Phrase versus Clauses notes

A phrase is a group of words that functions as a single part of speech.

A phrase does not have a subject and a verb (BK book page L173).

Why don’t you go with Jennifer?

(with Jennifer is a phrase because it does not have a subject and a verb).

Prepositional Phrases :

A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun. (Remember a preposition is anything a plane can do to a cloud – or- a squirrel can go).

See list of common prepositions page L173 in BK textbook.

The noun or pronoun that the prepositional phrase ends with is called the object of the preposition.

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Clause

A clause is a group of words, which has a subject and a verb!!

A clause can be either independent or subordinate.

Independent (main) clauses can stand alone as a sentence because they express a complete thought. (An independent clause is called a sentence when it stands by itself. It is called a clause when it appears in a sentence with another clause.

Independent

People have the right to speak their own language.

Subordinate (dependent) clauses do not express complete thoughts, Always begin with a subordinating conjunction (See pp. L225 and 229), always have a subject and a verb, but cannot stand alone:

Subordinate (dependent)

What I have eaten…

…where I was born.

If you serve him…

Although this is a good idea…

The subordinate (dependent) clause can come before, after, or in the middle of the independent clause.

Here the subordinate clause comes before the independent clause:

When a worker feels isolated, she resents her work mates.

Here the subordinate (dependent) clause comes after the independent clause:

The Indonesian man was insulted because his head was touched.

Here the subordinate (dependent) clause comes in the middle if an independent clause:

The Italians, who immigrated to Australia as adults, preferred to live among other Italians.