Phrase and Clause
Phrase: group of words acting together as a single unit, but does not contain subject and verb
- Noun phrase: The big black dog
- Verb phrase: Am studying
- Adjective phrase: a very expensive watch
- Adverb phrase: in the morning
- Prepositional phrase: on the table
- Participial phrase: laughing and playing
Clause: contains a subject and verb, sometimes can stand alone as a competent sentence.
- Independent clause or Main clause can stand alone as a competent sentence Eg: i did not bring my umbrella
- Dependent or sub ordinate clause cannot stand alone and needs an independent clause to make sense Eg: as soon as i reach home
Phrase vs Clause
| Type | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Noun Phrase | The eager student | Noun phrase, no verb |
| Verb Phrase | has been studying | Verb phrase, no subject on its own |
| Adjective Phrase | very beautiful | Adjective phrase, describes a noun |
| Prepositional Phrase | at the park | Begins with preposition, no subject/verb |
| Adverb Phrase | in the evening | Adverb phrase, no subject/verb |
| Independent Clause | He won the race. | Has a subject and a verb, complete thought |
| Dependent Clause | Because she was tired | Has a subject and a verb, not a complete thought |
