Sentences/Phrases/Clauses


	SENTENCES, PHRASES AND CLAUSES PHRASES A phrase is a group of words without a finite verb. Phrases cannot stand alone as a sentence as their meaning is not complete. A phrase can do the work of an adjective, adverb or noun. The boy with short hair is a good skater. (Adjective) She left the basket near the tree. (Adverb) The outcome of the survey will be known next week. (Noun) CLAUSES A clause is a group of words that contains a finite verb and its subject. There are two types of clauses – a main (principal or independent) clause and a subordinate (dependent) clause. *Main Clause* A main (principal or independent) clause makes sense by itself and can stand alone and be a sentence. Michael was given a stamp collection which belonged to his grandfather. The dog that was barking ran across the paddock. *Subordinate Clause* A subordinate (dependent) clause does not make sense standing on its own. To make a complete sentence a subordinate clause must be added to a main clause. A subordinate clause does the work of an adjective, adverb or noun. The elephant, which was twelve years old, was the star attraction. (Adjective) Every night, just before the sun set, he would feed the birds. (Adverb) I told him he should reconsider. (Noun) SENTENCES A sentence is a group of words with at least one finite verb ( a verb with a subject). In speech and writing the basic unit of meaning is a sentence. A sentence has a complete meaning. A sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark. There are four types of sentences – statements, questions, commands or requests, and exclamations. *Statements* A statement simply states something or gives information and ends in a full stop. The bread is ready. I am freezing. *Questions* A question is a sentence that asks something and ends in a question mark. Where are you going? Why do you prefer that one? *Commands or Requests* A command or request direct someone to do something or give advice or warning and ends with a full stop. Take your marks. Watch out for broken glass. *Exclamations* An exclamation expresses the strong feeling of the speaker or writer about something. You’re fired! Don’t stare at me like that! SENTENCE STRUCTURE There are three different kinds of sentences – simple sentences, compound sentences and complex sentences. *Simple Sentences* A simple sentence has a subject and a predicate of which the finite verb is a part. The cat chased the mouse. The verb is chased and it is finite because the cat is the subject. The rest of the sentence, chased the mouse is the predicate. Sometimes a simple sentence does not appear to have a subject. Stay there! Even though the word is not actually said, the speaker or writer is referring to you. They are really saying, (You) stay there! The subject is said to be understood. *Compound Sentences* A compound sentence consists of two or more main (principal or independent) clauses joined by one or more conjunctions. The stolen car sped away and the police chased after it. This compound sentence has two main clauses. They are:- “the stolen car sped away” “the police chased after it” The two main clauses are joined by the coordinate conjunction “and”. *Complex Sentences* A complex sentence has at least one main (principal or independent) clause and one or more subordinate (dependent) clauses. The sofa was very cheap because it was old and tattered. The main (principal or independent) clause is:- “the sofa was very cheap” The subordinate (dependent) clause is:- “because it was old and tattered” .