Phrase: group of words does not have a subject and predicate Eg. at night before the class

Clause: a group of words has a subject and predicate Eg. she left when she saw them

Independent Clause Expresses a complete thought Can be a sentence by itself Eg. Preston ran We washed the windows Nyla buys stamps

Dependent or Subordinate Clause Does not express a complete thought Can be only part of a sentence Eg.because Leticia was late until they sparkled if Erick has money

Complex Sentence Has one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause Eg. She applauded when the show ended.

Complex Sentence If the subordinate clause (SC) is at the beginning of the sentence, there is a comma before the independent clause (IC). Because it was raining, the game was cancelled. If the independent clause (IC) is at the beginning of the sentence, no comma before the subordinate clause (SC). The game was cancelled because it was raining.

Subordinating Conjunctions Many subordinate clauses begin with a special kind of word called a subordinating conjunction. after you leftsince we arrived as they playeduntil I was called because she calledwhen she studies before it rangwhere they lived if anyone winswhile you wait

Some words can be used either as prepositions or a subordinating conjunction. after our test (prep.)after our test began (conj.) before lunch (prep.)before we ate lunch (conj.)