Phrase and Clause

PHRASE

Phrase is a group of word that fills a slot at clause level. This slot defining based on its function, so every phrase has its function. The place of phrase in the sentence is defined by this function. That is why, the phrase it also called as a group of word that has one function in a clause level. The phrase can be a long group of word but it must be not contain a verb. For example, The old black man in the roof which has beautiful hair.

The phrase divided into two categories:

1.    Endocentric Phrase is a phrase that has a parallel distribution with its element. It has a head and modifier. It consists of :

a.    Noun phrase

b.    Verb phrase

c.    Adjective phrase

d.    Adverb Phrase

2.    Exocentric Phrase is a phrase that has a complementary distribution with its elements. There is no head and modifier function in this phrase. For example is a preposition phrase.

Types of Phrase:

1.    Noun Phrase

Noun phrase is a phrase that is noun as its head and article/determiner, adjective, demonstrative, possessive, and numeral modifier.

For example :

The book             : Article + noun

New book            : Adjective + noun

My book   : Possessive + noun

This book             : Demonstrative + noun

Two books           : Numeral + noun

2.    Verb Phrase

Verb phrase is a phrase that is verb as its head and auxiliary and adverb as its modifier. This phrase divided into two : Verb Phrase (Auxiliary + Verb) and Predicate Phrase (Auxiliary + Verb + Adverb).
For example :

Verb Phrase        : Can Study = Auxiliary + Verb

Predicate Phrase : Can study hard = Auxiliary + Verb + Adverb

3.    Adjective Phrase

Adjective Phrase is phrase that is adjective as its head and intensifier as its modifier.

For example :

So good   : Intensifier + adjective

4.    Adverb Phrase

Adverb phrase is phrase that is adverb as its head and intensifier as its modifier.

For example :

Very slowly          : Intensifier + adverb

5.    Preposition Phrase

Preposition phrase is a phrase that is identified by preposition.

For example :

In Parang Tambung : Preposition + Place

In the night          : Preposition + time

6.    Gerund Phrase

Gerund phrase is a phrase that is identified by gerund (Verb+ing).

For example

Swimming in the sea = Swim + ing

Crying in the morning = cry + ing

7.    To infinitive phrase

To infinitive phrase is a phrase that is identified by to infinitive (to + verb).

For example :

To know her

To make a cake

8.    Appositive Phrase

Appositive phrase is a phrase that gives a explanation or confirmation

9.    Absolute Phrase

Absolute phrase is a phrase that same with possessive noun phrase.

For example :

You favorite color is my favorite

Their reputation as the winner

10. Participle Phrase

Participle phrase is a phrase that is indicates by participle (past and present). This phrase divided into two : Past participle and present participle.

For example :

Present participle           : the boy is speaking

Past participle     : the method used in this study is descriptive study.

CLAUSE

Some definitions of clause:

1.    Clause is a group of word that fill a slot in  the sentence level

2.    Clause is a group of word that consist of S + P ± O ± Adverb (+ = obligatory and ± = optional)

3.    Clause as a part of sentence /  grammatical unit.

Clause is divided into two mayor group, that is independent clause and dependent clause.

1.    Independent Clause

Independent clause is a clause that can stand alone as a mayor sentence. This clause consists of transitive clause, intransitive clause and equative clause.

a.    Transitive clause is a clause that predicate is filled by transitive verb and it’s an obligatory to has an object.

For example :

I make a cake = S + V + O

I eat a noodle = S + V + O

b.    Intransitive clause is a clause that predicate is filled by intransitive verb and it’s usually followed by preposition phrase.

For example :

I run in the field : S + V + Prep. Phrase

They sleep in the room : S + V + Prep. Phrase

c.    Equative clause is a clause that predicate is filled by be and linking verb.

For example :

Be : is, am, are, etc

Linking verb : appears, taste, feel, smell, seem, look, like, sound and remain.

2.    Dependent Clause

Dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone as a mayor sentences.

a.    Nominal clause is clause that filled the object function in a sentence. For example :

I don’t know what you say.

I don’t know is S + V

What you say is Nominal Clause

This clause also indicates by some word : that, who, which and whom.

b.    Adjectival clause is a clause that explain a noun.

For example :

The boy who is crying in the morning is my brother.

The above sentence has an adjectival clause, that is who is crying in the morning, because it explains the noun (the boy) in the sentence.

c.    Adverbial clause is a clause that explain some condition (place, time, manner, reason, purpose, and conditional).

For example :

Place         : I left the book where I found it.

Time           : I go to school after I have breakfast

Manner      : I love my mother as she loves me

Reason     : I come late because my car is broken

Purposes  : I want to improve my English so I can go to USA

Conditional   : I will  come if you call me  

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