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

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What is the difference between a phrase and a clause? (view source)

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-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. A clause can be dependent or independent. A dependent clause is part of a sentence. An independent clause can be part of a sentence or it can stand alone as a complete sentence. Independent clauses can be joined to form a sentence.
+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. A clause can be dependent or independent. A dependent clause is part of a sentence. An independent clause can be part of a sentence or it can stand alone as a complete sentence. Independent clauses can be joined to form a sentence. The key difference between phrases and clauses that clauses contain subject and predicates, and while a phrase may contain the subject, it never contains a complete predicate. However, a phrase may include a partial predicate. Clauses are generally complete thoughts, while phrases do not express complete thoughts, but contribute towards one.
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 *A clause is a part of a sentence that contains both a subject and a predicate.
-  '''Ex.''' The bus stopped to pick me up.
+    '''Ex.''' The bus stopped to pick me up.
+In this sentence the clause "bus stopped to pick" contains the subject (bus) and the predicate (stopped).
- 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
+    '''Ex.'''  sauce spread on the chicken
 *A clause that can stand alone is an independent or main clause.
-  '''Ex.'''  the ball bounced
+    '''Ex.'''  the ball bounced
 *With proper punctuation this clause could stand independently as a sentence.
-  '''Ex.'''  The ball bounced.
+    '''Ex.'''  The ball bounced.
 *Independent clauses may be joined using coordinating conjunctions; and, or, for, nor, yet, but, so.
-  '''Ex.'''  The ball bounced, ''and'' the boy ran to pick it up.
+    '''Ex.'''  The ball bounced, ''and'' the boy ran to pick it up.
 *An essential, or restrictive clause, is one that cannot be removed from a sentence without changing the meaning of the
- sentence.
+sentence.
-  '''Ex.'''  ''Swimmers who practice'' everyday win at the competition.
+    '''Ex.'''  ''Swimmers who practice'' everyday win at the competition.
 *Nonessential, or nonrestrictive clauses may be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.
-  '''Ex.'''  Dedicated swimmers'', the ones that practice everyday,'' are winners at the competition.
+    '''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.
+whenever, and while. A time clause is dependent.
-  '''Ex.'''  as soon as we get to the theater
+    '''Ex.'''  as soon as we get to the theater
 *An adjective clause takes the place of an adjective and follows the noun that it modifies. An adjective clause comes after
- what it modifies.  relative pronouns such as who, what, or that. An adjective clause is dependent.
+what it modifies.  relative pronouns such as who, what, or that. An adjective clause is dependent.
      '''Ex.'''  after she rode the bicycle
 *A noun clause takes the place of a noun and answers the question "who" or "what". Noun clauses are introduced with words
- as such; that if, who, what, where, when, why, whom, how, whenever, wherever, whoever, or whatever. A noun clause is dependent.
+as such; that if, who, what, where, when, why, whom, how, whenever, wherever, whoever, or whatever. A noun clause is  dependent.
      '''Ex.'''  what I decided to bring
 *An adverb clause takes place of an adverb and answers questions such as "when", "where", "why", or "under what
- circumstances. An adverb clause is introduced with subordinate conjunctions such as; when, where, like, such as, since, or
+circumstances. An adverb clause is introduced with subordinate conjunctions such as; when, where, like, such as, since,
- after. An adverb clause is dependent.
+or after. An adverb clause is dependent.
      '''Ex.'''  where the cars were parking
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 [[File:LRimage17.gif]]
 == Types of Phrases ==
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 *Noun Phrase- There are several types of noun phrases: appositive, gerund, and infinitive phrases. A noun phrase includes a noun and any words that are being used to modify that noun. For example "fat, lazy, brown cat on the chair" is a phrase which contains characteristics and location of the noun, but is not a complete thought. A noun phrase can include other phrases, like the prepositional phrase describing the cat's location.
+  '''Ex.''' The ''fat, lazy, brown cat on the chair'' sat quietly.
 *Gerund- A gerund is a verb ending in -ing, and will function as a noun in a gerund phrase. A gerund phrase includes the gerund and any related words or modifiers. Gerund phrases are sometimes confused with participial phrases, but gerund phrases act as nouns, making them noun phrases, whereas participial phrases function as adjectives or modifiers. For example "The cat's loud meowing" is a gerund phrase, containing the gerund "meowing" and the words that relate to the meowing. While "meowing" is typically a verb, in this phrase it is functioning as a gerund. Other phrases, such as prepositional phrases, can be apart of a gerund phrase.
+  '''Ex.''' ''The cat's loud meowing'' woke us up.
 *Infinitive- An infinitive phrase contains an infinitive (to + verb, such as "to walk" or "to sleep") and all of its related words. An infinitive phrase is usually a noun phrase, but may also function as an adjective or an adverb. For example "to meow loudly" includes an infinitive, a modifier, and an incomplete thought, forming an infinitive phrase.
+  '''Ex.''' The cat was encouraged not ''to meow loudly''.
 *Appositive- An appositive is a single word phrase that renames a noun without actually modifying it. The noun being renamed immediately precedes the appositive phrase, for example "My cat, Lily" renames the cat Lily.
+  '''Ex.''' ''My cat, Lily,'' is lazy.
 *Prepositional- A prepositional phrases is a phrase that starts with a preposition and includes the entire preposition. A prepositional phrase is often contained within other phrases. For example "on the table" and "under the bed" are prepositional phrases.
+  '''Ex.''' I left my purse ''on the table'' or ''under the bed''.
 *Participial- A participial phrase contains a past or present participle and always functions as an adjective. Participles are verbs ending in -ed or -ing that function as adjectives. For example "shining beautifully" or "shined beautifully" can both describe the ocean, and act as participial phrases when they modify the noun, ocean.
-*Verb- A verb phrase includes a verb and all words related to the verb.  For example "Run slowly in the park" is a verb phrase.
+  '''Ex.''' The ocean, ''shining beautifully'', was far in the distance.
+*Verb- A verb phrase includes a verb and all words related to the verb.  For example "Run slowly" is a verb phrase.
+  '''Ex.'' She advised us to ''run slowly''.
+*Absolute- Absolute phrases modify an entire sentence, not just a noun or section of the sentence. They are almost an entire clause, containing partial predicates, but do not contain complete thoughts or finite verbs. For example "The cat, sore and tired but warm beneath the blankets" contains no finite verb, but is long enough that it will likely modify most of the sentence containing it.
-*Absolute- Absolute phrases modify an entire sentence, not just a noun or section of the sentence. They are almost an entire clause, containing partial predicates, but do not contain complete thoughts or finite verbs. For example "The cat, sore and tired but warm beneath the blankets" contains no finite verb, but is long enough that it will likely modify most of the sentence containing it.
+  '''Ex.''' ''The cat, sore and tired but warm beneath the blankets'', slept quietly.
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-A comma must be placed before the coordinating conjunction when joining two independent clauses.
+*A comma must be placed before the coordinating conjunction when joining two independent clauses.
-     Ex.  The dog came inside, but continued to whine.
+     '''Ex.'''  The dog came inside, but continued to whine.
-A semicolon must be placed between two independent clauses when they are joined without using a coordinating conjunction.
+*A semicolon must be placed between two independent clauses when they are joined without using a coordinating conjunction.
-     Ex.  The car ran over the dog; we took him to the veterinarian's clinic.
+     '''Ex.'''  The car ran over the dog; we took him to the veterinarian's clinic.
-A comma must be used to separate two or more clauses within a sentence.
+*A comma must be used to separate two or more clauses within a sentence.
-     Ex.  We ate dinner, cleaned the dishes, played a game, and went to bed.
+     '''Ex.'''  We ate dinner, cleaned the dishes, played a game, and went to bed.
-A comma must be used to before clauses that begin with who, which, that, whose or whom.
+*A comma must be used to before clauses that begin with who, which, that, whose or whom.
-     Ex.  Rebecca, who lives on Sunnybrook Farm, is in the sixth grade.
+     '''Ex.'''  Rebecca, who lives on Sunnybrook Farm, is in the sixth grade.
-A comma must be used to offset a nonessential clause.
+*A comma must be used to offset a nonessential clause.
-     Ex.  Dedicated swimmers'', who practice everyday,'' are the ones that win at the competition.
+     '''Ex.'''  Dedicated swimmers'', who practice everyday,'' are the ones that win at the competition.
-A comma must not be used with an essential clause.
+*A comma must not be used with an essential clause.
-     Ex.  Swimmers who practice everyday will win at the competition.
+     '''Ex.'''  Swimmers who practice everyday will win at the competition.
-A comma must be used before an adverb when it is used to join clauses.
+*A comma must be used before an adverb when it is used to join clauses.
-     Ex.  She drove her car onto Interstate 75, where many accidents have occurred.
+     '''Ex.'''  She drove her car onto Interstate 75, where many accidents have occurred.
-A comma must be used after an introductory clause.
+*A comma must be used after an introductory clause.
-     Ex.  After suffering under economy strain for many years, the United States made major policy changes.
+     '''Ex.'''  After suffering under economy strain for many years, the United States made major policy changes.
-A comma must be used after and introductory phrase.
+*A comma must be used after and introductory phrase.
-     Ex.  After a difficult round of chemotherapy, the doctor declared his patient to be cancer free.
+     '''Ex.'''  After a difficult round of chemotherapy, the doctor declared his patient to be cancer free.
-A comma must be used between contrasting or alternating phrases.
+*A comma must be used between contrasting or alternating phrases.
-     Ex.  The girl used her best manners, however she was not happy.
+     '''Ex.'''  The girl used her best manners, however she was not happy.
-     Ex.  A small, but well-kept house, was enough for him.
+     '''Ex.'''  A small, but well-kept house, was enough for him.
-A comma must be used to separate phrases within a sentence.
+*A comma must be used to separate phrases within a sentence.
-     Ex.  The children had a blue truck, two red balls, and some green blocks.
+     '''Ex.'''  The children had a blue truck, two red balls, and some green blocks.
-If a comma is already in use in a sentence, a semicolon must be used to separate phrases within the sentence.
+*If a comma is already in use in a sentence, a semicolon must be used to separate phrases within the sentence.
-     Ex.  She owns a house in Atlanta, Georgia; and apartment in Houston, Texas; and a condominium in New York City, New York.
+     '''Ex.'''  She owns a house in Atlanta, Georgia; and apartment in Houston, Texas; and a condominium in New York City, New York.
-A comma must be used before and adverb that separates phrases.
+*A comma must be used before and adverb that separates phrases.
-     Ex.  He found that it was lonely at the top, as the old saying goes.
+     '''Ex.'''  He found that it was lonely at the top, as the old saying goes.