ntral word group within any sentence is the main independent clause, which

Definition and Examples of a Sentence

A sentence is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate (verb or verb

phrase), and regardless of the type of sentence, these words all work together to
express a complete thought, for example:

• Tom left home. (“Home” is the direct object.)

• Sue cried in frustration. (“In frustration” is an adverbial prepositional
phrase that tells how Sue cried.)
• Tom doubted that Sue would ever forgive him. (The dependent clause,
“That Sue would ever forgive him,” is the direct object of “doubted.”)

On the other hand, sometimes the subject of a sentence might not be expressed but
understood, although in such instances the subject is invariably “you,” for
example:

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• Please sit down. (You please sit down)

• Go away! (You go away)

It’s important to note that whereas most sentences contain not only subjects and
predicates but also modifying words and phrases, technically, whenever a subject
and verb (or verb phrase) work together to express a complete thought, they
constitute a sentence, for example:

• Tom fainted.
• Tom had fainted.

Definition and Examples of a Clause

A clause is a group of related words that contains a subject (a least an understood

subject) and a predicate; and all sentences are made up of clauses. In fact, a
simple sentence consists of one stand-alone independent clause.

Some clauses are independent, meaning they express complete thoughts and,
therefore, can stand alone as sentences (Tom fainted.). Other clauses, however,
are dependent (or subordinate), meaning they cannot stand by themselves and
depend upon independent clauses to provide them with full meaning.
Here are some examples of dependent clauses:

Read on

• The Grammatical Subject Complement in English

• The Grammatical Direct Object in English
• The Grammatical Subject in English

• Because he and Sue had an argument over his lack of initiative.

• As Tom carried his suitcases from the house.
• That Sue would never forgive him.

Note that each clause contains a subject and a predicate: he and Sue had; Tom
carried; Sue would forgive (“ever is an adverb); but neither clause expresses a
complete thought. As a result, they must be attached to independent clauses:

• Tom left home because he and Sue had an argument over his lack of
initiative.
• Sue cried in frustration as Tom carried his suitcases from the house.
• Tom suspected that Sue would never forgive him.

Note: One type of sentence “fragment” is that created when writers allow
dependent clauses to stand along.

Definitions of the Eight Types of Sentence Phrases

A phase is a group of related words that adds meaning to a sentence, but unlike
clauses, phrases do not contain a subject and a predicate.

There are eight different kinds of phrases:

1. Noun (or nominal)—several words working together to name or identify a

person, place, or thing.
2. Verb—several verbs working together to indicate action or being, either
present, past, or future, etc.
3. Prepositional—a preposition, its object, and any modifiers.
4. Gerund—the “ing’ form of a verb, with any modifiers, filling a noun slot
within a sentence: subject, subject complement, direct object, indirect
object, or object of a preposition.
5. Infinitive—“to” plus a verb used chiefly as a noun, although infinitives
may occasionally act as adjectives or adverbs.
6. Participial—a verb form that functions as part of verb phrase or in an
adjectival role.
7. Appositive—a group of words that identifies, explains, or supplements the
meaning of a noun.
 8. Absolute—a group of words, consisting of a noun or noun equivalent
usually followed by a participial phrase, that modifies an entire clause or
sentence.

Examples of the Eight Types of Sentence Phrases

Below are examples of each of the eight types of phrases being used in a sentence
(the phrases are in italics):

1. Tom and Sue’s amused next-door neighbor watched. (Noun)

2. Since early morning Tom and Sue had been squabbling. (Verb)
3. Sue threw Tom’s golf clubs through the window and onto the lawn.
(Prepositional)
4. Sue decided that justifying Tom’s lack of initiative was emotionally
draining. (Gerund)
5. Tom decided he had cut off his nose to spite his face. (Infinitive)
6. Tome, being quite clumsy, tripped and fell off the porch. (Participial)
7. Sue’s mother, owner of a rattlesnake ranch in Arizona, told Sue to change
the locks on the door. (Appositive)
8. His fiction-writing skill at last perfected to his satisfaction, Tom knew his
next novel would be a bestseller. (Absolute)

In summary, although people use sentences, clauses, and phrases on a daily basis,
both in writing and speaking, if asked to define these three common grammatical
terms, most people would probably be at a loss. However, if someone wishes to
demonstrate a thorough comprehension of the English language, he or she should
at least know the difference

phrase
Any small group of words within a sentence or a clause.

A phrase functions as a unit and includes a head (or headword), which determines
the type or nature of the phrase.

Types of Phrases:

• Absolute Phrase
• Adjective Phrase
• Adverb Phrase
• Catchphrase
• Noun Phrase
• Participial Phrase
• Phrasal Verb
• Prepositional Phrase
 • Signal Phrase
•
• Verb Phrase

Etymology:

From the Greek, "explain, tell"

Examples and Observations:

• Absolute Phrase
"Still he came on, shoulders hunched, face twisted, wringing his hands,
looking more like an old woman at a wake than an infantry combat
soldier."
(James Jones, The Thin Red Line)

• Adjective Phrase
"It is always the best policy to speak the truth--unless, of course, you are
an exceptionally good liar."
(Jerome K. Jerome)

• Adverb Phrase
"Movements born in hatred very quickly take on the characteristics of the
thing they oppose."
(J. S. Habgood)

• Gerund Phrase
"Failing the exam was a major disappointment to him, to me and to Eva."
(Judith Hubback, From Dawn to Dusk)

• Noun Phrase
"Buy a big bright green pleasure machine!"
(Paul Simon)

• Participial Phrase
"He moved ahead more quickly now, dragging his heels a little in the fine
 dust."
(John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath)

• Prepositional Phrase
"I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought I'd
rather dance with the cows until you come home."
(Groucho Marx)

• Verb Phrase
"When this is all over, your father may be going away for a little while."
(Ellen Griswold in Vacation, 1983)

• "Noun phrases and prepositional phrases can have particularly complex

structure in written texts, with several layers of phrase embedding. In fact,
the complexity of phrases is a very striking measure for comparing the
complexity of syntax in different registers of English. The simplest
structures occur in conversation and the complexity increases through
fiction and newspaper writing, with academic writing showing the greatest
complexity of phrase structure."
(D. Biber et al., Longman Student Grammar, 2005)