Phrases and Clauses

Phrases and Clauses
Phrases- A phrase is a group of two or more words functioning as a

meaningful unit within a sentence or a clause. A phrase alone does not make
complete sense and has no Subject and no Predicate. A phrase contains either
no verb or has a non-finite verb.
Kinds of Phrases
There are various kinds of phrases, like,
Adverb Phrase,
Adjective Phrase,
Noun Phrase,
Verb Phrase,
Prepositional Phrase
We will study
1. Adverb Phrase,
2. Adjective Phrase and
3. Noun Phrase.
1. Adverb Phrase
A phrase that plays the role of an adverb is called an adverb phrase.
For example,
 He slept like a baby. (How?)
 After the game, we had burgers and colas. (When?)
 You could park your car under the tree. (Where?)
Form
An adverb phrase
1. consists of two adverbs. For example,
 She walked very quickly.
 She made lunch really fast.
2. consists of a preposition, a noun and some words that modify the noun.
For example,
 He bought some loaves from the shop at the corner.
 The cat slept between the pillows.
Function
1. An adverb phrase tells us the time of action. For example,
 In late November, I planted some orchid bulbs.
 I will meet you at the library at 3 o' clock.
2. An adverb phrase tells us where an action happens. For example,
 He works in a hardware shop.
 I will meet you at the library.
3. An adverb phrase tells us how an action happens. For example,
 She walked on the wet floor very carefully.
 He spoke in a polite manner.
2. Adjective Phrases
A phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun is called an adjective phrase.
For example,
 The boy was wearing a dark brown suit.
 My mother gave me a ring made of gold.
 We were playing with the overly enthusiastic kitten.
Form
An adjective phrase
1. consists of an adjective with modifiers such as adverbs, possessives or
demonstratives. For example,
 It was a very difficult climb.
 The food tasted awfully strange.
2. can also be a prepositional phrase that functions as an adjective phrase. For
example,
 The lady in the pink saree is my English teacher.
 Rain is frequent in Kerala.
Function
1. An adjective phrase can be used before a noun in the attributive position. For
example,
 The cute little puppy entertained us with its antics.
2. An adjective phrase can also come in the predicative position. For example,
 The cake looks very tempting.
3. Noun Phrases
When a phrase plays the role of a noun, it is called a noun phrase. For example,
 The stolen watch was recovered.
 I drank a glass of milk.
Form
A noun phrase can be
1. a noun or a pronoun. For example,
 He wore a turban.
 People stood in a queue.
2. a demonstrative adjective or an article, and a noun. For example,
 The boy broke a windowpane.
 Those boys are very naughty.
3. An article and a combination of different kinds of adjectives, and a noun.
For example,
 Mother bought a loaf of nice fresh brown bread.
 That lovely attractive lady is my teacher.
Function
1. A noun phrase can act as a subject. For example,
 The boy at the back is sleeping
2. A noun phrase can act as an object. For example,
 We bought a large bouquet of red roses.
3. A noun phrase can act as a complement to the verb. For example,
 He is my younger brother.
Clauses-
A clause is a group of words that contains a finite verb, a Subject and a
Predicate of its own and forms part of a larger sentence, does not make
complete sense.
A clause that does not need another clause to make sense is called the principal,
or main clause.
A clause that has to depend on another clause in order to make sense is called
the subordinate, or dependent clause.
There are three kinds of subordinate clauses- noun, adjective and adverb. Let us
study them.
1. Adverb Clause
An Adverb Clause is a group of words which contains a Subject and a Predicate
of its own, and functions like an adverb in a sentence.
An adverb clause indicates time, place, condition, contrast, concession, reason,
purpose, or result. For example,
 When the storm started, she was at the store. (Adverb Clause of Time)
 He returned home as it had become dark. (Adverb Clause of Reason)
 He ran as fast as he could. (Adverb Clause of Comparison)
 She put the bag where no one could reach it. (Adverb Clause of Place)
 If it rains, I'll stay indoors. (Adverb Clause of Condition)
 He wrote so badly that nobody could read the note. (Adverb Clause of
Result)
An adverb clause
 modifies a verb, a verb phrase, an adjective or another adverb.
 starts with a subordinating conjunction (after, although, because, if,
until, when, since, than and while).
2. Adjective Clause
An Adjective Clause is a group of words which contains a Subject and a
Predicate of its own, and functions like an adjective in a sentence.
For example,
 The house on the left, which belongs to the Kumars, is for sale.
 The mobile phone which has a blue cover is mine.
An adjective clause
1. tells us something about the noun.
2. begins with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, that, or which) or a
relative adverb (when, where, why).
3. answers the question which or who.
4. Qualifies a noun. For example,
This is the boy who won the spelling contest.
3. Noun Clause
A Noun Clause is a group of words which contains a Subject and a Predicate of
its own, and functions like a noun in a sentence.
For example,
 Whoever broke the vase should clean up the mess. (Subject)
 My dog eats whatever food I give him. (Object)
A noun clause
1. May be a complement of a verb or an object to a preposition. For example,
 What Mohan is trying to say is not clear. (subject)
 My mother does not know why the maid is absent today. (object to the
verb know)
 Your promotion depends on how you work. (object to the preposition
on)
 It seems that he is sad. (complement to the verb seems)
2. begins with question words (who, what, why, where, when) or with pronouns
(which, that, whoever, whatever)
3. can be complement to the verb be. For example,
 This is how you can win the spelling contest.
A Phrase A Clause
1. A group of words. A group of
words.
2. Has no verb or has a non- Has a finite
finite verb; verb, a
May have a Subject. Subject and
Predicate
3. Has no definite meaning/ Has a
does not make complete meaning of its
sense. own/does not
make
complete
sense.
4. To obtain a definite Forms part of
meaning it should be a larger
fitted in a sentence. sentence.

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Phrases- A phrase is a group of two or more words functioning as a

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