Grammar · Clauses & Phrases
Building blocks of a sentence
A clause has a subject and a verb; a phrase has no verb. A main clause stands alone as a sentence, a subordinate clause depends on it (because, when, if...), and a relative clause describes a noun (who, which, that). Learn to tell them apart below.
1 Clause vs phrase
A clause has a subject and a verb. A phrase is a group of words with no verb of its own.
clause: the dog barked (subject + verb) · phrase: under the table (no verb) ✓
Test: can you find a subject doing a verb? If yes, it's a clause.
2 Main (independent) clause
A main clause makes sense on its own — it could be a sentence by itself.
We went home. · She smiled. · The bell rang. ✓
3 Subordinate (dependent) clause
A subordinate clause adds extra information but cannot stand alone. It often starts with a subordinating conjunction (because, when, although, if).
We went home because it was late. · When the rain stopped, we played. ✓
'because it was late' can't be a sentence on its own — it depends on the main clause.
4 Relative clause
A relative clause is a kind of subordinate clause that gives extra detail about a noun. It usually starts with who, which, that, whose or where.
The boy who lives next door is kind. · The book that I read was long. ✓
It is often tucked right after the noun it describes, sometimes inside commas.
Watch out Phrases have no verb
Prepositional phrases (on the hill), noun phrases (the big red bus) and others add detail but contain no subject + verb pair.
in the morning · a bowl of soup · very carefully — all phrases, no verb. ✓
The 30-second method
How to sort clauses and phrases fast
- Subject + verb? It's a clause. No verb? It's a phrase.
- Stands alone? Main clause. Can't stand alone? Subordinate.
- Starts with because/when/if/although? Subordinate clause.
- Starts with who/which/that and describes a noun? Relative clause.
- No verb at all? It's just a phrase.
10 worked examples
Read the group of words, then what it is.
1. the cat slept
Clause — subject + verb (Rule 1).
2. on the soft rug
Phrase — no verb (Rule 1).
3. We stayed in.
Main clause — stands alone (Rule 2).
4. because it rained
Subordinate clause — can't stand alone (Rule 3).
5. who won the prize
Relative clause — starts with 'who' (Rule 4).
6. after the show ended
Subordinate clause — starts with 'after' (Rule 3).
7. a bowl of fruit
Phrase — no verb (Watch out).
8. The dog ran. (how many clauses?)
One main clause (Rule 2).
9. which sparkled brightly
Relative clause — starts with 'which' (Rule 4).
10. She laughed when she saw it.
Main (She laughed) + subordinate (when she saw it) (Rules 2-3).