A phrase is a group of words without a subject and verb, such as 'In the forest.' A clause contains both a subject and a verb, such as 'I am aware of the error.' Understanding the difference is crucial for correct subject/verb agreement.
The difference between a phrase and a clause is a fundamental aspect of English grammar.
A phrase is a group of words that acts as a single unit within a sentence but lacks a subject, a verb, or both.
Examples include “In the forest,” “Smashing against the bat,” and “Broken shards of glass.”
These cannot stand alone as sentences because they don't express a complete thought.
A clause, on the other hand, contains both a subject and a verb, and it can express a complete thought if it's independent.
Examples of clauses include “I am aware of the error,” which has both a subject (“I”) and a verb (“am aware”), and “When the saints go marching in,” which is a dependent clause because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Understanding the difference helps ensure proper subject/verb agreement in complex sentences.