Clauses and Phrases in English Grammar

Study Notes

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate.
Independent clause: a clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Examples: I went to the store. She ate breakfast.
Dependent clause: a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Examples: because I was hungry, when I got home
Relative clause: a dependent clause that begins with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, that, which).
- Examples: The book, which is on the table, is mine.

A phrase is a group of words that does not contain a subject and a predicate.
Noun phrase: a phrase that functions as a noun.
- Examples: the big red car, the teacher's desk
Verb phrase: a phrase that functions as a verb.
- Examples: will eat, has been running
Adjective phrase: a phrase that functions as an adjective.
- Examples: very happy, extremely tired
Adverb phrase: a phrase that functions as an adverb.
- Examples: very quickly, in a hurry

Simple sentence: a sentence that contains one independent clause.
- Example: I like coffee.
Compound sentence: a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses.
- Example: I like coffee, and my friend likes tea.
Complex sentence: a sentence that contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
- Example: I like coffee because it helps me wake up.
Compound-complex sentence: a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
- Example: I like coffee because it helps me wake up, and my friend likes tea because it helps her relax.

SVO (Subject-Verb-Object): the most common sentence pattern in English.
- Example: I (S) eat (V) breakfast (O).
SV (Subject-Verb): used for sentences with a linking verb.
- Example: I (S) am (V) happy.
SVOO (Subject-Verb-Object-Object): used for sentences with two objects.
- Example: I (S) give (V) her (O) a book (O).
SVA (Subject-Verb-Adverb): used for sentences with an adverb.
- Example: I (S) sing (V) loudly (A).

A clause is a group of words with a subject and predicate
Independent clause: standalone sentence with subject and predicate
Examples: I went to the store, She ate breakfast
Dependent clause: cannot stand alone as a complete sentence
Examples: because I was hungry, when I got home
Relative clause: dependent clause starting with relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, that, which)
Examples: The book, which is on the table, is mine

Simple sentence: one independent clause
Example: I like coffee
Compound sentence: two or more independent clauses
Example: I like coffee, and my friend likes tea
Complex sentence: one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses
Example: I like coffee because it helps me wake up
Compound-complex sentence: two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses
Example: I like coffee because it helps me wake up, and my friend likes tea because it helps her relax