Clauses and Phrases
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. A phrase is a group of words that lacks a subject-verb unit but otherwise functions together.
| Clauses | Phrases |
|---|---|
| before it rained | on a rainy day |
| the umbrella suddenly broke | all of a sudden |
| whoever is late today | wet commuters |
| because the rain is heavy | walking to the bus stop |
Independent and Dependent Clauses
When a clause makes a complete sentence, such as The umbrella suddenly broke, it’s called an independent clause. A clause that doesn’t make a complete sentence is called a dependent clause (or subordinate clause). All sentences have at least one independent clause, which is sometimes called the main clause. Dependent clauses can be combined with independent clauses to form sentences.
An independent clause can be followed by a dependent clause.
She walked the dog before it rained.
A dependent clause can precede an independent clause.
Because the rain is heavy, she decided to take the bus.