Name:_____________________________________________
Mrs. Daniel Block _______________________________
English 11H
Date:______________________________________________
Grammar Notes: Phrases & Clauses
Part I: Phrase vs. Clause
1. A clause is a group of words that contains both a _______________________________ and a
__________________________________________.
2. Quick Review: The subject of the sentence tells _________________________ or
______________________________ the sentence is about. The predicate is the
_____________________________________ or ________________________________________ that tells something
about the subject.
EX: We are studying The Crucible.
Predicate
Subject
3. A phrase is a group of words that does not have both a subject and a predicate. We have
discussed two types of phrases so far: _________________________________________l phrases, and
______________________________________________ phrases.
Practice #1: Identify the following as being a clause or phrase. If it is a clause, underline the
subject and circle the predicate. If it is a phrase, identify it as being prepositional or
appositive.
1. Derek, the star quarterback, threw 4 touchdowns at the game.
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Your test grades are already in Phoenix.
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. After we complete our notes, we will watch Act II of The Crucible.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. I think I forgot my agenda in my last class.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. The Buffalo Bills won the game.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Part II: Independent vs. Dependent Clauses
1. An independent clause expresses a ____________________________________________. It makes sense
as a sentence all by itself.
Ex: John Proctor swore to bring Elizabeth home.
Abigail accused John Proctor’s wife.
1. A dependent clause cannot express a ________________________________________ by itself. It needs
to be joined to an _______________________________________________ to make a complete sentence.
Ex: Because John Proctor did not confess his affair
As soon as Mary Warren entered the room
2. Dependent clauses are introduced by ____________________________________________________________.
A list of common subordinating conjunctions is as follows:
After
Even though
Until
Although
If
When
As if
Since
Whenever
As soon as
So that
Where
As though
Than
Wherever
Because
That
While
Before
Though
Unless
3. Adding a subordinating conjunction at the start of an independent clause turns it into a
dependent clause.
Practice #2: Identify the following clauses as being independent or dependent. If the clause is
dependent, circle the subordinating conjunction.
1. After Mary Warren returned home, Proctor questioned her about the trials.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. After Mary Warren returned home, Proctor questioned her about the trials.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. The town erupted into mass hysteria whenever Abigail accused a new person.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Elizabeth questioned John about Abigail.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________