The Phrase and the Clause

Freshman English 1
Course Instructor: Nimra Shahzad
 The Phrase (In general)
• Examine the groups of words “in a corner”. It makes sense,
but not complete sense. Such a group of words, which
makes sense, but not complete sense, is called a Phrase.

In the following sentences, the group of words in bold are

phrases:-
The sun rises in the east
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
There came a giant to my door
It was a sunset of great beauty
The top of the mountains were covered with snow
 Clause (In general)
- Examine the group of words in bold in the following sentences:-
• He has a chain of gold
• He has chain which is made of gold.
• The second group of words, unlike the phrase of gold, contains a
Subject (which) and a Predicate (is made of gold).
- Such a group of words which forms part of sentence, and contains a
Subject and a Predicate, is called a Clause.

Examples:
People who pay their debts are trusted.
We cannot start while it is raining.
I think that you have made a mistake.
 Phrases (Discussion)
A phrase is two or more words that do not
contain the subject-verb pair necessary to
form a clause. Phrases can be very short or
quite long. Here are two examples:
• After lunch
• After slithering down the stairs and across
the road to scare nearly to death Mrs. Philpot
busy pruning her rose bushes
 Types of Phrases
• Certain phrases have specific names based on
the type of word that begins or governs the
word group: noun phrase, verb phrase,
prepositional phrase, infinitive phrase,
participle phrase, gerund phrase, and absolute
phrase.
 Noun Phrases
• A noun phrase includes a noun—a person, place, or thing—
and the modifiers—either before or after—which distinguish
it. The pattern looks like this:

OP T IONAL MODI F I ER ( S ) + NOUN + OPT IONAL MODI F I ER ( S )

Examples:
• The shoplifted pair of jeans
• Pair = noun; the, shoplifted, of jeans = modifiers.
• A cat that refused to meow
• Cat = noun; a, that refused to meow = modifiers.
Contd.

• Noun phrases function as subjects, objects, and complements:

The shoplifted pair of jeans caused Nathaniel so much

guilt that he couldn't wear them.
The shoplifted pair of jeans = subject.

• Jerome adopted a cat that refused to meow.

A cat that refused to meow = direct object.

• With her love of Shakespeare and knowledge of grammar,

Jasmine will someday be a great English teacher.
A great English teacher = subject complement.
 Verb Phrases

• Sometimes a sentence can communicate its meaning

with a one-word verb. Other times, however, a
sentence will use a verb phrase, a multi-word verb,
to express more nuanced action or condition. A verb
phrase can have up to four parts. The pattern looks
like this:
AUXILIARY VERB(S) + MAIN VERB + VERB ENDING WHEN NECESSARY
Contd. Here are some examples:

• Had cleaned
Had = auxiliary verb; clean = main verb; ed = verb ending.
• Should have been writing
Should, have, been = auxiliary verbs; write = main verb; ing = verb
ending.
• Must wash
Must = auxiliary verb; wash = main verb

Here are the verb phrases in action:

• Mom had just cleaned the refrigerator shelves when Lawrence knocked
over the pitcher of orange juice.
• Sarah should have been writing her research essay, but she couldn't
resist another short chapter in her Stephen King novel.
• If guests are coming for dinner, we must wash our smelly dog!
 Prepositional Phrases

• At the minimum, a prepositional phrase will begin

with a preposition and end with a noun, pronoun,
gerund, or clause, the "object" of the preposition.
• The object of the preposition will often have one or
more modifiers to describe it. These are the patterns
for a prepositional phrase:

PREPOS IT ION + NOUN, PRONOUN, GERUND , OR C L AUS E

PREPOS ITION + MODIFIER ( S ) + NOUN, PRONOUN, GERUND , OR CLAUS E

 Contd. Here are some examples:
• On time
On = preposition; time = noun.
• Underneath the sagging yellow couch
Underneath = preposition; the, sagging, yellow = modifiers;
couch =noun.
• From eating too much
From = preposition; eating = gerund; too, much = modifiers.
• A prepositional phrase will function as an adjective or adverb.
As an adjective, the prepositional phrase will answer the
question Which one?
Cont. Examples
• The spider above the kitchen sink has just caught a fat fly.
Which spider? The one above the kitchen sink!

• The librarian at the check-out desk smiles whenever she

collects a late fee.
Which librarian? The one at the check-out desk!

• The vegetables on Noel's plate lay untouched the entire

meal.
Which vegetables? The ones on Noel's plate!
 As an adverb, a prepositional phrase will answer questions such
as How? When? Where?
Examples:
• While sitting in the cafeteria, Jack catapulted peas with a spoon.
How did Jack launch those peas? With a spoon!

• After breakfast, we piled the dirty dishes in the sink.

When did we ignore the dirty dishes? After breakfast!

• Amber finally found the umbrella wedged under the passenger's

front seat.
Where did Amber locate the umbrella? Under the passenger's
front seat!
 Infinitive Phrases
• An infinitive phrase will begin with an infinitive [to + simple form of the verb].
It will often include objects and/or modifiers that complete the thought.

• The pattern looks like this:

INFINITIVE + OBJECT ( S ) AND/OR MODIFIER ( S )

• Here are some examples:

• To slurp spaghetti

• To send the document before the deadline

• To gulp the glass of water with such thirst that streams of liquid ran down his
chin and wet the front of his already sweat-soaked shirt
 Infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Look at these
examples:

• To avoid another lecture from Michelle on the benefits of vegetarianism

was Aaron's hope for their date at a nice restaurant.
• To avoid another lecture from Michelle on the benefits of vegetarianism
functions as a noun because it is the subject of the sentence.
• Cheryl plans to take microbiology next semester when Professor Crum, a
pushover, is teaching the course.
• To take microbiology next semester functions as a noun because it is the
direct object for the verb plans.
• The worst thing to happen during the severe thunderstorm was a
lightning strike that fried Clara's computer.
• To happen during the severe thunderstorm functions as an adjective
because it modifies thing.
• Ryan decided to mow the long grass on the front lawn to keep his
neighbors from complaining to the homeowners association.
• To keep his neighbors from complaining to the homeowners association
functions as an adverb because it explains why Ryan mowed the lawn.
 Participle Phrases

• A participle phrase will begin with a present or past participle. If the

participle is present, it will dependably end in ing. Likewise, a regular
past participle will end in a consistent ed. Irregular past participles,
unfortunately, conclude in all kinds of ways [Check a dictionary for
help].
• Since all phrases require two or more words, a participle phrase will
often include objects and/or modifiers that complete the thought. The
pattern looks like this:

PARTICIPLE + OBJECT ( S ) AND/OR MODIFIER ( S )

Here are some examples:

• Flexing his muscles in front of the bathroom mirror
• Ripped from a spiral -ring notebook
• Driven crazy by Grandma's endless questions
 Participle phrases always function as adjectives, adding description to the sentence. Read these examples:

• The stock clerk lining up cartons of orange juice made

sure the expiration date faced the back of the cooler.
Lining up cartons of orange juice modifies the noun clerk.

• Elijah likes his eggs smothered in cheese sauce.

Smothered in cheese sauce modifies the noun eggs.

• Shrunk in the dryer, the jeans hung above John's

ankles.
Shrunk in the dryer modifies the noun jeans.
 Gerund Phrases

• A gerund phrase will begin with a gerund, an

ing word, and will often include other
modifiers and/or objects. The pattern looks like
this:
GERUND + OBJECT( S ) AND/OR MODIFIER( S )
• Gerund phrases look exactly like present participle
phrases. How do you tell the difference? You must
determine the function of the phrase.
• Gerund phrases always function as nouns, so they will
be subjects, subject complements, or objects in the
sentence. Read these examples:
 Examples Contd.

• Washing our dog Gizmo requires strong arms to keep the

squirming, unhappy puppy in the tub.
Washing our dog Gizmo = subject of the verb requires.

• A good strategy for avoiding dirty dishes is eating every

meal off of paper towels.
Eating every meal off of paper towels = subject complement
of the verb is.

• Susie tried holding the slippery trout, but the fish flipped
out of her hands and splashed back into the stream.
Holding the slippery trout = direct object of the verb tried.
 The Clause

• Clauses come in four types: main [or independent],

subordinate [or dependent], relative [or adjective],
and noun. Every clause has at least a subject and a
verb. Other characteristics will help you distinguish
one type of clause from another.

Main Clauses
• Every main clause will follow this pattern:
SUBJECT + VERB = complete thought.
Here are some examples: Contd.
• Lazy students whine.
Students = subject; whine = verb.

• Cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter.
Cola = subject; spilled, splashed = verbs.

• My dog loves pizza crusts.

Dog = subject; loves = verb.

• The important point to remember is that every sentence must

have at least one main clause. Otherwise, you have a
fragment, a major error.
 Subordinate Clauses

• A subordinate clause will follow this pattern:

• SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTION + SUBJECT + VERB= incomplete
thought.

Here are some examples:

• Whenever lazy students whine
Whenever = subordinate conjunction; students = subject; whine
= verb.
• As cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter
As = subordinate conjunction; cola = subject; spilled, splashed =
verbs.
• Because my dog loves pizza crusts
Because = subordinate conjunction; dog = subject; loves = verb.
Contd.
• The important point to remember about subordinate clauses is that they
can never stand alone as complete sentences. To complete the thought,
you must attach each subordinate clause to a main clause. Generally, the
punctuation looks like this:

MAIN CLAUS E + Ø + SUBORDINATE CLAUS E .

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE + , + MAIN CLAUS E .

Check out these revisions to the subordinate clauses above:

• Whenever lazy students whine, Mrs. Russell throws chalk erasers at their
heads.
• Anthony ran for the paper towels as cola spilled over the glass and
splashed onto the counter.
• Because my dog loves pizza crusts, he never barks at the deliveryman.
 Relative Clauses

• A relative clause will begin with a relative pronoun [such as who,

whom, whose, which, or that] or a relative adverb [when, where,
or why]. The patterns look like these:

RELATIVE PRONOUN OR ADVERB + SUBJ ECT + VERB = incomplete

thought.

RELATIVE PRONOUN AS SUBJECT + VERB = incomplete thought.

Here are some examples:
• Whom Mrs. Russell hit in the head with a chalk eraser
Whom = relative pronoun; Mrs. Russell = subject; hit = verb.
• Where he chews and drools with great enthusiasm
Where = relative adverb; he = subject; chews, drools = verbs.
Contd. (Examples)

• That had spilled over the glass and splashed

onto the counter
That = relative pronoun; had spilled, splashed =
verbs.
• Who loves pizza crusts
Who = relative pronoun; loves = verb.
Like subordinate clauses, relative clauses cannot stand alone as complete
Sentences. You must connect them to main clauses to finish the thought.
Look at these revisions of the relative clauses above:

• The lazy students whom Mrs. Russell hit in the head

with a chalk eraser soon learned to keep their
complaints to themselves.
• My dog Floyd, who loves pizza crusts, eats them
under the kitchen table, where he chews and drools
with great enthusiasm.
• Anthony ran to get paper towels for the cola that
had spilled over the glass and splashed onto the
counter .
 Noun Clauses

• Any clause that functions as a noun becomes a

noun clause. Look at this example:
• You really do not want to know the ingredients in
Aunt Nancy's stew.
• Ingredients = noun.
• If we replace the noun ingredients with a clause,
we have a noun clause:
• You really do not want to know what Aunt Nancy
adds to her stew.
• What Aunt Nancy adds to her stew = noun clause.
 The complete Sentence

• Recognize a complete sentence when you see

one.
• A complete sentence has three characteristics:
• First, it begins with a capital letter.
• In addition, it includes an end mark—either a
period [ . ], question mark [ ? ], or exclamation
point [ ! ].
- Most importantly, the complete sentence must
contain at least one main clause. A main clause
contains an independent subject and verb and
expresses a complete thought.
 Check out these examples:

• The banana rotting at the bottom of Jimmy's

book bag has soaked his biology notes with
ooze.
• Did you notice the cricket swimming in your
cup of tea?
• I cannot believe that you tried one of those
disgusting chocolate-broccoli muffins!
If a main clause exists in the sentence, you can attach whatever other
sentence elements you need. Look at the additions to the main clause below.
All of the additions. keep the original main clause complete.
A bumblebee flew into Peter's open mouth.

• Buzzing around the picnic table, a bumblebee flew into

Peter's open mouth.
• A bumblebee flew into Peter's open mouth, stinging the
poor boy's tongue, which swelled up as big and as blue as
an eggplant.
• Because it smelled the peach-flavored bubble gum, a
bumblebee flew into Peter's open mouth.
• A bumblebee flew into Peter's open mouth and tickled the
poor boy's tonsils.
• Taking a wrong turn, a bumblebee flew into Peter's open
mouth, but it buzzed back out before Peter swallowed.
 Avoid an accidental fragment.
Sometimes you might begin a group of words with a capital letter, then
conclude with an end mark, but forget to insert a main clause anywhere
in the mix. When this happens, you have written a fragment, a major
error in writing. Read the examples that follow:
• Because hungry sharks flashed on the surface of the waves.
No main clause = a fragment.
• Spilling the hot spaghetti sauce all over his new suede shoes.
No main clause = a fragment.
• To buy nice jewelry for his greedy girlfriend Gloria.
No main clause = a fragment.
• For example, a mailbox stuffed with bills, two dozen messages on the
answering machine, an uppity cat, and a dead lawn.
No main clause = a fragment.
• And peeked into the room, risking the wrath of Mrs. Mauzy, who has no
patience for students walking into class late.
No main clause = a fragment.
• Read the revisions below. You will see that adding a main
clause completes the thought:
• Because hungry sharks flashed on the surface of the waves,
Mike and Sarah decided to return their surfboards to the car.
• Leonardo grabbed the pot handle with his bare hands, spilling
the hot spaghetti sauce all over his new suede shoes .
• Danny sold half of his comic book collection to buy nice
jewelry for his greedy girlfriend Gloria.
• For example, April found a mailbox stuffed with bills, two
dozen messages on the answering machine, an uppity cat,
and a dead lawn.
• Sherry turned the doorknob and peeked into the room,
risking the wrath of Mrs. Mauzy, who has no patience for
students walking into class late.
Thanks to Allah