Difference Between Phrase and Clause

The first and foremost thing about this topic is, why we have to know the differences between phrase and clause. So here are few essential points you must be aware of, inorder to understand the usage of punctuation one must be clear with these difference. And the second point is to construct a proper sentence without any grammatical error we should be knowing the attributes of phrase and clause. Now we are going see the definitions with few elaborate examples to understand the core meaning.

 Phrase

Basically, phrase is a collection of related words without any complete meaning in it. It doesn't contain any subject, predicate or a subject with verb it may have a noun. There are different types of phrases exist and they are,

Types of Phrase:

1. Noun phrase

2. Verb phrase

3. Adjective phrase

4. Adverbial phrase

5. prepositional phrase

Examples:

(i) to win the second prize ( Noun Phrase)

(ii) is running ( Verb Phrase)

(iii) was a healthy woman ( Adjective Phrase)

(iv) in a mild voice ( Adverbial Phrase)

(v) on the bench ( Prepositional Phrase)

Clause

A clause is generally a group of words, it may be a part of sentence or it can be a sentence itself (independent sentence). It contains subject and predicate which delivers a proper meaning.

Types of Clause:

1. Main Clause

2. Subordinate Clause

Example:

(i ) I saw the girl who had helped me. 

In the above example "I saw the girl" is the main clause and "who had helped me" is the subordinate clause. Which means a main clause is a independent clause that can stand as a sentence but the subordinate clause does not have a complete meaning it has to depend on the main clause. Subordinate clause must contain a relative pronoun or subordinate conjunction for eg: after, as, although, who, which etc.

(ii) We rested when evening came.

We rested - Main clause

when evening came - Subordinate clause

Phrase VS Clause

PHRASE	CLAUSE
i. Phrase don't have subject and predicate                                                ii. Don't have a complete meaning   iii. Cannot stand alone	i.  Clauses have subject and predicate                                   ii. Have a complete meaning iii. Independent clause can stand alone