Phrase or Clause

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. Example: 'Sleeping soundly all night'.

Front

What is a clause?

Back

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb, and it can express a complete thought (independent clause) or an incomplete thought (dependent clause). Example: 'Because I believed her'.

Front

Identify this: 'Fishing only seems easy'. Is it a phrase or a clause?

Back

It is a clause.

Front

Identify this: 'Until the sun sets'. Is it a phrase or a clause?

Back

It is a clause.

Front

Identify this: 'Behind the bars'. Is it a phrase or a clause?

Back

It is a phrase.

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a clause that can stand alone as a sentence because it expresses a complete thought. Example: 'She enjoys reading'.

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not express a complete thought. Example: 'Although she was tired'.

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Can a phrase contain a verb?

Back

Yes, a phrase can contain a verb, but it will not have a subject-verb pair that expresses a complete thought. Example: 'Running quickly'.

Front

What is the difference between a phrase and a clause?

Back

A phrase does not have a subject-verb pair and does not express a complete thought, while a clause has a subject-verb pair and can express a complete thought (independent) or an incomplete thought (dependent).

Front

Give an example of a dependent clause.

Back

Example: 'Because it was raining'.