Clauses
* Definition: A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It expresses a complete thought.
* Types:
* Independent Clause: Can stand alone as a complete sentence. Example: "The cat sat on the mat."
* Dependent Clause: Cannot stand alone and needs an independent clause to make a complete sentence. It is often introduced by a subordinating conjunction (e.g., because, although, when, since). Example: "Because the cat was tired."
* Example Sentences:
* Independent: "The sun is shining."
* Dependent: "When the rain stopped."
Phrases
* Definition: A phrase is a group of words that does *not* contain a subject and verb. It acts as a single part of speech within a sentence.
* Types:
* Noun Phrase: Acts as a noun. Example: "the big red ball"
* Verb Phrase: Acts as a verb. Example: "had been playing"
* Adjective Phrase: Acts as an adjective. Example: "very happy"
* Adverb Phrase: Acts as an adverb. Example: "with great care"
* Prepositional Phrase: Begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun. Example: "under the table"
* Example Sentences:
* Noun Phrase: "The happy dog wagged its tail."
* Verb Phrase: "The children were running in the park."
* Adjective Phrase: "She wore a dress with a beautiful pattern."
* Adverb Phrase: "He drove very carefully."
* Prepositional Phrase: "The cat sat on the mat."
In Summary:
* Clauses are like mini-sentences with a subject and verb. They express complete thoughts.
* Phrases are groups of words that work together to act as a single part of speech within a sentence. They don't have a subject and verb.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or want to explore specific types of phrases or clauses in greater detail!