Elements of a Sentence : Phrases and Clauses

Front

What is a clause?

Back

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It can be independent (able to stand alone) or dependent (cannot stand alone).

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence. It expresses a complete thought.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence. It does not express a complete thought and usually begins with a subordinating conjunction.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Front

What is a phrase?

Back

A phrase is a group of words that does not contain a subject-verb pair and does not express a complete thought.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1F

Front

Identify the predicate in the sentence: 'The dog barks loudly.'

Back

The predicate is 'barks loudly.' It tells what the subject (the dog) does.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1C

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.3.1F

CCSS.L.3.1I

Front

Identify the subject in the sentence: 'The cat chased the mouse.'

Back

The subject is 'The cat.' It tells who or what the sentence is about.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1C

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.3.1F

CCSS.L.3.1I

Front

What is the function of a subject in a sentence?

Back

The subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1C

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.3.1F

CCSS.L.3.1I

Front

What is the function of a predicate in a sentence?

Back

The predicate of a sentence tells what the subject does or is. It includes the verb and any objects or modifiers.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1C

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.3.1F

CCSS.L.3.1I

Front

What is an example of a dependent clause?

Back

An example of a dependent clause is 'because I was tired.' It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Front

What is an example of an independent clause?

Back

An example of an independent clause is 'I went to the store.' It can stand alone as a complete sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B