Definition and types of clause/ phrase

Clause is a group of words with a finite verb, forming part of a sentence, conveying a meaningful thought.

Types of clause

(1) Main or independent clause
(2) Subordinate or dependent clause

 Main or independent clause: This is type of clause that can stand on his own to make a complete sense or sentence.
 Example: Ken is very kind.

 Subordinate or dependent clause: This is type of clause that does not express a complete thought. It depend on the main clause to make a complete sense.
 Example:
HOW HE KNEW MY NAME still remains a mystery.


 

TYPES OF SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

1.     Noun Clause
2.     Adjectival Clause
3.     Adverbial Clause
 

Noun Clause: This is type of dependent or subordinate clause that functions like a noun in a sentence. The function include.

Subject of a Sentence: is usually found before verb

Examples:  (i) What we ate was tasteless (was)

        (ii)  How he will achieve his goal is not yet known (is)

Object of a Verb: usually find after past-tense

 Examples: (i) We were given what he promised to give    (given)

                   (ii)  The suspect eventually accepted that he was guilty.   Object of the verb (accepted)

Complement of a Subject: It is found after verb:

Examples: (i) The problem now is that he would not com.

                   (ii) The good news is that he passed his examination.

Complement of an Object:

Examples: They made him what he had always wanted.

Complement of a Preposition:

Examples: (i) The presidency will go to whoever wins the election

                   (ii) His action resulted into what his father predicted

Adjectival Clause: This is a subordinate clause which qualifies a noun or a pronoun in the main clause. It performs the functions of an adjective. It is usually introduce by words like, who, whom, whose, that, which, where, when.

Examples:

       I.            This is the book which I bought last week.  (Modify book)

    II.            I don’t know the town where we first lived. (Modify Town)

 III.            The boy who bought the milk left in a hurry. (Modify Boy)

ADVERBIAL CLAUSE:  An adverbial clause is a subordinate clause that often modifies the verb, an adjective or another adverb in a sentence. It modified the verb in the main clause by telling us how, when, where, why, to, what extent, and under what conditions the action of the verb is performed. A comma should not be sued before an adverb clause unless when it begins a sentence.

Adverbial Clauses and Their Conjunction.

a.     Adverbial Clause of Time: Tells the time of an action or event. It indicates when of an action. It is always introduce by until – after, before, when, since, as soon as.

Examples

                   I.            I will see you before I go.

                  II.            I saw him before he traveled.    (It modify by the word saw)

                III.            The chairman left here as soon as the programs ended.

b.     Adverbial Clause of Place: Tells the place of an action or event. Thereby answering the question “where?” It is always introduce by where, wherever etc.

Examples:

                   I.            They have been searching for where he lives

                II.            Wherever you send me, I shall go

c.      Adverbial Clause of Manner: It expresses the manner in which an action is carried out. It is introduce by – as if, as, as though

Examples:

                   I.            The man often boasts as if nobody can challenge is authority.

                  II.            She ran as if her life depended on it.

d.     Adverbial Clause of Reason: It tells the reason for an action or event. It answers the question “why”. It is introduce by because, as, and since.

Example:

                   I.            The contractor had abandoned the project since he was starved of fund

                  II.            They assisted the boy because he needed help.

e.     Adverbial clause of purpose: tells the purpose of an action. It is usually introduced by in case, in order that, that, so that etc.

Examples:

                   I.            He trained hard so that he might make the final list

                  II.            In order to see you, I came from such a long distance.

f.       Adverbial Clause of Condition: Expresses the condition under which an action could take place. It could be introduced by if, unless, provided (that).

Example:

                   I.            I will come if you want me to.

                  II.            We shall send him to Coventry, unless he turns a new leaf.

g.     Adverbial Clause of Result: Tells the effect of an action and it is always introduced by so that, such that.

Example:

                   I.            He performed brilliantly in the competition such that everybody started praising him.

                   II.            He was so busy that he could not attend to anybody.

h.     Adverbial Clause of Concession: It indicate agreement and it is usually introduce by although, even if, though.

Example

                   I.            Although the boy is intelligent he lack respect for elders

                  II.            We shall make it even if this situation persist

i.        Adverbial Clause of Comparison: It tells of likeness between things. It is usually introduce by as, than.

Example:

She took more than she could handle

DEFINITION AND TYPES OF PHRASES

Definition: A phrase is a group of words which contains no finite verb and therefore, makes no complete thought.

TYPES OF PHRASES

1.     Noun phrases

2.     Adjectival phrase

3.     Adverbial phrases

1.     Noun Phrases: A noun phrase is the type that does the duty of a noun. There are different types of noun phrases such as: noun phrases subject, object, in apposition or complement of a verb or object of a preposition.

Noun Phrase Subject – This type of phrase function as noun as well as the subject of the sentence.

Example:

                   I.            To err is human

                II.            The beautiful girl comes here everyday

Function:

Subject of the verb comes

Noun Phrase Object does the duty of a noun but as the object of the sentence.

Example:

                   I.            The chairman will announce the next course of action.

                 II.            James assaulted the lecturer.

Noun Phrase in Apposition comes after another noun in a sentence to provide additional information

Example

Dorathy, Mr. Felix’s wife, is a renowned journalist

Mr. Felix’s wife is an appositive of DORATHY

2.     ADJECTIVAL PHRASE: This type of phrase does the work of an adjective

Example:

The bird in the cage is a pigeon

In the cage qualifies the noun bird.

3.     ADVERBIAL PHRASES: This type of phrase modifies a verb, an adverb or an adjective in a sentence. There are eight types of adverbial phrases. Adverbial phrase of time, place, reason, condition, purpose, manner, result and concession.

i.                Adverbial Phrase Of Time

He helps the poor in times of need

It modifies the verb helps

ii.            Adverbial Phrase Of Place

I put your food on the table. (Answers where?)

It modifies the verb put.

iii.          Adverbial Phrases Of Reason

He was given an award for his dedication to duties.

It modifies was given.

iv.         Adverbial Phrases Of Condition

For him to survive, he needs a quick medical attention.

It modifies the verb needs.

v.           Adverbial Phrases Of Purpose

He studies hard in order to pass

It modifies the verb studies.

vi.         Adverbial Phrase Of Manner

He discovered the error without any stress.

It modifies the verb discovered.

vii.       Adverbial Phrase Of Frequency

The student comes to school twice a week

It modifies the verb comes.

viii.     Adverbial Phrase Of Concession

We still won the match in spite of the hostility against it

It modifies the verb won.

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