Phrases and Clauses – Class 7 English Grammar

PHRASES AND CLAUSES

 

PHRASE – DEFINITION

 

• PHRASE = GROUP OF WORDS
• A PART OF SENTENCE
• DOES NOT HAVE A SUBJECT AND VERB
• USED AS A SINGLE PART OF SPEECH
• MIGHT CARRY AN INDEPENDENT MEANING

 

CLAUSE – DEFINITION

• CLAUSE = GROUP OF WORDS
• A PART OF SENTENCE
• CERTAINLY HAS A SUBJECT AND VERB
• COULD BE USED AS A SINGLE PART OF SPEECH

TYPES OF CLAUSES

 

1. INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

a complete sentence

Eg- I ate an Apple.

 

2. DEPENDENT CLAUSE

an incomplete sentence, always start with the subordinating conjunctions.

such as “while,” “that,” or “unless,” give background information but cannot stand on their own as sentences.

Dependent clauses that begin with subordinating conjunctions are subordinate clauses. Subordinate clauses function as adverbs. They modify verbs, adverbs, adjectives, and even whole main clauses. Such clauses usually answer questions like how?, why?, where?, or under what conditions?

• When an adverb clause precedes an independent clause, the clauses must be separated with a comma.

 

 

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