This article was co-authored by Tristen Bonacci. Tristen Bonacci is a Licensed English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas. She specializes in teaching in a secondary education environment and sharing wisdom with others, no matter the environment. Tristen holds a BA in English Literature from The University of Colorado and an MEd from The University of Phoenix.
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Clauses and phrases are building blocks for longer sentences. As a first step, focus on learning the difference between them. Once you are ready, move on to identifying the different types of clauses. Understanding these will help you write longer sentences, use correct grammar, and avoid being fooled by the many tricks of the English language.
Steps
Practice Questions and Answers
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
- A relative clause can also be called an "adjective clause."[12] It describes a noun just like an adjective does.Thanks
- Some teachers and textbooks call dependent clauses "subordinate clauses." These are the same thing.Thanks
Warnings
- When we're speaking out loud, we often speak in phrases. ("You first?" "No, after you.") But in written grammar, these make incomplete sentences. They are phrases, not clauses.Thanks
- The "is it true that" test works for all independent clauses, but not for dependent clauses.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/jMWtoNl8W6E?t=24
- ↑ https://laney.edu/ilatta/wp-content/uploads/sites/303/2015/09/Grammar-handout-phrase-vs-clause.pdf
- ↑ https://laney.edu/ilatta/wp-content/uploads/sites/303/2015/09/Grammar-handout-phrase-vs-clause.pdf
- ↑ https://laney.edu/ilatta/wp-content/uploads/sites/303/2015/09/Grammar-handout-phrase-vs-clause.pdf
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/relative-clauses/
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/relative-clauses/
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/relative-clauses/
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/gerunds_participles_and_infinitives/participles.html
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/gerunds_participles_and_infinitives/index.html
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