Grammar: Clauses and Phrases

1. Grammar: Clauses and Phrases

2. In general… • Clauses and phrases are the building blocks of sentences • Every sentence must have at least one clause to be considered grammatically correct

3. Clauses • A clause is a subject and predicate working together. • Ex: Itook the dog to the park. • Ex: I lovelearning, so Ispend a lot of time reading.

4. Independent Clause • a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. • An independent clause is a sentence. • Example: • Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.

5. Dependent Clause • a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought • A dependent clause cannot be a sentence.

6. Dependent Clause Example • When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz. • Often but not always, a dependent clause starts with a common dependent marker: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.

7. Phrases • A phrase is a group of words related to the subject, predicate or object. • Phrases do not contain a subject and a predicate • Phrases provide additional information about subject/predicate and objects • Phrases describes how something is done OR it describes something

8. Phrase Examples • After working late into the night, Jackfell asleep on his desk. • Ileft my keys inside of Whole Foods, my favorite grocery store.