Phrases and Clauses | English Grammar for Class 9 PDF Download

Phrase

A phrase is defined as a group of words which does not make a complete sense.( does not contain a subject and a verb.)

Example:

• On the table.
• In the corner.
• At the market.
• Of gold

Clause

A clause is defined as a part of a sentence which contains a subject and a predicate(verb).

Example:

• He came.
• He has a chain which is made of gold

Consider the following example.

He has a chain of gold

• The above sentence has two parts “he has a chain” and “of gold”.
• The first part of the sentence “he has a chain” is a clause because it has a subject (he) and a predicate (has a chain).
• The second part of the sentence “of gold” is a phrase because it does not contain subject and verb.

Note:The difference between a clause and a phrase is that a clause consists of both subject and verb, but a phrase lacks a subject and verb.

Examples:

The underlined part of each of following sentences shows a clause, while the rest part (non-underlined) of each sentence shows a phrase.

• Harish reached the station  in time.
• Saritha was sitting in a corner.
• He is singing in a melodious voice.
• My mother made  coffee for the guests.
• She a bought an interesting story book for his sister.

Adverbial Phrase and Adverbial Clause

A phrase in which the key word is an adverb is called an adverb phrase.
A subordinate clause that performs the function of an adverb in a sentence is called an adverb clause.

Examples:

• I turned off all lights before leaving.(adverb phrase)
• In the above sentence “before leaving” is an adverb phrase.
• I turned off all lights before I left. (adverb clause)
• In the above sentence “before I left' is an adverb clause as it contains a subject (I) and a predicate (left).

Adjective Phrase and Adjective Clause

A dependent clause that functions as an adjective in a sentence is called adjective clause.

An adjective clause works like adjective in a sentence. The function of an adjective is to modify (describe) a noun or a pronoun. Similarly a noun clause modifies a noun or a pronoun.

Example:

• She wears a dress which looks pretty.

The clause “which looks Pretty” in above sentence is an adjective clause because it modifies noun “dress” in the sentence. An adjective clause always precedes the noun it modifies.

Examples:

• I met a gentleman who had helped me.
• A mango that taste sweet is liked by me.
• The story book which I bought last week is very interesting.
• The flat where she lives consists of four rooms.
• The person who was running was a robber.

Note: Adjective clause begins with relative pronoun (that, who, whom, whose, which, or whose) and is also relative clause. Adjective (relative) clauses can be restrictive clause or nonrestrictive clause

Noun Phrase and Noun Clause

A noun phrase is a group of words that serves the same purpose as a noun. A noun phrase can be the subject or object of a verb. It can also be the object of a preposition.

Example:

• The students wants to play.
• Horses prefer living in dark stables.

A Noun-Clause is a group of words which contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own and does the work of a noun.

Examples:

• Dinesh often wonders how you are getting on with him.
• He feared that he would fail.

Types of Clauses

There are two major types of clauses main (or independent) clause and subordinate (or dependent) clause.

Main Clause and Subordinate Clause – Comparison

Example:

• Turn off the lights when not in use

The above sentence has two clauses “Turn off the lights” and “When not in use”. The clause “Turn off the lights” expresses a complete thought and can alone stand as a sentence. Such a clause is called main or independent clause.

While the clause “when not in use” does not express a complete thought and can’t stand as a sentence. It depends on another clause (main clause) to express complete idea. Such a clause is called subordinate or dependent clause.

Main or Independent Clause

“Main (or independent) clause is a clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand as a sentence.
Subordinate (or dependent) clauses cannot stand by themselves and are further divided into tree types,

• Noun Phrase,
• Adjective Phrase,
• Adverb Phrase