Sentences, Phrases and

ClausesENGLISH PLUS – WEEK 15

Sentence a group of words or a single

word that expresses a complete thought, feeling, or idea. It usually contains an explicit or implied subject and a predicate containing a finite verb.

What does it take to make a sentence? 

1. a subject:  what we are talking about, usually a noun or pronoun

2. a verb:  tells that the subject does something or is something, and

3. a characteristic:  can stand alone, can be independent.

SUBJECT

Simple Subject1. Usually only one word.2. Always a noun or pronoun.3. Tells what or who the sentence is

about.

Complete Subject1. Can be several words or only one

word.2. Always contains a noun or pronoun.3. Always includes the simple subject.

SIMPLE PREDICATE

Always a verb. (A verb is a word that tells what the subject is doing or being.) There are two kinds of verbs:

1. Action verbs: run, jump, sit, sleep.

2. Being verbs: am, is, was, seem.

COMPLETE PREDICATE

Always contains the simple predicate (a verb)

Can be one word or several words.

The sunset is beautiful.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

1. Dogs barked.2. Those big dogs barked.3. Those big dogs barked

loudly.4. Those big dogs in the pen

next door barked loudly all night.

Clause a group of words consisting of a

subject and its predicate.

1. Independent2. Dependent

Independent Clause

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause is a sentence.

Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.

Dependent Clause A dependent clause is a group of words

that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence. Often a dependent clause is marked by a subordinating conjunction.

When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz

Phrase a string of words that form a

grammatical unit, usually within a clause or sentence.

Of the man. The pen.

Synthesis

Quiz

1. After he saw Peter2. When he is alone3. Under me4. The dog5. Because the rain is terrible6. in the east7. on a wall.8. with blue trimming9. on the bridge10.Joan Drove the car.

Conjunction

1. Do you think this is something ___ can be learned?a. whob. thatc. X (the conjunction can be omitted)

2. Don't go out ___ you've finished your work.a. asb. whilec. until

3. Make sure you close all the windows ___ it starts to rain.a. afterb. beforec. for

4. I think I know ___ he left the job.a. whyb. untilc. where

5. ___ I had known how much I would disappoint him, I wouldn't have done it.a. Whetherb. Whenc. If

6. ___ you see me, get in the car.a. As soon asb. Whilec. Whether

7. My friend John, ___ lives in California, has a car with a New York license.a. whoseb. whoc. that

8. It's usually quite simple to cross the border between the USA and Canada ___ these two countries have friendly relations.a. yetb. andc. because

9. ___ a university professor returns from a sabbatical leave, he should be better qualified.a. Untilb. Whenc. Even though

10.She's ___ a snobbish person ___ nobody likes to be with her.a. such...thatb. such...asc. so...that

Prepositions

Exercises:1. Lena put the flowers she received for

her birthday (in, on) vase.2. The crown (at, on) the winner’s head

is made of Davao pearls.3. Bert put the greeting card he received

(inside, between) the pages of this books.

4. The mother lay down (beside, in) her child and read him a story.

5. Huge neon signs (under, above) the high-rise buildings dotted the skyline.

6. He is having a hard time swimming because he is going (against, with) the current.

7. The policemen suddenly broke (into, out) the gambling casino and arrested everyone inside.

8. Coming (from, to) Baguio at the crack of dawn, we reached Quezon City by noon.

9. We drove (around, between) Quezon City for about an hour before finding her house.

10. The Sultan of Brunei arrived (at, of) the Ninoy Aquino international Airport yesterday.

Answers

1. Clause2. Clause3. Phrase4. Phrase5. Phrase6. Phrase7. Phrase8. Phrase9. Phrase10.Sentence

Conjunction

1. Do you think this is something ___ can be learned?a. whob. thatc. X (the conjunction can be omitted)

2. Don't go out ___ you've finished your work.a. asb. whilec. until

3. Make sure you close all the windows ___ it starts to rain.a. afterb. beforec. for

4. I think I know ___ he left the job.a. whyb. untilc. where

5. ___ I had known how much I would disappoint him, I wouldn't have done it.a. Whetherb. Whenc. If

6. ___ you see me, get in the car.a. As soon asb. Whilec. Whether

7. My friend John, ___ lives in California, has a car with a New York license.a. whoseb. whoc. that

8. It's usually quite simple to cross the border between the USA and Canada ___ these two countries have friendly relations.a. yetb. andc. because

9. ___ a university professor returns from a sabbatical leave, he should be better qualified.a. Untilb. Whenc. Even though

10.She's ___ a snobbish person ___ nobody likes to be with her.a. such...thatb. such...asc. so...that

Prepositions

Answers:

1. Lena put the flowers she received for her birthday (in, on) a vase.

2. The crown (at, on) the winner’s head is made of Davao pearls.

3. Bert put the greeting card he received (inside, between) the pages of this books.

4. The mother lay down (beside, in) her child and read him a story.

5. Huge neon signs (under, above) the high-rise buildings dotted the skyline.

Answers:6. He is having a hard time swimming

because he is going (against, with) the current.

7. The policemen suddenly broke (into, out) the gambling casino and arrested everyone inside.

8. Coming (from, to) Baguio at the crack of dawn, we reached Quezon City by noon.

9. We drove (around, between) Quezon City for about an hour before finding her house.

10. The Sultan of Brunei arrived (at, of) the Ninoy Aquino international Airport yesterday.