Unit1 : phrases and clauses

​Phrases and Clauses

We can see the difference in the following two groups of words:
1. the bus to Eastmont Mall
2. the bus goes to Eastmont Mall

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​Phrases and Clauses

In the second group of words, we can identify a subject-verb unit, while in the first we cannot. To find the subject-verb units in sentences, follow these two steps:

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​Phrases and Clauses

1. First find the verb by applying the time test:
change the time or tense of the sentence; the word you change is the verb. In number 2, we can change
The bus goesto Eastmont Mall.
to: The bus went to Eastmont Mall. (yesterday)
or: The bus will go to Eastmont Mall. (tomorrow)
When we change the time, we have to change goes to went or to will go, so to go is the verb.

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​Phrases and Clauses

2. To find the subject, ask "Who or what does the action of the verb?”
What “goes?” The answer is the bus, so the bus is the subject of the verb.
(Alternatively, one can ask what is the first noun in the sentence, and that is almost always going to be the subject of the sentence.)

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​Definition of Clause and Phrase

• A clause is a group of words with a subject-verb unit; the 2nd group of words contains the subject-verb unit the bus goes, so it is a clause.
• A phrase is a group of words without a subject-verb unit.
If we try to change the time or tense of the 1st group of words, we cannot, because it contains no word that changes to show time or tense. It has no verb, so it can't have a subject-verb unit. It is a phrase.

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​How to find out a Clause and a Phrase

To find out if a group of words is a complete sentence, you can use this trick:
Add Is it true that before the words. If the question does not make sense, the group of words is a sentence fragment.
If the question does make sense, the group of words is a complete sentence. Consider the examples below.
1. Is it true that the bus to Eastmont Mall?
2. Is it true that the bus goes to Eastmont Mall?

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​ Phrase Practice 1

1. a melodic new single
2. he released a melodic new single
3. some rappers have no sense of melody at all
4. rappers with no sense of melody at all
5. the last single from Lil Wayne
6. the last single from Lil Wayne failed commercially
7. a one-man corporation
8. Lil Wayne is a one-man corporation
9. He was in a coma for six frightening days in 2013
10. Carter gave a thumbs up to TMZ cameras.
11. he sounds terminally bored
12. on the last release

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​ Phrase or Clause

​ Special kinds of Phrases

Our goal here is to fix fragments, run-ons, and comma splices, and to fix all of these, we have to know the difference between a phrase and a clause.
Here are two kinds of phrases that sometimes look like clauses.

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​ Special kinds of Phrases

1) -ing phrases: When you look for verbs in sentences, remember that the -ing form of a word cannot be a verb all by itself, so the group of words
succeeding in school despite working full time is a phrase, not a clause.
To make this phrase into a clause, we need to complete the verb by adding a form of the verb be:

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​ Special kinds of Phrases

The student was succeeding in school despite working full time.
We can make sure that an -ing word is part of a main verb by checking to see if the -ing word follows a form of the verb to be (am, is, are, was, were, will be, has been, have been, had been, will have been).
Examples: Trevor is working as a security guard.
Trevor was working as a security guard last year.
Trevor has been working as a security guard for
three years.

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​ Special kinds of Phrases

2) another kind of phrase:
It's obvious that "happy people" is a phrase.
But so is "people who are happy." A special kind of phrase follows this pattern:
noun + who >>> people who are happy
noun + which >>> habits which annoy me
noun + that >>> dog that lives next door

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​ Special kinds of Phrases

noun + who >>> people who are happy
noun + which >>> habits which annoy me
noun + that >>> dog that lives next door

Even though these structures contain a verb, they are still considered phrases because the noun before the who, which, or that does not have its own verb. These phrases modify nouns in sentences

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​ Special kinds of Phrases

People who are happy often have creative hobbies.
My brother has many habits which annoy me.
The dog that lives next door is friendly to everyone.

These phrases set off by words like who, which, or that
(relative pronouns) do not count as clauses.

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Phrase Practice 2

1. thinking about how to make a million dollars
2. he stayed up all night, thinking about to make a million dollars
3. cell phone screens are getting bigger
4. my girlfriend loves me 5. the girl who loves me
6. bone-crunching and neck-snapping
7. a taste that I share with many others
8. the desk near the window
9. he has a favorite place to study, the desk near the window
10. she was waiting by the café 11. her friend standing in the comer
12. the book that I bought yesterday
13. cruising down Telegraph Ave on his bike

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Phrase or Clause

Two kinds of Clauses

You now know what a clause is, but there are two kinds of clauses you need to know about: dependent and independent.
To see the difference between the two kinds, read the examples below:
1. Mary broke my cellphone. (independent clause)
2. because Mary broke my cellphone (dependent clause)

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Two kinds of Clauses

1. Mary broke my cellphone. (independent clause)
2. because Mary broke my cellphone (dependent clause)

The second clause has a subject and a verb (Mary broke) but it can’t stand on its own. It depends on another clause to give it meaning. It is easy to hear dependent clauses if you read them out loud.
After an independent clause, you will feel relaxed, like an idea is complete, but after a dependent clause, you will still be waiting; you will have unanswered questions. What happened because Mary broke the cellphone? The idea isn’t complete. This is why it is dependent. If you still have questions after hearing a group of words, chances are you are dealing with a dependent clause (or a phrase).

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Two kinds of Clauses

More specifically, the clause is dependent because of the word because. Words like because are called subordinators.
When we use a subordinator at the beginning of a clause, the clause becomes dependent (or subordinate) and can no longer stand alone as a sentence. Dependent clauses (subordinate clauses) should always be attached to independent clauses. Examples: Because Mary broke my cellphone, I had to get another phone on craigslist. (dependent clause + independent clause = sentence)
I had to get another phone on craigslist because Mary broke my cellphone. (independent clause + dependent clause = sentence)

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Some common subordinators and their logical meaning

Cause / Effect>>> because, since, so that
Comparison / Contrast >>> although, even though, though, whereas, while
Place & Manner >>> how, however, where, wherever
Possibility / Conditions >>> if, whether, unless
Relation >>> that, which, who
Time >>> after, as, before, since, when, whenever, while, until

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Some examples of dependent clause

Some examples of dependent clauses, with subordinators underlined:
When the child went to the dentist
Because his girlfriend is upset
Although she will buy new shoes
Can you hear how these all sound unfinished? Subordinators are a great tool for connecting ideas. We’ll use them in a little while to fix Run-Together Sentences. For now, just try to hear how they make a clause sound unfinished and turn it into a dependent clause.

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Practice: Independent or dependent clause

Practice: Independent vs. Dependent Clauses
Identify the following as independent or dependent clauses.
Examples: although you’ve never paid me back >>> D (Dependent)
I will lend you the money >>> I (Independent)

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1. since I went back to school
2. I was excited for you to join me
3. although I am between paychecks
4. I made you a promise
5. because I believe in you

Practice: Independent or dependent clause

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6. before the semester began
7. while we were riding bikes
8. my roommate intends to finish college
9. after we circled Lake Merritt twice
10. as soon as you can pay me back
11. since I value your friendship
12. many people hate to write
13. unless you stop doing that right now
14. even though I have a couple more semesters