Phrases & Clauses

What are they? How are they different?

The main difference:

Phrases DO NOT
have BOTH a subject & a verb
Clauses DO HAVE

BOTH a subject & a verb

PHRASES:
4 Types
No Subject & Verb

1: Prepositional Phrase
Prepositional Phrase = Preposition + Noun

from the house = from (prep) + (noun) the house He ran quickly from the house. behind a rock = behind

(prep) + (noun)

a rock

I saw my teacher behind a rock.

1: Prepositional Phrase
during the movie

about his messy room

around the track and near the field

2: Participial Phrase
A participle is a verb used as another part of speech. Participles are easy to recognize: they end in ing or ed.
For example: running water, baked apples, loving husband, loaded gun, etc

2: Participial Phrase More examples:

looking closely,

studying the History book

staying up all night

3: Infinitive Phrase
To + verb = Infinitive phrase If you have ever studied a foreign language, you might remember that verbs are always studied w/the infinitive first:

to love (the infinitive form)

I love you love he/she/it loves we love you love they love

3: Infinitive Phrase
Examples:
to run a mile

contd

Infinitive phrases begin with the infinitive form of the verb

to start over
to do homework all night

to win the contest

to wake up early

4: Noun Phrases
Adjective + Noun = Noun Phrase

The tall building

A smoky, crowded room

Screaming, half-naked toddlers Nests of yellow and red striped snakes

NOW FOR A SMALL WARNING

One word can make phrases a little tricky:

The tricky to
The word

prepositional

BOTH
and

to is found in

infinitive
phrases

CAUTION--Dont mix these up!

Prepositional Phrases:

to the football stadium (prepositional)

to the teacher (prepositional)

Infinitive Phrases:

to run a mile to finish my homework

Clauses:
3 types

Have BOTH Subject & Verb

Clause #1:

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
(aka:

SENTENCE OR MAIN CLAUSE)

Independent Clause Independent clauses have a subject & verb and can stand alone.

Examples: The doctor finished the examination. Students leave campus after class.

Clause #2:

DEPENDENT CLAUSE
(aka:
THE

CLIFFHANGER)

Dependent Clause

Dependent clauses have subjects & verbs, but they cannot stand alone

Dependent Clause
Dependent clauses usually begin with subordinating conjunctions such as although, because,

when, since, if, unless

Examples:

Because I left early If we find my notebook

Subordinating conjunction subject verb

Dependent Clauses
Dependent clauses require a complete thought to make them complete

Written alone, dependent clauses create suspense for whats to comelike a cliffhanger:

Dependent Clauses
Example of a dependent clause:

Because

a rattlesnake has made a home under our bed

Dependent Clauses
Dependent clauses often begin or end sentences: Because a rattlesnake has made a home under our bed (dependent clause)

+
We purchased a mongoose to sleep
with us. (sentence/main clause)

Dependent Clauses

Because a rattlesnake
has made a home under our bed, we purchased a mongoose to sleep with us.

Dependent Clauses

We purchased a
mongoose to sleep with us because a rattlesnake has made a home under our bed.

Examples of Dependent Clauses

Although I spent three hours studying,

Because the children had hidden the key,

(Note how each of these requires something to follow it.)

Examples of Dependent Clauses

If students sign up early,

Unless the weather prevents travel,

When everyone finished dinner,

(Note how each of these requires something to follow it.)

Examples of Dependent Clauses

After the schedule is published,

Before a hurricane hits an area,

(Note how each of these requires something to follow it.)

Clause #3:

RELATIVE CLAUSE

(WHO, WHICH, THAT )

Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are easy to recognize. They begin with WHO, WHICH, or THAT.

Relative Clauses

They are not questions, but part of sentences.

Relative Clauses
Examples: Martin, who usually finishes first, was unable to beat my record. Pasta, which used to be included in most diets, has been replaced by high-protein foods. Toys that the dog chewed up must be thrown away.

NOW FOR ANOTHER SMALL WARNING

2 words can make clauses a little tricky:

Before After

CAUTION--Dont mix these up!

before and after can appear in either prepositional phrases or dependent clauses.

CAUTION--Dont mix these up!

Prepositional phrases: after the storm before the alarm after lunch before my nap after work before the holiday

CAUTION--Dont mix these up!

Dependent clauses:
after the storm ended before the alarm rang after we left work before the doctor arrived after I received your call before the judge makes his ruling

Phrase & Clause Review

Phrase & Clause Review

Q: What is the main

difference between phrases & clauses?

Phrase & Clause Review

Answer:
Phrases do not have both a
subject and a verb

Clauses have both a subject

and a verb.

Phrase Review
Prepositional:

above the clouds

near my house
along the shore

Phrase Review
Participial:

leaving work early sleeping until noon celebrating the holidays filled with liquid

Phrase Review

Infinitive:
to walk the dog to play the piano to watch our favorite TV show

Phrase Review Noun Phrases:

a blue glass fifty wild iguanas a comfortable bed

Clause Review
Independent/Main Clause:
(Sentence)

Broccoli is my favorite food.

Clause Review Clause Review

Dependent Clause:

Because broccoli is my favorite food

Clause Review

Relative Clause:
which is my favorite food

Be sure to know your phrases & clauses!

End of presentation.