Phrase and Clause — Difference, Types & Examples

A clause has its own subject and finite verb; a phrase does not. That single test settles every question. A clause may be principal (it makes sense alone) or subordinate (it depends on another clause); a phrase is named after the job it does — noun, adjective, adverb, prepositional, participial or infinitive phrase.

Where it is set: SSC & HSC English 2nd Paper — Grammar

One test settles it

A clause contains a subject and a finite verb. A phrase does not. That single test decides every question in this item, and applying it takes a moment.

A finite verb is one that changes with tense and person — goes, went, is going. A participle (going), a gerund (going as a noun) and an infinitive (to go) are not finite, which is why groups built around them are phrases however long they get.

• ✓ the boy standing at the gate — a phrase; standing is not finite
• ✓ the boy who is standing at the gate — a clause; is standing is finite and has the subject who

Types of clause

Clauses by function

• ✓ I do not know where he lives. — a noun clause, object of know
• ✓ This is the house that Jack built. — an adjective clause describing house

Types of phrase

Phrases by function

• ✓ Walking in the rain is enjoyable. — a gerund phrase acting as the subject
• ✓ He is a man of few words. — an adjective phrase describing man

Converting a phrase into a clause and back

Board questions frequently ask you to rewrite a phrase as a clause or the reverse, which is really the same skill as sentence transformation. To turn a phrase into a clause, supply a subject and a finite verb; to turn a clause into a phrase, remove them.

• ✓ Phrase: I know the time of his arrival. → Clause: I know when he will arrive.
• ✓ Clause: He is a boy who works hard. → Phrase: He is a hard-working boy.

Why the distinction matters elsewhere

This is not an isolated item. The phrase/clause distinction is the foundation of three other questions in the paper, which is why it repays learning properly rather than memorising the definitions.

• Transformation: a simple sentence contains phrases; a complex sentence contains a subordinate clause. Converting between them is converting phrases to clauses.
• Modifiers: a relative clause post-modifier and a participial phrase post-modifier are graded differently, and the instruction names which one is wanted.
• Sentence type: counting finite verbs tells you whether a sentence is simple, compound or complex.
• Punctuation: a non-defining relative clause takes commas; a defining one does not.

• ✓ Simple: Being ill, he stayed home. → Complex: As he was ill, he stayed home. — phrase becomes clause
• ✓ My brother, who lives in Dhaka, is a doctor. — a non-defining clause, so commas

Practice

Work through these before you check the answers — the reasoning matters more than the answer.

1. Phrase or clause: “after the meeting ended”
2. Phrase or clause: “after the meeting”
3. Name the type: “I know that he is honest.” (underlined: that he is honest)
4. Name the type: “The book on the table is mine.” (underlined: on the table)
5. Turn into a clause: “a man of great wisdom”
6. Turn into a phrase: “Though he was tired, he continued.”
7. Name the type: “Reading novels is his hobby.” (underlined: Reading novels)
8. Name the type: “He left because he was ill.” (underlined: because he was ill)

Answers

1. Clause — it has the subject the meeting and the finite verb ended.
2. Phrase — a preposition plus a noun, with no verb.
3. A noun clause, acting as the object of know.
4. An adjective phrase, describing book.
5. a man who is very wise.
6. In spite of his tiredness, he continued.
7. A gerund phrase, acting as the subject.
8. An adverbial clause of reason.