What is the difference between a phrase and a clause?: Difference between revisions

Phrases are groups of words that are part of a sentence, but do not contain both a subject and a predicate. Phrases do not express complete thoughts, but do combine words to form an element of a sentence.  A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. They are both elements of a sentence, differentiated by how they act in the sentence and  

In this sentence the clause "bus stopped to pick" contains the subject (bus) and the predicate (stopped).

A clause that cannot stand alone is a dependent or subordinate clause.

     Ex.  sauce spread on the chicken

A clause that can stand alone is an independent or main clause.

     Ex.  The ball bounced.

Independent clauses may be joined using coordinating conjunctions; and, or, for, nor, yet, but, so.

     Ex.  Dedicated swimmers'', the ones that practice everyday,'' are winners at the competition.

A time clause is a type of adverb clause and is introduced with conjunctions such as; when, after, before, as soon as, whenever, and while. A time clause is dependent.