LIST OF ENTRIES

Clauses and Phrases

Clauses and Phrases

Both clauses and phrases are basic components of writing sentences. When combined with other parts of speech and other parts of sentences, clauses and phrases help build an intricate system through which your words convey meaning. Understanding the difference between the two is vital to write grammatically correct and properly constructed sentences.

What are 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. A predicate tells something about what the subject is doing. Some clauses can stand alone as a complete sentence; others cannot. Below are a few examples of clauses:

Example 1: She danced. (“She” is the subject. “Danced” is both the verb and the predicate. Even though the clause is only two words, it functions as an independent clause because it can stand alone as a sentence.)

Example 2: While she is dancing, the audience cannot tear its eyes off her.

In Example 2, there are actually two clauses. The first “while she is dancing” contains a subject (she) and a predicate (is dancing), but it cannot stand alone as a sentence, making it a dependent clause. The second clause, “the audience cannot tear its eyes off her,” contains a subject (the audience) and a predicate (tear its eyes off her), and because it can function as a sentence on its own, it is an independent clause.

What are phrases?

A phrase is a group of two or more words that does not have the subject and verb combination and does not form a predicate. It can contain a noun or a verb, but does not have a subject or predicate. Essentially, a phrase provides some sort of additional information or provides more context to the sentences you write. A phrase can never stand alone as a sentence; however, a phrase can nestle itself inside clauses that are either complete sentences on their own or ones that are dependent on the rest of the sentence. When a phrase is within a clause, it functions as a part of speech. Below are a few examples of a phrase:

Example 3: The dance was held at the reception hall. (“At the reception hall” is a prepositional phrase. It does not have a subject or predicate, and it cannot stand alone as a sentence.)

Example 2 revisited: While she is dancing, the audience cannot tear its eyes off her.

In Example 2 revisited, “off her” is a prepositional phrase that is nestled within the independent clause identified earlier. It does not contain a subject/predicate, nor can it stand alone as a sentence.

Understanding the difference

It is vital to understand the main differences between clauses and phrases to ensure your writing is clear in both construction and context. If you are unsure whether a group of words is a clause or phrase, break down the words into the parts of speech to help you decide. If there is a subject and a verb with a predicate, it is a clause. If there is a noun but no verb or a verb but no noun and does not have a predicate, it is a phrase. Always keep in mind that sometimes phrases are built into clauses.

Types of clauses

The two main types of clauses are independent and dependent. In addition, the following types of clauses are used in constructing sentences:

• 1. Adverbial clauses:
  An adverbial clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb; that is, the entire clause modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. As with all clauses, it contains a subject and predicate, although the subject as well as the (predicate) verb may sometimes be omitted and implied (see below).^[1]
  An adverbial clause is commonly, but not always, fronted by a subordinate conjunction—sometimes called a trigger word.
• 2. Defining and non-defining clauses (also called adjective or relative clauses)
• 3. Independent and dependent clauses
• 4. Noun clauses: A noun clause is a group of words (doing the work of a noun) with a subject and a verb, that can be a subject, object, or object of a preposition in a sentence. Noun clauses can be used to name something when a single word isn't enough. It's also important to remember that these clauses are dependent clauses. Noun clauses commonly begin with words such as how, that, what, whatever, when, where, whether, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, whomever, and why.

   4.1 Noun clauses (Subject of a Verb)

  A noun clause can act as the subject of a verb, and we will break down what that means after some examples:
  
  
• What Alicia said made her friends cry.
• What Megan wrote surprised her family.
• How the boy behaved was not very polite.

When there's a verb in the sentence, you must find the subject. Therefore, in the first sentence we can ask "What made?" and the answer is "What Alicia said." Therefore, "What Alicia said" is the subject of the verb "made." In the next case, we can ask "What surprised?" and the answer is "What Megan wrote." Do you now see how a noun clause can act as a subject of a verb?

4.2. Noun clauses (Object of a Verb)

In the same vein, noun clauses can also act as the direct object of a verb:

• She didn't realize that the directions were wrong.
• He didn't know why the stove wasn't working.
• They now understand that you should not cheat on a test.

Once again, we can use the method of questioning to demonstrate how the noun clause is being used. What didn't she realize? What didn't he know? And what do they now understand? The answer in all three cases is the noun clause!

4.3. Noun Clauses (Subject Complement)

Let's pick up the pace a little and see if you can figure out how these noun clauses work as a subject complement (refering back to modify, describe, or complete the subject of the clause):

• Carlie's problem was that she didn't practice enough.
• Harry's crowning achievement at school was when he became class president.
• Darla's excuse for being late was that she had fogotten to set her alarm.

Once again, do you see what questions these noun clauses answer and how they relate to the subject? What was Carlie's problem? What was Harry's crowning achievement? What was Darla's excuse? Without these clauses, the sentences would not be complete thoughts grammatically, nor would they sound complete at all.

4.4 Noun Clauses (Object of a Preposition)

Noun clauses also act as objects of a preposition.

• Harry is not the best provider of what Margie needs.
• Josephine is not responsible for what Alex decided to do.
• Allie is the owner of that blue car parked outside.

Once again, Harry is not the provider of what? Josephine is not responsible for what? Allie is the owner of what?

4.5. Noun Clauses Adjective Complement

Last but not least, a noun clause can also act as an adjective complement, modifying a verb, adjective, or adverb.

• Her family was happy when Meg returned home.
• The child is sad that his stomach hurts.
• I'm excited that my best friend is coming to visit.

One more time, ask the questions: Why was the family happy? Why is the child sad? Why am I excited?

Identifying a Noun Clause

Using noun clauses in everyday speech is common, as noun clauses often add crucial information to sentences. Remember that noun clauses contain a subject and a verb, are dependent clauses, function as a noun in the sentence, and generally begin with words like that or what. Learning to differentiate between the various types will take time and practice.

                                                   Types of phrases

Phrases can take many forms and different constructions. They cannot however, ever function as a sentence on their own. The different types of phrases include the following:

• Gerund phrases
• Infinitive phrases
• Noun phrases
• Participle phrases
• Prepositional phrases
• Verb phrases

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LIST OF ENTRIES

Introductory words

What is an introductory word? An introductory word is a single word that sits on its own at the beginning of the sentence:

*  Generally, good writers tend to have a degree in English.

* * * * *

Introductory phrases

What is an introductory phrase? Introductory phrases are similar to introductory clauses but are not complete clauses because they do not have both a verb and a subject. 

* Checking methodically, we never miss a mistake.

* To stay top of the class, you have to study hard every day.

* * * * *

Introductory clauses

What is an introductory clause?. An introductory clause will describe where, how, when, why or how. They can be small, medium or large in length but, regardless of their size, a comma should follow them.

* When exercising, you need to be aware of your limitations.

* * * * *

Introductory Clauses with Dates

Although it is not strictly required, it is considered good style to follow introductory dependent clauses containing dates with a comma. This is true whether the date given denotes a century, a year, a month, or even a day.

* In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed.

* In the seventeen hundreds, the minuet was a popular dance style.