What is a clause?
Unlike a phrase, a clause does have both a subject and a predicate, and a
clause may be able to stand alone as a complete sentence. For example, the
clause Mice eat cheese has both a subject (mice) and a predicate (eat) and
would be grammatically correct as a standalone sentence.
There are two major types of clauses: independent clauses and dependent
clauses. An independent clause can stand by itself as a complete sentence
while a dependent clause cannot. Typically, a dependent clause begins with a
connecting word, such as a conjunction or a pronoun, that connects it to the
rest of the sentence. For example:
Independent Clause: I am allergic to peanuts
Dependent Clause: since I am allergic to peanuts
We often use both independent and dependent clauses to form complex
sentences. For example:
Two independent clauses: I like Megan, and she likes me.
Independent and dependent clause: We had to read the book twice
because it was so confusing.
Dive in deeper into the differences between independent and dependent
clauses.
Examples of clauses in a sentence
Like phrases, we often use clauses to form longer, complex sentences.
I don’t like December because it is always too cold.
John wanted to eat Cincinnati chili, so he did.
She didn’t break the record even though she could have.
I like ketchup on my hamburger, but my sister prefers mustard.
Ham and eggs is a fine choice for breakfast, but you should also try to eat
some fruits because they are good for your health.
clause vs. phrase
A clause includes both a subject and a predicate. A phrase is missing a
subject and a predicate. So, if you can’t find a subject or a predicate in a
group of words, you are dealing with a phrase and not a clause. For
example, ten sleepy sheep is a group of words but does not include a verb,
which means it doesn’t have a predicate. Without a predicate, this group of
words must be a phrase.
Let’s look at some more examples that show this big difference in clauses and
phrases:
the children laughed
Clause or phrase? Clause. This group of words has both a subject
(children) and predicate (laughed). It is an independent clause and could
stand alone as a complete sentence.
by talking about their favorite recipes
Clause or phrase? Phrase. There’s no subject or predicate in this group of
words, and it doesn’t make sense when used by itself.
as we ate lunch
Clause or phrase? Clause. This group of words contains both a subject
(we) and a predicate (ate). This is a dependent clause that begins with the
conjunction as. It needs to be used with an independent clause in order to
form a sentence.
