Is it a phrase or a clause?

Key Notes:

What is a Phrase?

• A phrase is a group of words that work together but does NOT have both a subject and a verb. ❌✏️
• A phrase cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. 🛑

Examples:

• 🌸 in the garden
• 🍕 eating a delicious pizza
• 🏃 running very fast

✅ Tip: If it doesn’t have a subject doing an action, it’s usually a phrase.

What is a Clause?

• A clause is a group of words that has a subject AND a verb. ✔️✏️
• Clauses can sometimes stand alone as a complete sentence.

Types of Clauses:

1. Independent Clause 🌟 – Can stand alone as a sentence.
   • Example: She plays the guitar. 🎸
2. Dependent Clause 🌈 – Cannot stand alone; depends on another clause.
   • Example: Because she was tired… 😴

How to Tell the Difference 🔍

Feature	Phrase	Clause
Subject	❌ Usually no subject	✅ Has a subject
Verb	❌ Usually no verb	✅ Has a verb
Can stand alone?	❌ No	✅ Sometimes (if independent)
Example	under the table	He is sleeping under the table. 🛏️

Fun Trick to Remember 🎯

• Clause = Complete action + who is doing it 👩‍🏫
• Phrase = Just a part or description, no complete action 🖼️

Examples to Practice ✨

1. After the rain stopped 🌧️ – Clause (dependent, has subject + verb)
2. In the blue sky ☁️ – Phrase (no subject + verb)
3. She laughed loudly 😂 – Clause (independent)
4. Eating an ice cream 🍦 – Phrase (no subject doing the action)
5. Because he forgot his homework 📚 – Clause (dependent)

Quick Tips for Exams 🏆

• Look for a subject + verb → If present → Clause
• If no subject doing an action → Phrase
• Remember: all clauses have phrases inside them, but not all phrases are clauses! 💡

Let’s practice!🖊️