Phrase, Clauses (Dependent and Independent) & Sentences

Phrase- words can be grouped together, but without a subject or a verb.

A phrase is a group of words related to the subject, predicate, or object.
Phrases do not contain a subject and predicate.

Examples: Jessa had a weak heart.

The shot did not scare him.
The emboldened portion of the sentence exemplifies the phrase.

The clauses are group of words that have subjects and predicates. Unlike
phrases, a clause can sometimes act as a sentence. This type of clause is called an
independent clause.

This isn’t always the case, and some clauses can’t be used on their own- these
are called subordinate clauses, and need to be used with an independent clause to
complete their meaning.
A dependent clause or subordinate clause is a group of words that has both a
subject and a verb but unlike an independent clause, it cannot stand alone as a
sentence. It’s a clause that implies that there is more to come and is incomplete.
Examples: Although she is hungry…
Whoever is hungry…
Because I am feeling well…
An independent clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a
predicate. It expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. It can
also be joined to other dependent or independent clauses to make a more interesting
and complex sentence.
Examples: 1. I enjoy sitting by the fireplace and reading.
2. Bill refuses to eat peas, nor will he touch carrots.
3. My mother is sleeping; however my father is reading a book.
Note: There are two types of words that can be used as connectors at the
beginning of an independent clause: Coordinating conjunctions and
independent marker words.
A. Coordinating conjunctions- join two or more sentences, main clause, words or
other parts of speech. The seven coordinators/ coordinating conjunctions are:
and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet Use a comma (,) before a coordinating conjunction
when the second independent clause begins with a coordinating conjunction.
(See example number 2 on Independent Clauses)
 B. Independent marker word is a connecting word used at the beginning of an
independent clause. Some common independent markers are: also,
consequently, furthermore, however, moreover, nevertheless, therefore
When the second independent clause in a sentence has an independent marker
word, a semicolon (;) is needed before the independent marker word. (See
example number 3 on Independent clauses)

The Sentence is the largest grammatical unit in the English Rankscale and it
refers to a group of words that begins with a capital letter and ends with any of these
three punctuation marks: the period or full stop, the exclamation mark and question
mark.
A simple sentence is one which has one main or independent clause.
Examples:
1. I am happy to see you.
2. You have beautiful eyes.
3. Mother cooks our meal every day.
Sentence has two parts; the subject and the predicate. The subject refers to the part
of sentence that tells who or what the sentence is about. The predicate tells what the
subject does with an action verb or describes the subject using linking verb and a
complement.
Example: Jay is riding his bike down the street.
The emboldened word Jay is the subject of the sentence. The underlined words is
riding his bike down the street is the predicate.
Activity
A. Underline the phrase in the following sentences.
1. Jane always asks me for a food.
2. He was eager to eat dinner.
3. He was waiting for the rain to stop.
4. You have been sleeping for a long time.
5. She was upset when it didn’t boil.

B. Use the following phrases in in a sentence appropriately and meaningfully. Write your answer
on the space provided below each item.
1. happy day
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2. on the table
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3. in the school
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4. a true hero
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5. a strip of white cloth
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___________________________________________________________________________ This space is
for the QR
Code