The various parts of speech are grouped into phrases and clauses, which make up the basic sentence.
Phrases
Phrases are groups of related words that do not contain a subject-verb combination or express a complete thought. There are noun, prepositional, participial, verb, and infinitive phrases.
Noun: | my widescreen TV | the tired old man |
Prepositional: | over the wall | around the block |
Participial: | playing the fool | running the program |
Verb: | will be given | is coming |
Infinitive: | to think | to draw |
Clauses
Clauses are groups of related words that contain a subject-verb combination. Independent clauses express a complete thought and can stand by themselves as sentences. Subordinate clauses serve as part of a sentence but do not express a complete thought and cannot stand by themselves. They are subordinate to independent clauses.
Independent Clauses |
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the floodplain was completely underwater |
John got us jobs as stagehands |
they took the off-road trail |
Subordinate Clauses |
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by the time June arrived |
because he works at the theater |
when they came to the turn |
Complete Sentences |
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By the time June arrived, the floodplain was completely underwater. |
John got us jobs as stagehands, because he works at the theater. |
When they came to the turn, they took the off-road trail. |