English Grammar

Clauses
 Phrases and Clauses
• Both phrases and clauses are basic
components of writing sentences.
• When combined with other parts of speech
and other parts of sentences, clauses and
phrases help build an intricate system through
which your words convey meaning.
• Understanding the difference between the
two is vital to write grammatically correct and
properly constructed sentences.
 What are phrases?
• A phrase is a group of two or more words that
does not have the subject and verb
combination and does not form a predicate.
• It can contain a noun or a verb, but does not
have a subject or predicate.
• Essentially, a phrase provides some sort of
additional information or provides more
context to the sentences you write.
 What are clauses?
• A clause is a group of words that can act as a
sentence, but is not necessarily a complete
sentence on its own.
• All clauses contain both a subject and a
predicate, which always contains a verb.
• A predicate tells something about what the
subject is doing.
• Some clauses can stand alone as a complete
sentence; others cannot.
• A phrase can never stand alone as a sentence;
however, a phrase can nestle itself inside clauses
that are either complete sentences on their own
or ones that are dependent on the rest of the
sentence.
• When a phrase is within a clause, it functions as a
part of speech.

• The dance was held at the reception hall.

(“At the reception hall” is a prepositional phrase. It
does not have a subject or predicate, and it
cannot stand alone as a sentence.)
 Understanding the difference
• It is vital to understand the main differences
between clauses and phrases to ensure your
writing is clear in both construction and
context.
• If you are unsure whether a group of words is
a clause or phrase, break down the words into
the parts of speech to help you decide.
• If there is a subject and a verb with a
predicate, it is a clause.
• If there is a noun but no verb or a verb but no
noun and does not have a predicate, it is a
phrase.
• Always keep in mind that sometimes phrases
are built into clauses.
 Types of phrases
Phrases can take many forms and different
constructions. They cannot function as a
sentence on their own. Different types of phrases
include the following:
• Gerund phrases
• Infinitive phrases
• Noun phrases
• Participle phrases
• Prepositional phrases
• Verb phrases
• Sometimes a word or phrase appears to be a
verb when, in fact, it’s something else.
• It’s important to look at the function that a
word or phrase plays in a sentence before
determining its part of speech.
 Absolute phrase
When a participle and the noun that comes before
it together forms an independent phrase, the
structure is often called an absolute phrase.

• Weather permitting we shall meet in the

evening.
• God willing we shall meet again.
• The weather being fine, we went out for a picnic.
• The sun having risen, we set out on our journey.
 Types of Clauses
There are 2 types of Clauses: Main clause and
Subordinate Clause.
1. Main clause :
Every sentence contains at least one main
clause.
A main clause may form part of a compound
sentence or a complex sentence.
For example:
• He was eating a chicken sandwich.
Compound sentences are made up of two or
more main clauses linked by a conjunction
such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

• She was born in Delhi, but her mother is

Telugu.
Subordinate clause :
A subordinate clause depends on a main clause
for its meaning.
Together with a main clause, a subordinate
clause forms part of a complex sentence.

For example:
• After we had had lunch, we went back to
work.
• I first saw her in Paris, where I lived in the
early nineties.
• Two main types of subordinate clause:
conditional clauses and relative clauses.
Conditional clause :
A conditional clause is one that usually begins
with if or unless and describes something that
is possible or probable.
For example:
• If it looks like raining, a simple shelter can be
made out.
• I’ll be home tomorrow unless the plane’s
delayed for hours.
Relative clause :
Relative clauses are a way of giving more information
about a person, thing, place, event, etc. We often use
them to avoid repeating information.
A relative clause is connected to main clause by a word
such as which, that, whom, whose, when, where, or
who.
For example:
• I first saw her in Paris, where I lived in the early
nineties.
• She wants to be with Thomas, who is best suited to
take care of
• I was wearing the dress that I bought to wear to Rani's
party.
Using Relative Clauses:
When to use that and when to use which or
who?
Mostly that is interchangeable with either of
these words.
For example:
• You're the only person who has ever listened
to me.
• You're the only person that has ever listened
to me.
• It's film which should be seen by everyone.
• It's film that should be seen by everyone.
• When referring to something, rather than
someone, that tends to be the usual choice in
everyday writing and conversation.
• However, there is one main case when you
should not use that to introduce a relative
clause. This is related to the fact that there are
two types of relative clause:
a restrictive relative clause and a non
– restrictive relative clause.
Restrictive relative clause :
A restrictive relative clause (also known as a
defining relative clause) gives essential
information about a noun that comes before it.
Without this clause the sentence wouldn't make
much sense.
A restrictive relative clause can be introduced by
that, which, whose, who, or whom.
For example:
• She held out the hand which was hurt.
• She held out the hand that was hurt
• I was wearing the dress that I bought to wear to
Ram’s party.
Non-restrictive relative clause :
A non- restrictive relative clause (also called a
non-defining relative clause) provides extra
information that could be left out without
affecting the meaning or structure of the
sentence.
Non- restrictive relative clauses are normally
introduced by which, whose, who, or whom,
but never by that.
You should place a comma in front of them.
For example:

• She held out her hand, which Rob shook.

If a non-restrictive relative clause is in the

middle of a sentence, you should put commas
before and after it.

• Bill, who had fallen asleep on the sofa,

suddenly roused himself.
Restrictive Relative Clauses:
• A hotel is a place which / where people stay when
they're on holiday.
• What's the name of the woman whose / who lives in
that house?
• What do you call someone which / that writes
computer programs?
• A waiter is a person that / whose job is to serve
customers in a restaurant.
• Overalls are clothes where / which people wear to
protect their clothes when they are working.
• Is that the shop where / that you bought your new
laptop?
• He's the man who / whose son plays football for
Kingfishers.
• Hal didn't get the job that / where he applied for.
Non- Restrictive Relative Clauses:
• Ms. Rani, who lives next door, claims to be a
police woman.
• For a balloon to float, it must be filled with
helium, which is lighter than the air around it.
• Robert Mathew, who was thirty-two years
old, had been in business for himself for only a
few years.
• The United States, which presents itself as a
global beacon of opportunity and prosperity, is
quickly becoming a low-wage nation.
Summary: Characteristics of Nonrestrictive
Relative Clauses
- In writing, they are set off by commas.
- In speech, they are set off by pauses and falling
intonation at the end of the clause.
- They can modify proper nouns.
- They cannot modify any, every, no + noun,
or indefinite pronouns such as anyone, everyone,
no one, etc.
- They cannot be introduced by that.
- They can modify an entire sentence.
The relative pronouns used in nonrestrictive
relatives are the same as those used in restrictive
relatives, except for that."
 What Is a Gerund Phrase?
A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing.
A gerund phrase includes the gerund, plus any
modifiers and complements. Gerunds and gerund
phrases always function as nouns. They can act as
subjects,
direct objects,
indirect objects,
predicate nominatives, or
objects of a preposition in a sentence.
• To determine whether a word or
phrase is functioning as a gerund
versus a present participle, try
replacing it with the
word something. If something works
in the sentence, then the word or
phrase is a gerund.
As a Subject
• Riding a roller coaster scares my little brother.
• Seeing is believing.
As a Direct Object:
• In the summer, Raja prefers swimming.
• Rani likes jumping on the trampoline.
As an Indirect Object :
• As part of his exercise course, Jack
made walking every day a priority.
• Sarah made singing a priority.
As a Predicate Nominative:
Mike’s favorite sport is running.
(identifying sport.)
Kate’s main interest is working with computers.
(identifying interest.)
Object of a Preposition:
Her interest in gardening developed over time.
Scott’s attitude about studying for
tests improved.
Besides singing, Sarah likes dancing.
• This is the farm house where they live.
• The boys have a chain which is made of gold.
• His family is poor, but he does not beg.
• If it’s a nice day tomorrow, we’ll go to the
beach.
• The dog chased him; however, he was quick
enough to survive.
• Do you have the book which John gave you?
• Can I buy the shoes that were in the shop?
• Where would you live if you could live
anywhere in the world?