Phrases and Clauses

Phrase and Clause

Comparison

A clause is defined as a group of related words that contains a subject and predicate

A phrase is defined as a group of related words that does not contain a subject and a

Consider the following example.

•                 He is laughing at a joker.

The above sentence has two parts “he is laughing” and “at a joker”.

The first part of the sentence “he is laughing” is a clause because it has a subject

(he) and a predicate (is laughing).

The second part of the sentence “at a joker” is a phrase because it does not

contain subject and verb.

The difference  between a clause and a phrase is that a clause consists of both

subject and verb, but a phrase lacks a subject and verb.

The underlined part of each of following sentences shows a clause, while the rest part (non-

underlined) of each sentence shows a phrase.

•          He reached school in time.

•          I was standing near a wall.

•          They are singing in a loud voice.

•          She made tea for the guests.

•          He a bought a book for his friend.

•          I will meet him in my office.

•          You look handsome in this picture.