Unit 1: Lesson 2

What is a PHRASE?

A phrase is a word or group of words that “belong together” in terms of
meaning but do not have both a subject and a verb.

Noun Phrase

Adjective Phrase

Adverb Phrase

Verb Phrase

Prepositional Phrase

What is a SENTENCE?

SIMPLE SENTENCE = INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

An independent clause is a complete sentence because it has a subject and verb and
expresses a complete thought.

The short man has bought his son some crayons.

The driver has just shown the policeman his driving license.

The old man is the candidate for the next election.

My uncle brought me a bouquet of flowers last week.

This coffee tastes great!

All of the above are simple sentences or independent clauses and they have one verb
phrase.

What is a clause?

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. There are two kinds of
clauses in English: independent clauses and dependent clauses.

An independent clause (ID) has one SV combination and expresses a complete
thought. It can be a sentence by itself. A simple sentence is an independent clause.

Examples:
• Paris has excellent art museums.

• It was cold and windy yesterday.

• We finished our homework.

A dependent clause (DC) is an independent clause with a subordinating conjunction
added to the beginning of it e.g.

….because it has excellent art museums….
….although it was cold and windy yesterday….
….after we finished our homework…

A dependent clause does not express a complete thought, so it is not a sentence by
itself.

Art students should visit Paris because it has excellent museums.
(IC) (DC)

We went on a hike although it was cold and windy yesterday.
(IC) (DC)

We watched TV after we finished our homework.
(IC) (DC)

Verb

WewatchedTV afterwefinishedour homework.

Subject

Object

The example shows two clauses joined by the word after. This is a subordinating
conjunction. It means that the second clause (after we finished our homework) is
a dependent one because it starts with a subordinating conjunction and it is not a
complete thought.

IC
DC

Subordinating conjunctions.

Bibliography
Elements of language: Grammar usage and mechanics language skills practice grade 10.
(2009). Evanston, IL, Estados Unidos de América: Holt McDougal.

McGraw-Hill Education. (2000). Glencoe language arts grammar practice workbook grade
6. Nueva York, NY, Estados Unidos de América: McGraw-Hill.

Rozakis, L. (2003). English Grammar for the Utterly Confused (1st ed). McGraw-Hill
Publishing.