PHRASE or CLAUSE?
Phrase – a group of related words that is used as a single part of speech and DOES NOT HAVE BOTH A VERB AND SUBJECT that go together
Example:
1) Colors can influence the way we feel about a place.
(no verb, no subject)
2) They decided to watch a movie.
(to watch = an infinitive so there is no verb, no subject)
Clause – a word group that contains a verb and its subject
· Independent clause – expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a complete sentence
Example:
s v
1) The United States is known as a country of immigrants.
s v
2) Jasper made the winning touchdown.
· Dependent clause – has a related subject and verb but CANNOT stand alone as a complete sentence
Example:
1) After I finish my homework, I can play Wii.
s v
DC = After I finish my homework
2) I need to walk the dog before I watch television.
s v
DC = before I watch television
Practice: Identify whether the underlined portions of each of the following are phrases or clauses – JUSTIFY WHY they are a phrase or clause by identifying verbs and corresponding subjects (in the underlined portion only).
1) During the stormy night, the black horse escaped.
2) Ava found her ticket before the train arrived.
3) Teddy wanted to read a book.
4) The book on the shelf should be given to charity.
5) Avery stirred the soup while Katie chopped vegetables.
Practice: Identify whether the underlined portions of each of the following are phrases or clauses – JUSTIFY WHY they are a phrase or clause by identifying verbs and corresponding subjects (in the underlined portion only).
1) During the stormy night, the black horse escaped.
ANSWER: phrase (no s or v; prep = during)
S V
2) Ava found her ticket before the train arrived.
ANSWER: dep cl (has s = the train and verb = arrived; clue word = before)
3) Teddy wanted to read a book.
ANSWER: phrase (no s or v – “to read” is an infinitive), some students will mark read as a verb which is fine for now since they haven’t been taught infinitives. It still would have no subject and would be a phrase.
4) The book on the shelf should be given to charity.
ANSWER: phrase (no s or v, preposition = on)
S V
5) Avery stirred the soup while Katie chopped vegetables.
ANSWER: dep cl (has s = Katie and verb = chopped; clue word = while)