Phrases and Clauses

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Phrases and Clauses

• Dotti Shelton
• Developmental English Instructor
• South Texas Community College

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What do I already know about phrases?

• A phrase is part of a sentence.
• A phrase is a group of words that may have a
  subject, a verb or neither.
• Phrases add color to sentences.

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A phrase is part of a sentence that may be
missing a subject, a verb or both.

• Strolling down to the beach
• (Who was strolling?)
• Missing a subject
• While at the library,
• (Who was at the library and what about it?)
• Missing a subject and a verb
• Constantly going to school
• (Who was constantly going to school?)
• Missing a subject/helping verb

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Phrases add color to sentences.

• Of the many kinds of spectacular birds, none is
  more amazing than the hummingbird.
• Without the words in brackets, the sentence would
  not be as colorful.
• None is more amazing than the hummingbird.

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What do I already know about clauses?

• Clauses are parts of sentences.
• Clauses have both a subject and a verb.
• Clauses add color to sentences.

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Clauses are parts of sentences that have a
subject and a verb.

• While Gloria silently slipped through the
  window,
• The subject of this clause isGloria
• The verb of this clause is slipped
• because Julio decided to report the deadly
  gunshot wound.
• The subject of this clause isJulio
• The verb of this clause isdecided

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Clauses add color to sentences.

• Since the college has required an extra class to
  help prepare students for more freedom, more
  students are completing their education.
• Instead of More students are completing their
  education.
• A beaver has a flat tail that he uses in
  marvelous ways.
• Instead of The beaver has a flat tail.

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Contrast phrases and clauses

• A phrase may have
• A subject or
• A verb or
• Neither a subject or a verb

• A clause has both
• A subject and
• A verb

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Compare phrases and clauses

• Both are parts of sentences.
• (Can be at the beginning or
• in the middle of sentences)
• Both add color to sentences.

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Think about it!!!

• How can knowing about phrases
• and clauses help
• you in writing?