1. Phrases and Clauses
Hall 2012
Date

2. ✤
The main difference:
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Phrases DO NOT have BOTH a subject and
a verb
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Clauses DO HAVE BOTH a subject and a
verb

3. Phrases
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no subject or verb
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4 types

4. 1. Prepositional Phrase
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Prepositional Phrase = Preposition + Noun
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behind the rock = behind (prep) + (noun) a rock
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I saw my teacher behind a rock.
from the house = from (prep) + (noun) the house
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He ran quickly from the house.

5. 2. Participial Phrase
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A participle is a verb used as another part of speech.
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Participles are easy to recognize: they end in -ing or -ed.
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For example: running water, baked apples, loving
husband, loaded gun, etc.

6. 2. Participial Phrase
More examples...
More examples...
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He was.....
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looking closely
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staying up all night
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studying the History book

7. 3. Infinitive Phrase
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To + verb = Infinitive Phrase
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This is like Spanish class--remember how verbs are always studied
with the infinitive first:
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to love
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I love
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you love
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she/he loves...

8. 3. Infinitive Phrase
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Infinitive phrase begin with the infinitive form of the verb
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I am going....
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to run a mile
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to start over
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to do homework
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to win the contest
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to wake up early

9. The tricky “to”
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WARNING:
The word “
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✤
to” is found in
BOTH
prepositional
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and
infinitive
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phrases

10. Caution--Don’t mix these up!
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Infinitive Phrases:
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✤
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to run a mile
to finish my homework
Prepositional Phrases:
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to the football stadium
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to the teacher

11. Clauses:
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Have BOTH a subject and a verb
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3 Types

12. 1. Independent Clause
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AKA Sentence or Main Clause
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Independent clauses have a subject and verb and can stand alone
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Examples:
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The doctor finished the examination
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Students leave campus after class.

13. 2. Dependent Clause
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AKA the “Cliffhanger”
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They have subjects and verbs, but they cannot stand
alone
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Usually begin with words like although, because, when,
since, if, unless.
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Examples:
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Because I left early
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If we find my notebook

14. 2. Dependent Clause
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Dependent Clauses often begin or end sentences:
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Because a rattlesnake has made a home under our bed....
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+
we purchased a mongoose to sleep with us.

15. 3. Relative Clause
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Easy to recognize: they begin with who, which, or that
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They are not questions, but part of sentences.
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Examples:
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Martin, who usually finishes first, was unable to win.
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Pasta, which used to be included in diets, has been replaced by other
foods.
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Toys that the dog chewed up must be thrown away.

16. Warning:
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The words after and before can be used in either prepositional
phrases or dependent clauses:
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Dependent clauses: verb on the end
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after the storm ended
before the alarm rang
Prepositional phrases: no verb
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after the storm
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before the alarm

17. review
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18. ✤
What is the main difference
between phrases and clauses?

19. ✤
Answer:
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Phrases do not have a subject and verb
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Clauses have both a subject and verb

20. ✤
Prepositional:
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above the clouds
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near my house
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along the short

21. ✤
Participial:
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leaving work early
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sleeping until noon
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celebrating the holidays
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filled with liquid

22. ✤
Infinitive:
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to walk the dog
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to play the piano
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to watch our favorite TV show

23. ✤
Independent Clauses:
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Broccoli is my favorite food.

24. ✤
Dependent Clause:
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Because broccoli is my favorite food

25. ✤
Relative Clause:
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which is my favorite food