#9 Clause and Phrase

* CLAUSE
: A related words that contains a subject and a verb.                                         

Eg : He came.

* PHRASE
: A group of related words that does not contain a subject and a verb.
Eg : On the table.


To help you to understand this chapter better, I will give you a sentence of example that contain both clause and phrase.

Eg : He is laughing at the joker.

This sentence has two different parts:
1] " He is laughing"      
* It is a clause.
* Because it has a subject (he) and a predicate that contains a verb (is laughing).
 
 2] "at the joker"
* It is a phrase.
* Because it does not contain neither a subject nor a verb.                              

 * * * * *

TYPES OF CLAUSE

i - Independent clause (main) / Simple sentence               

: Is a clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand as a sentence.

Eg 
: I met the boy who helped me.

: He became angry and smashed the window into pieces.
: She is wearing a shirt which looks nice.

In the above sentence, each underlined part shows main clauses.  It expresses complete thought and can stand as a sentence. That is why main or independent sentences can be referred as a simple sentence.

ii - Dependent clause (subordinate)

: It does not express a complete thought and can not stand as a sentence.

: It depends on other clause to express complete thought.

: Dependent clause or subordinate must have a clause to make a meaningful sentence.

Eg
: I met the boy who helped me.
: He became angry and smashed the window into pieces.

: She is wearing a shirt which looks nice.

* * * * * 

TYPES OF PHRASE

Definition

It is a group of related words (within a sentence) without both subject and verb. Eg : He is laughing at the clown.

Functions

Functions as a noun, verb, adverb, adjective or preposition in a sentence. The function of a phrase depends on its construction (words it contains). 

Noun Phrase

Consists of a noun and other related words (usually modifiers and determiners) which modify the noun. It functions like a noun in a sentence.

It is as the head word and other words (usually modifiers and determiners) which come after or before the noun. The whole phrase works as a noun in a sentence. 
Noun Phrase = noun + modifiers        (the modifiers can be after or before noun)

Eg:
The girl with blonde hair is jumping. (as noun/subject)

He is wearing a nice black shoes.  (as noun/object)

  

Prepositional phrase.

Consists of a preposition, object of preposition (noun or pronoun) and may also consist of other modifiers.

A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and mostly ends with a noun or pronoun. Whatever prepositional phrase ends with is called object of preposition. 

A prepositional phrase functions as an adjective or adverb in a sentence.

Eg:
The man in the room is our teacher.          
He puts his cap on the study table.        

 

Adjective Phrase.

 A  group of words that functions like an adjective in a sentence. It consists of adjectives, modifier and any word that modifies a noun or pronoun.

An adjective phrase functions like an adjective to modify (or tell about) a noun or a pronoun in a sentence.
Eg:
He is wearing a nice red shirt.  (modifies shirt)

The girl with brown hair is singing a song. (modifies girl)

              
Prepositional phrases and participle phrases also function as adjectives so we can also call them adjective phrases when they function as adjective. In the above sentence “The girl with brown hair is singing a song”, the phrase “with brown hair” is a prepositional phrase but it functions as an adjective.

 

Adverb Phrase

An adverb phrase is a group of words that functions as an adverb in a sentence. It consists of adverbs or other words (preposition, noun, verb, modifiers) that make a group works like an adverb in a sentence.

It modifies verb, an adjective or another adverb.
Eg:
He always behaves in a good manner. (modifies verb behave)
They were shouting in a loud voice. (modifies verb shout)
She always drives with care.  (modifies verb drive)
           

A prepositional phrase can also act as an adverb phrase. For example in above sentence “He always behaves in a good manner”, the phrase “in a good manner” is a prepositional phrase but it acts as adverb phrase here.

 

Verb Phrase

A combination of main verb and its auxiliaries (helping verbs) in a sentence.

Eg:
He is eating an apple.
She has finished her work.
You should study for the exam.
       
A verb phrase can consist of main verb, its auxiliaries, its complements and other modifiers. Hence it can refer to the whole predicate of a sentence. 

Infinitive Phrase

Consist of an infinitive(to + simple form of verb) and modifiers or other words associated to the infinitive. 

An infinitive phrase always functions as an adjective, adverb or a noun in a sentence.
Eg:
He likes to read books. (As noun/object)
To earn money is a desire of everyone. (As noun/subject)
He shouted to inform people about fire.  (As adverb, modifies verb shout)
He made a plan to buy a car. (As adjective, modifies noun plan)

 

Gerund Phrase

A gerund phrase consists of a gerund(verb + ing) and modifiers or other words associated with the gerund. A gerund phrase acts as a noun in a sentence.
Eg:
I like writing good essays. (As noun/object)
She started thinking about the problem.  (As noun/object)