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Phrases and Clauses

Discover the building blocks that make sentences powerful! Master how phrases and clauses work together to create meaning.

The Essential Building Blocks

Phrases and clauses each have an important role in English grammar. Understanding them is key to building complex, meaningful sentences.

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Phrases
A phrase of two or more words acts just like another part of speech. It functions as a single unit within a sentence.
  • ❌ No subject and verb combination
  • 🎯 Functions like one part of speech
  • 🔗 Cannot stand alone as complete thought
  • 📝 Examples: "near the ocean", "the new employee"
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Clauses
Clauses are groups of words with a subject and verb. They form the backbone of sentence structure.
  • ✅ Has both subject and verb
  • 💭 Expresses complete or incomplete thought
  • 🏢 Can be independent or dependent
  • 📝 Examples: "I read", "After the rain stopped"

🎨 Types of Phrases

Phrases in English can act just like the parts of speech of a single word. Here are the main types:

Prepositional Phrase
I live near the ocean.
She works in a white house.
Begins with a preposition and ends in a noun or pronoun.
Noun Phrase
The new employee brought lunch.
→ He brought lunch.
Can be replaced with a single noun or pronoun.
Adjective Phrase
I sent my aunt in Chicago a gift.
He owns Italian leather shoes.
Modifies nouns by showing "what kind" or "which one".
Adverb Phrase
She spent her money too quickly.
They arrived at the perfect time.
Modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

🕵️ Sentence Explorer

Click on sentences to see their phrases and clauses highlighted!

Click me: "The students in the library were studying for their important exams."
What type of structure is highlighted below?
She spent her money too quickly.
Noun Phrase
Prepositional Phrase
Adverb Phrase
Independent Clause