Phrase & Clause

PHRASES and CLAUSES

Phrases – groups of words that function as a part of speech.

Noun Phrase: A group of words consisting of nouns or pronouns and their modifiers that function as a noun. All of The Countess’ children really wanted some fresh blood. Verb Phrase: A group of words consisting of verbs working together and that function as a verb. The Harmon family was preparing to do a lot of redecorating to try and sell the Murder House. Prepositional Phrase: A group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun, and functions as an adjective or an adverb. Zoe was warmly welcomed into the coven. Appositive Phrase: A group of words that include all the words that modify an appositive and function as an adjective - IT MUST BE SURROUNDED BY COMMAS. Sister Mary Eunice, the new nun, worked diligently to help Dr. Arthur Arden with his experiments. Verbal Phrases: A group of words that begin with a verbal and ends with a noun. ● Gerund Phrase verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun. Strolling down New Orleans, the coven finally stopped at the cemetery. ● Participial Phrase word ending in -ing (present participle) or -ed (past participle) that functions as an adjective. The interviewer Lana Winters returned to the abandoned asylum. ● Infinitive Phrase verb preceded by the word “to” (to read, to study, to write) that function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. The coven knew it was time to test the seven wonders.

CLAUSES

Clauses – groups of words with BOTH a subject and a verb that function as parts of speech. There are TWO kinds: Independent and Dependent (called “Subordinate”)

INDEPENDENT – CAN stand alone as a complete sentence, known as a simple sentence pattern. Elsa Mars requires the “freaks” to work really hard for the show.

DEPENDENT (SUBORDINATE) – CANNOT stand alone as a complete sentence and MUST begin with a SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTION. There are seven (7) kinds:

Noun Clause: Used as the noun in a sentence and may function as a subject, a predicate noun, a direct object, an object of a preposition, an indirect object, or an appositive. ○ Where she learned firmly made her the witch she is. ○ Kindly give whoever asks a drink at the bar. ○ The aliens thought Kit was special and that was totally obvious. ○ Brooke wisely checked what the camp nurse had for medical supplies.

Adjective Clause: Used to modify a noun in an independent clause. Some adjective clauses begin with an introductory word: ○ This is the academy where witches triumphantly excel. (“where” is an introductory word) ○ There is the leather suit that I absolutely needed. ○ The apocalypse that you wanted is clearly within your grasp. Some adjective clauses begin with relative pronouns: ■ Dandy is obviously the one who murdered his mother. (ONE is the antecedent of WHO and is modified by the adjective clause.) ■ There goes the serial killer who's usually in Room 64. (SERIAL KILLER is the antecedent of who’s and is modified by the adjective clause.) ■ Misty Day informatively teaches how great the healing properties that Louisiana mud contains. ■ Is this the house that you so desperately want? (that is the direct object of want) ■ Violet is the girl whom he shyly asked to be his girlfriend. (whom is the direct object of asked.) ■ The sweet pure soul to which you refer has sadly been lost to the demons. (which is the object of the preposition to.) ■ Madison is an actress and witch who easily shrugs off criticism from her coven. (who is the subject of shrugs.) Adverb Clause: Used to modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in an independent clause, introduced by a subordinate conjunction and used to indicate time, place, cause, purpose, result, condition, and/or concession. Modifying verbs: ■ They fortunately planted a bug where no one could see it. (place) ■ When the 10 commandment murders were finally complete, Mr. March’s work was done. (time) ■ We stealthily snuck around the library because we were being attacked. (purpose) ■ The cult leader talked as if he was passionately seeking vengeance against Ally(condition) Modifying adjectives: ■ Time inside the Murder House oddly seems to be very extended continually. (how much) ■ Mr. Jingles is as amusingly at peace as his mother. (to what extent) Modifying adverbs: ■ Mallory had greater talents than her sisters in the coven typically did. (condition) Relative Clauses: Dependent clause that begins with a relative pronoun. ○ The vampire who kills first will earn an incredibly tasty meal. Elliptical Clauses: Adverb clauses in which part of the clause is omitted. ○ When leading, the aerobics instructor firmly yells the exercises. Essential Clauses: Clauses necessary to the meaning of the sentence. ○ The “freak” that most interests Dandy is clearly the conjoined twins Bette and Dot. Nonessential Clauses: Clauses that are NOT necessary to the meaning of the sentence. ○ The Music Festival in Camp Redwood, which took place almost 35 years ago, is regretfully never truly over.