Phrases Clauses

Group of related wordsCan act as a single part

of speech, like an adverb or an adjective

Begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun

Will not contain a verb

Group of related wordsCan be a main clause or

a dependent clauseCan act as an adverb or

an adjectiveBegins with a relative

pronoun or a subordinate conjunction

Must contain a subject and a verb

Phrases and ClausesWhat do we already know?

Phrases Clauses

Near the street by the curb

According to JimBeside the stream

under the maple tree

In spite of himself

Which never seems real

Who likes her as much as I do

Whoever goesAs long as she

doesn’t tell

Examples

Adjective Adverb

Dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun

Clarify the noun by answering questions about “which?” or “what type of?”

Typically follows the noun or pronoun and can’t be moved around without creating a sentence that is ungrammatical in structure The guitar which Elvis used to own was

found at a garage sale. (correct) Which Elvis used to own was the guitar

found at the garage sale. (incorrect) Often begins with a relative pronoun

(that, which, who, whom, whoever, whomever, whichever)

Also called a relative clause

Dependent clause that modifies a verb Answers questions that relate to time,

location, purpose, and condition (Why? When? Where? To what degree? Or Under what condition?)

Begins with a subordinate conjunction (after, although, as, because, since, so that, unless, until, when, whenever, where, where as, wherever, whether, while…)

Adverb Clauses are Movable – Adverb clauses that come at the beginning of the sentence are followed by a comma, but adverb clauses that are at the end of a sentence do not have to be preceded by a comma. The hostess wouldn’t seat us because our entire

party had not arrived. Because our entire party had not arrived, the

hostess wouldn’t seat us.

Types of Clauses

THE SEEDS WILL TAKE ROOT WHEREVER THERE IS ENOUGH LIGHT.

What type of clause is the dependent clause in the

sentence below.

THE SEEDS WILL TAKE ROOT WHEREVER THERE IS ENOUGH LIGHT.

Adverb clause

Adverb or Adjective Clause

According to Richard Neeley from my neighborhood, Mr. Hexis, who is also my neighbor, will not attend the block party next weekend.

adjective

According to Richard Neeley from my neighborhood, Mr. Hexis, who is also my neighbor, will not attend the block party next weekend.

Adjective or adverb clause

Although you have not eaten your sub sandwich, you may still have cake dessert.

adverb

Although you have not eaten your sub sandwich, you may still have cake dessert.

Adjective or adverb clause

Before you open your birthday presents, take a picture of the beautifully wrapped packages.

adverb

Before you open your birthday presents, take a picture of the beautifully wrapped packages.

Adjective or adverb clause

Casey, who spent the night with her grandmother, was absent from school today.

adjective

Casey, who spent the night with her grandmother, was absent from school today.

Adjective or adverb clause

The delicious dinner that Dad prepared last night contained all of my favorites – macaroni and cheese, greens, and fried chicken.

Adjective or adverb clause

The delicious dinner that Dad prepared last night contained all of my favorites – macaroni and cheese, greens, and fried chicken.

Adjective or adverb clause

Whether you like it or not, there will be a clause and phrase test tomorrow.

Adjective or adverb

Whether you like it or not, there will be a clause and phrase test tomorrow.

How do I find dependent versus independent clauses?

( parenthesis around prep phrases) Underline all verbs and verb phrases twice (I underlined and

italicized on this power point since I could not underline a word twice)

Find the subject for each verb and underline it once Box {I bracketed on this power point} each clause, including any

prep phrases that are within that clause. Determine if each boxed clause can stand alone as a sentence. If it

can, it is independent; if it can’t, it is dependent. Determine the questions that the dependent clause is answering

and then label it either adverb or adjective. Check for compound sentence signals (comma and FANBOYS) (Remember that next year, we will add noun clauses to your

labeling )DO THIS FOR ALL SENTENCES…IT WILL HELP YOU!

Simple, Compound, Complex, or Compound-Complex?

Neither sentence makes grammatical sense when the adjective clause is removed.

Complex

{Neither sentence makes grammatical sense }{when the adjective clause is removed.}

S, C, CX, C/CX

Adjective clauses are dependent clauses that modify nouns or pronouns, and adverb are dependent clauses that modify verbs.

C-CX

{Adjective clauses are dependent clauses} {that modify nouns or pronouns}, and {adverb are dependent clauses}{that modify verbs.}

Sentence Type?

We drove along the coastline and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Simple sentence with a compound predicate

{We drove (along the coastline) and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.}