Phrases and Clauses English 10- Ms. Tocco 2014

Phrases A phrase is a group of related words that does not contain a subject and a verb. There is no subject doing a verb. There is either a subject or a verb- there are never both.

Phrase examples An unlucky student (subject is student, no activity) A cat worth $500.00 (subject is cat- no verb or action) In the waiting room of a hospital (subject is waiting room) Pick up (no subject, verb is pick) Show off (no subject, verb is show) The bottom line is- the group of words doesn’t contain both a subject (noun) and verb--- it’s really just a group of words.

Clause A clause is a collection of words that has a subject that is actively doing a verb. -Therefore- it has a subject (noun) and a verb. AT ALL TIMES Examples: I despise individuals of low character (I is the subject or noun, despise is the verb) I am actively despising. when the saints go marching in (Saints is the subject or noun, marching is the verb) The saints are actively marching. because she smiled at him ( she is the subject or noun, smiled is the verb) She is actively smiling.

Try your own….Write what the subject (noun) is and what the verb is… Clause Identify subject and verb because she had lost her job. When spring arrives, after Viktoria laughed loudly. S: V:

There are two different types of clauses Independent (or main clause) Subordinate (or dependent clause) It is a clause (has subject and verb) that expresses a complete thought and forms a sentence. -Can stand alone. -Can be said without leaving people with questions. It is a clause (has subject and verb) but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. -Is confusing -Doesn’t really make sense

Independent Clause examples -Santa Claus is a really great man. Santa is the subject, the verb is is (linking verb). This sentence makes sense, there are really no questions to be asked. -Ruby ran through the backyard. Ruby is the subject, and ran is the verb. Again the sentence makes sense, there are no unanswered questions. -Mike smiled at the joke Ms. Tocco told. Mike is the subject and smiled is the verb. There are really no questions, it makes sense and people can accept the statement.. Mike and Ruby on the way back from Partridge Creek

Subordinate or Dependent Clause Remember a subordinate clause can’t stand alone as a sentence. It doesn’t really make sense when you read it, and you are definitely left with questions. Examples: If you need me, (This clearly is unfinished…if you need me what???) When I get married (Again- what will happen when I get married? This doesn’t make sense alone) because they argued. (See here- there is a subject and a verb, but still it doesn’t make any sense, something is missing) while she was working. (Again we have a subject and a verb but no complete thought)

Subordinate clauses continued… There are a few ways to help you tell if the clause is subordinate: 1) If it doesn’t really make sense 2) If there is a subordinate conjunction before the clause. Common Subordinating Conjunctions/Dependant Words After Since Until Who, whose, whom That If Before Whether…or not Unless When Although Even though While Which So that As Because As If What, whatever

Tricky verbs When you’re looking to find the verb in the group of words- don’t limit yourself to action verbs. Here is a list of linking verbs to help you out  Be Should be Look Is Become Smell Was Appear Sound Shall be Am Taste Will be Are Feel Has been Were Had been Can be May be Seem

Please do the following assignment and turn it in tomorrow when you walk in