Phrases and clauses
Dahlia Bartley, Contributor

We will begin today's lesson by checking your homework. You were to select the correct verb to make each of the following sentences correct. I have underlined the correct verb in each sentence.

• Each of the boys in Miss Simpson's class (is, are) reading the recently acquired texts.
• All of the books, even the tattered one, (is, are) in this bag.
• Janice, as well as Merle, (is, are) operating the restaurant in the town.
• (Has, Have) the keys been returned?
• (Do, Does) the boy and his mother know the way to the station?
• One of my favourite fruits (is, are) the naseberry.

I hope your answers are correct. If you made an error, please seek clarification.

Now, let us talk briefly about phrases and clauses.

A phrase is a group of related words that is used as a single part of speech and does not contain a finite verb and its subject. (You will recall that the finite verb works with the subject of the sentence to give a sense of completeness).

Activity

We will examine the following sentence:

Mary placed her book on the dining table.

The words "on the dining" table form a phrase. Notice that this group of words does not include a finite verb.

We will look at another sentence:

While walking to school, I found an expensive cellular phone.

"While walking to school" contains the infinite verb, walking, and, therefore, is a phrase. If an auxiliary verb, for example, 'is' and 'have been', is added to an infinite verb, such as walking, as it is used above, a finite verb is created. Here are some examples to illustrate this: She is walking to the store; We have been walking for hours. (Can you identify the subjects of these finite verbs?)

Now, a clause, like a phrase, is also a group of related words that is used as a single part of speech. A clause, however, contains a finite verb and its subject, for example: Because it is so entertaining, the family show Rising Stars remains popular. The finite verb, 'is', is present in the words Because it is so entertaining - however, because the words do not express a complete thought, it cannot be a sentence. (It is the subject of the clause and is is the finite verb).

If clauses form complete thoughts, we call them independent clauses. If they form incomplete thoughts, we call them dependent or subordinate clauses. You will learn more in our next lesson.

It is important for you to know the difference between a clause and a phrase so, to reinforce the concept, we will do some work together.

Assignment

Identify the following groups of words.

1. English is an easy subject to study

2. Finding my watch

3. Across the road

4. While I was in the office

5. Sit!

6. In the classroom

7. For I heard the score

8. Are you sure you told her of the meeting?

9. Wringing her hands and screaming uncontrollably

10. The phone rang

Phrases: 2, 3, 6, 9;

Subordinate clauses: 4, 7;

Sentences: 1, 5, 8, 10

Do not question number 5. Remember, we are working here with a command, so the subject is 'You'. For clarification, please review our last lesson.

As I said earlier, we will do more work on clauses, because you need to understand the difference between the subordinate clause and the main clause. Please review all we have done today in preparation for this. Also, add your own words to the phrases and subordinate clauses below so that you turn them into sentences.

1. As I turned the pages

2. When she heard the song

3. Going down the street

4. Because you were asleep

5. On the verandah

6. Sitting in the corner of the room

Have a good week.

Muschett High School student-of-the-year Crystel Hendricks (left) accepts her certificate from Carolyn Atkinson-Russell during the graduation exercise at the school recently. - Photo by Richard Morais

Dahlia Bartley teaches at Glenmuir High School.