if,
unless, only if, whether or not, even if, providing or provided that, in case
Examples:
I
will go before
he comes.
She
will go home only
if you pick her up.
Note:
The way to distinguish
between a Phrase and a Clause is;
-
if there is a noun but no verb or a verb
but no noun and does not have a predicate, it is a phrase.
-
if there is a subject and a verb with a
predicate, it is a clause.
