Clauses and Phrases in English Grammar

Clauses and Phrases

Clauses

• 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.

Phrases

• 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

Sentence Structure

Types of Sentences

• 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.

Sentence Patterns

• 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).

Clauses

• 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

Phrases

• A phrase is a group of words without a subject and predicate
• Noun phrase: functions as a noun
• Examples: the big red car, the teacher's desk
• Verb phrase: functions as a verb
• Examples: will eat, has been running
• Adjective phrase: functions as an adjective
• Examples: very happy, extremely tired
• Adverb phrase: functions as an adverb
• Examples: very quickly, in a hurry

Sentence Structure

Types of Sentences

• 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

Sentence Patterns

• SVO (Subject-Verb-Object): 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)