Phrases and Clauses! What are they?

Size It Up! Language is this BIG thing, made up of stuff that’s made up of smaller stuff, that’s made up of even smaller stuff. The smallest unit is a letter. Your basic alphabet. A, B, C…you know the rest. Each letter represents a sound, or a set of sounds. You link letters together to form words.

Size It Up! Words sometimes work on their own. Occasionally. ( See what I did there?) When a word isn’t enough, you put multiple words together to make up… Phrases and clauses! Phrases and clauses are groups of words. More on this later. Phrases and clauses come together to help make sentences. Sentences can then be organized into paragraphs. Paragraphs can be organized to make articles or chapters, then stories, magazines, newspapers, books, series of books, and on and on!

In the Middle: Phrases and Clauses Groups of Words Clauses Independent Clauses Dependent Phrases

What’s the Difference? All clauses have a subject-verb relationship. (Find the verb. Is a subject working with it? If so, it’s a clause.) “The night was spooky.” “If the clowns get me” Phrases, on the other hand, are groups of words that do NOT have a subject-verb relationship. “The dark, moonless sky” “out of his mind” “running away”

What’s the Difference? There are two types of clauses: independent and dependent (or, subordinate). Remember, all clauses have a subject-verb relationship. Independent clauses have a subject-verb relationship, and can stand alone. “Frankenstein mumbled something.” “Count Dracula acted melodramatic.” “The wolf man howled.” Dependent (or subordinate) clauses have a subject-verb relationship, but cannot stand alone because they begin with a subordinating conjunction that makes them not make sense on their own. “Although the house was haunted” “When you walk through the woods at night” “If you hear footsteps behind you”

AAAWWUUBBIS? Dependent (subordinate) clauses begin with a subordinating conjunction. (See the connection? “Subordinate?” “Subordinating conjunction?” I knew you would!) Subordinating conjunctions most commonly include: after, although, as, when, while, unless, until, because, before, if, and since. …Do you see it yet?

AAAWWUUBBIS! Subordinating Conjunctions After Although As While When Until Unless Before Because If Since See?

Don’t Be Fooled! A phrase does NOT have a subject-verb relationship. “the bloody knife” “under the bed” A dependent (subordinate) clause DOES have a subject-verb relationship, but is not a complete sentence because of its AAAWWUUBBIS. “because I was terrified” “since the monster was chasing me”

Can stand alone as a complete sentence. Independent Clause Begins with an AAAWWUBBIS Does not have a subject/verb relationship Independent Clause Has a subject and verb Groups of words Fragment! Cannot stand alone! Phrase Dependent Clause

Phrase or Clause? (Look for the subject-verb relationship!) The wind moaned. Through the trees. After the sun had set. Although she was alone. In the distance. He heard strange voices. Because someone screamed! Out in the darkness.

Independent or Dependent (Subordinate) Clause Independent or Dependent (Subordinate) Clause? (Look for the AAAWWUUBBIS.) She hurried home quickly. Because she was afraid. She had heard there was a criminal on the loose! Although she hadn’t seen anyone. Since she left the theater. She was very nervous. She finally got home. After she walked what seemed like forever.

How Are They Used? Reread the article we read last week, “Like Black Smoke: The Black Death’s Journey,” and look for examples of independent and dependent clauses. Try to find two of each!