10 Questions
Which of the following is a characteristic of a phrase?
May have a partial subject or verb, or neither
What is the defining feature of a clause?
Has a subject and a verb
In the sentence 'She laughs at shy people,' what is 'at shy people'?
A phrase complementing the clause 'She laughs'
Which of the following is an example of a verbal phrase?
Running in the park
What distinguishes a noun phrase?
Consists of a noun and any associated words
Which of the following best describes a phrase?
A group of words that may have a partial subject or verb, or neither
In the sentence 'She laughs at shy people,' what is 'at shy people'?
A phrase that complements the clause
What distinguishes a clause from a phrase?
A clause always contains a subject and a verb
Which of the following is an example of a verbal phrase?
Waiting for the rain to stop
What is a defining feature of a clause?
It always contains a subject and a verb
Study Notes
Phrase Characteristics
- A phrase is a group of words that functions as a unit in a sentence, but does not have a subject-predicate structure.
Clause Characteristics
- A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate.
- A defining feature of a clause is the presence of a subject and a predicate.
Phrase Types
- A verbal phrase is a phrase that functions as a verb, e.g., "to eat," "to run."
- A noun phrase is a phrase that functions as a noun, and is often composed of a main noun and its modifiers.
Phrase Functions
- In the sentence "She laughs at shy people," "at shy people" is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverb, modifying the verb "laughs."
- A phrase can function as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.
Clause vs. Phrase
- A clause has a subject and a predicate, whereas a phrase does not.
- A clause is a complete thought, whereas a phrase is a group of words that functions as a unit but is not a complete thought.
Test your knowledge of phrases and clauses with this quiz! Learn the differences between these groups of words and how they function within sentences.
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