Phrases and Clauses

Phrase

A group of words acting as a single part of speech that lacks either a subject or a verb.

Clause

A group of words that contains a subject and a verb.

Prepositional Phrase

A phrase that always begins with a preposition and ends in a noun or pronoun, acting as either an adjective or adverb.

ex: The frisbee flew ONTO THE ROOF.

Object of the Preposition

The noun or pronoun at the end of a prepositional phrase, which cannot be the subject of a clause or sentence.

Participle Phrase (verbal)

A verbal phrase that includes a verb in either its past participle or ending in -ing, and always acts as an adjective.

ex: AWAKENED FROM A NAP, Rudy realized he was late for work.

Gerund Phrase (verbal)

A verbal phrase that includes a verb ending in -ing and acts as a noun.

ex: RUNNING ON THE BEACH is great exercise.

Infinitive Phrase (verbal)

A verbal phrase that begins with the word "to" and acts as either a noun, adjective, or adverb.

ex: Bob just wanted everyone TO LET HIM ALONE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

Appositives

Nouns or noun phrases that give further identification to a different noun nearby.

ex:

• Essential appositive example: Plato’s work “The

Allegory of the Cave” is still widely read today.

• Unessential appositive example: My nephew, the

tallest kid in his class, won the spelling bee.

Independent Clause

A clause that includes a subject and a verb and may be a sentence by itself.

Dependent Clause

A clause that includes a subject, a verb, and a subordinate conjunction, and may not be a sentence by itself.

Simple Sentence

A sentence that contains one independent clause.

ex: Jessica had a big lunch.

Compound Sentence

A sentence that contains two (or more) independent clauses.

ex: Phil decided to go enjoy the fresh air, so he spent the day at the park.

Complex Sentence

A sentence that contains one independent and (at least) one dependent clause.

ex: Because I left my keys on my bedside table, I was locked out of my house.

Compound-Complex Sentence

A sentence that contains two (or more) independent clauses and (at least) one dependent clause.

ex: As we made our way home, Jack felt he left something behind, and he was right.