I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture.(State whether the underlined group of words is a Clause or Phrase)
Answers
Answer:
In order to punctuate sentences correctly and avoid fragments, we need to know the difference between
two kinds of word groups: phrases and clauses.
We can see the difference in the following two groups of words:
1. the bus to Eastmont Mall
2. the bus goes to Eastmont Mall
In the second group of words, we can identify a subject-verb unit, while in the first we cannot.
To find the subject-verb units in sentences, follow these two steps:
1. First find the verb by applying the time test: change the time or tense of the sentence; the word
you change is the verb.
In number 2, we can change
The bus goesto Eastmont Mall.
to: The bus went to Eastmont Mall. (yesterday)
or: The bus will go to Eastmont Mall. (tomorrow)
When we change the time, we have to change goesto went or to will go, so to go is the verb.
2. To find the subject, ask "Who or what does the action of the verb?” What “goes?” The answer is
the bus, so the bus is the subject of the verb.
(Alternatively, one can ask what is the first noun in the sentence, and that is almost always going to
be the subject of the sentence.)
DEFINITION OF CLAUSE AND PHRASE:
• A clause is a group of words with a subject-verb unit; the 2nd group of words contains the
subject-verb unit the bus goes, so it is a clause.
• A phrase is a group of words without a subject-verb unit. If we try to change the time or tense of
the lst group of words, we cannot, because it contains no word that changes to show time or
tense. It has no verb, so it can't have a subject-verb unit. It is a phrase.
HOW TO FIND A PHRASE vs A CLAUSE
To find out if a group of words is a complete sentence, you can use this trick: Add Is it true that before the
words. If the question does not make sense, the group of words is a sentence fragment. If the question
does make sense, the group of words is a complete sentence. Consider the examples below.
1. Is it true that the bus to Eastmont Mall?
2. Is it true that the bus goes to Eastmont Mall?
The first question above does not make sense. It does have a subject (“the bus”). But it does not have a
verb, and it is not a complete idea. It is a phrase, and hence a sentence fragment.
However, the second question does make sense. It has a subject and a verb and is a complete idea.
Therefore, “The bus goes to Eastmont Mall” is clause, and it is also a complete sentence.