Phrase or Clause

Phrase or Clause

Can you tell the difference?

What is the difference between a phrase and a clause?

• phrases are groups of related words that work together as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs

• phrases don't have subjects or verbs

• Examples: to the movies, the car next to mine, between you and me, according to the officer, to sleep, going for a run

Clauses

• have a subject and a verb

• can be INDEPENDENT (stand alone as a sentence) or DEPENDENT or SUBORDINATE (It has a word or phrase BEFORE the subject that makes the clause need more to stand alone.)

• can be lengthy or short. All you need is a subject/verb

Multiple Choice

Sally glanced at the clock on the night table and saw it was quarter past two in the morning.

• phrase

• clause

Multiple Choice

Charlie shouldn't be here; he should be on a shift.

• phrase

• clause

Multiple Choice

Then she got her first good look at him and something leaped inside her, some deadly intuiton.

• phrase

• clause

Multiple Choice

Then she got her first good look at him and something leaped inside her, some deadly intuiton.

• phase

• clause

Multiple Choice

He was using his other hand to shake her awake, although her eyes were wide open.

• phrase

• clause

Poll

How do you feel about your ability to differentiate between a phrase and a clause?

• I feel I am ready to test.

• I want to work a little more on my own in IXL.

• I would like to practice with guidance or support from the teacher before more work in IXL.

• I would like to see the teacher do some examples and explain the difference