Clauses and Phrases

A group of words that contains at least a simple subject and a simple predicate.

Two main types of clauses:◦ Independent◦ Dependent

What is a Clause

AKA – main clause – contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

The clause can stand alone

Examples◦ We walked into the room.◦ What are you doing here?◦ Be careful with that hot water!

Independent clause

AKA – subordinate clause – contains a subject and a verb, but does not express a complete thought.

Clause begin with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun and cannot stand alone.

Example:◦ Because it was late, we decided not to go. ◦ I am sorry that you are ill.

Dependent Clause

After Although As Because Before How If Since

Than That Though Until When Where Whether While

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

Nominal clause or noun clause Adverbial clause or adverb clause Adjectival clause or adjective or relative

clause

Three types of dependent clauses

Noun clause contains a subject and a verb and are introduced by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.

Noun clause can act as a subject, object, or complement.

Examples:◦ Whatever you decide can wait until tomorrow.

(verb)

Nominal or Noun Clause

Examples:◦ Whatever you decide can wait until tomorrow.

(verb)◦ The question is whether we should go. (subject

complement after linking verb “is”◦ We argued about who will complete the project.

(object of preposition “about”)

Examples of Noun Clause

Contain a subject and a verb, are introduced by a subordination conjunction, and can appear before or after the main verb.

This clause indicates when, where, why, and how something happens.

Adverbial or Adverb Clause

Before he left for vacation, Joe checked the weather. (indicates when he checked)

We waited for Susana because she had the tickets. (indicates why we waited)

Examples

Act as adjectives

Relative clauses describe or give information about the nouns or pronouns

introduced by a relative pronoun.

Adjectival or Adjective or Relative Clauses

The adjectival clauses are underlined and the relative pronouns are bold.

Cynthia is the girl who won the dance contest.

This is the park where we met our friends.

Examples

Which What Where Who Whom When That

Whichever Whatever Wherever Whoever Whomever Whenever whether

Commonly Used Relative Pronouns

A group of words that does not have a finite or limited verb and functions as a single part of speech.

Examples:◦ Adverbial phrases -Participle phrases◦ Prepositional phrases -Absolute phrases◦ Infinitive phrases -Appositives phrases◦ Gerund phrases

Phrases

A word or expression that acts as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb.◦ Below in bold is adverbial phrase and the underlined word

is the verb, adjective or adverb it modifies Example:

◦ We walked around the track for an hour.◦ Is it always so humid after a thunderstorm?

Adverbial Phrase

Begins with a preposition and acts as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

Example:◦ After dusk is the best time to look for stars.

(acts as noun – subject of verb “is”) ◦ We jumped over the puddle.

(acts as adverb – modifying “jumped”)

Prepositional Phrase

Base verb + suffix Can be used as adjectives to modify nouns

or pronouns. Based on verbs and express action or a

state of being Examples: present or past

◦ ing -en -t◦ ed -d -n

What is a participle?

Begins with a participle and acts as an adjective

Set off with commas

Examples:◦ The window, broken since last month, was

finally fixed.◦ Dominique, having just eaten, did not go to

dinner with us.

Participle Phrase

A noun or pronoun placed after another noun or pronoun to identify, rename, or explain

Usually set off by commas

Example:◦ The main character, Tom Sawyer, appeals to me.

Appositive Phrases