Phrases and Clauses
Grade 7 · English Language Arts · Language and Grammar · Pennsylvania, USA
Lesson Summary
Learn the difference between phrases and clauses and how to use them to build better sentences.
Explanation
A phrase is a group of words that adds information but does not have both a subject and a verb working together—for example, 'in the morning.' A clause has both a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence, while a dependent clause cannot and needs to be attached to an independent clause. Combining phrases and clauses lets you write more detailed, mature sentences.
Practice Questions
Q1: Is 'after the game ended' a phrase or a clause? Explain.
Answer: It is a dependent clause because it has a subject ('game') and a verb ('ended'), but it cannot stand alone as a sentence due to the word 'after.'
Q2: Is 'under the old bridge' a phrase or a clause?
Answer: It is a phrase because it does not contain a subject-verb pair.
Q3: Combine these into one sentence using a dependent clause: 'I finished my homework. I went outside.'
Answer: After I finished my homework, I went outside. ('After I finished my homework' is the dependent clause.)
People Also Ask
What is Phrases and Clauses in Grade 7 English Language Arts?+
Phrases and Clauses is a lesson in the Language and Grammar chapter of Grade 7 English Language Arts. It is part of the Pennsylvania, USA school curriculum and covers key concepts that students need to understand at this level.
What grade level covers Phrases and Clauses?+
Phrases and Clauses is taught in Grade 7 as part of the English Language Arts curriculum in Pennsylvania, USA.
How can I help my child with Language and Grammar in English Language Arts?+
Start with the lesson summary and explanation on this page. Practice the questions provided, then use TutorTom for personalized, step-by-step help with Language and Grammar topics.