Phrases and Clauses

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.