Functional Communication: Parts of sentences, clauses, and phrases

Applied Linguistics March 31, 2023

 Parts of Sentences, Clauses, and Phrases



A sentence is a complete speech unit containing at least one subject and predicate. A sentence can comprise several parts, including phrases and clauses.

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It can either stand alone as a sentence or be part of a larger sentence. There are two types of clauses: independent and dependent.

  • Independent clause: An independent clause is a complete sentence that can stand alone. It expresses a complete thought and contains both a subject and a predicate. For example, "She is going to the store."
  • Dependent clause: A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, cannot stand alone as a sentence. It must be attached to an independent clause to form a complete sentence. For example, "Because she is running late," is a dependent clause.

A phrase is a group of words functioning as a single unit within a sentence. A phrase does not contain both a subject and a verb. Instead, it can act as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb within a sentence. There are several types of phrases, including:

  • Noun phrase: A noun phrase is a group of words acting as nouns within a sentence. For example, "The red car" is a noun phrase.
  • Verb phrase: A verb phrase is a group of words that acts as a verb within a sentence. For example, "She is singing" is a verb phrase.
  • Adjective phrase: An adjective phrase is a group of words that acts as an adjective within a sentence. For example, "The book on the shelf" is an adjective phrase.
  • Adverb phrase: An adverb phrase is a group of words that acts as an adverb within a sentence. For example, "He walked slowly" is an adverb phrase.

The function of these parts of a sentence, clause, and phrase is to convey meaning and express ideas. Combining them in different ways allows us to create complex sentences that communicate complex thoughts and ideas. Understanding the different parts of a sentence, clause, and phrase can help us to communicate more effectively and to write more clearly and concisely.

Check Your Understanding


  1. Which of the following is an independent clause? a) Because I am tired b) I went to the store c) Running late Answer: b

  2. Which of the following is a dependent clause? a) The sun is shining b) After I finish my homework c) She runs every day Answer: b

  3. What type of phrase is "to the store" in the sentence "She went to the store"? a) Noun phrase b) Verb phrase c) Adverb phrase Answer: c

  4. What type of phrase is "the big red ball" in the sentence "The big red ball bounced down the street"? a) Noun phrase b) Adjective phrase c) Verb phrase Answer: b

  5. Which of the following is a complex sentence? a) I love pizza and pasta b) I went to the store, but I forgot my wallet c) The cat meowed and the dog barked Answer: b

  6. Which of the following is a simple sentence? a) The sun is shining and the birds are singing b) She dances gracefully across the stage c) After she finished her work, she went home Answer: b

  7. Which of the following is a compound sentence? a) I am going to the store b) She reads books and watches movies c) The sun is shining, but it's still cold outside Answer: c

  8. Which of the following is a prepositional phrase? a) She is singing loudly b) He walked across the street c) After the storm passed Answer: b

  9. Which of the following is an adverbial phrase? a) The cat slept on the couch b) She wrote a letter to her friend c) They ran away from the storm Answer: c

  10. Which of the following is a gerund phrase? a) The cat chased the mouse b) Running is my favorite activity c) She baked a cake for her friend Answer: b

  11. Which of the following is a participial phrase? a) The cat is sleeping on the couch b) Walking home from work c) She is going to the store Answer: b

  12. Which of the following is an infinitive phrase? a) The cat is sleeping on the couch b) To run a marathon is my goal c) She is going to the store Answer: b

  13. Which of the following is a simple sentence with a compound subject? a) The dog barked b) The cat and the dog barked c) The sun is shining and the birds are singing Answer: b

  14. Which of the following is a simple sentence with a compound predicate? a) The dog barked b) The cat chased the mouse and meowed loudly c) She dances gracefully across the stage Answer: b

  15. Which of the following is a complex sentence with a dependent clause at the beginning? a) I am hungry, so I will eat b) After I finish my work, I will go home c) She likes pizza and pasta Answer: b

  16. Which of the following is a complex sentence with a dependent clause at the end? a) I am hungry, so I will eat b) She went to the store because she needed milk c) The sun is shining and the birds are singing Answer: b

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