Here's why:
* Subject and Verb: Phrases contain a subject and verb, just like sentences. For example: "Running quickly" (subject: "running," verb: "running").
* Incomplete Thought: Phrases do not express a complete thought. They don't tell us what the subject is doing or what happened. In the example above, we don't know *who* is running quickly or *why*.
* Cannot Stand Alone: Phrases cannot stand alone as a sentence. They need to be attached to a main clause or independent clause to form a complete sentence.
Examples of Phrases:
* Prepositional Phrase: "In the garden"
* Participial Phrase: "Running quickly"
* Infinitive Phrase: "To eat a sandwich"
Contrast with Sentences:
* Complete Thought: Sentences express a complete thought. For example: "The dog ran quickly through the garden."
* Can Stand Alone: Sentences can stand alone as a complete unit of thought.
Let me know if you have any other questions!