Concept # 3: the Difference between Phrases and Subordinate Clauses.

Concept # 3: the Difference between Phrases and Subordinate Clauses. Both are
groups of words that function as one part of speech (a noun, an adjective, or an adverb).
In order to understand and diagram sentence structure correctly, we must be able to
recognize clauses and differentiate them from phrases, which are not shown in our
schematic clause diagrams.
Since both subordinate clauses and phrases may function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
within the larger framework of the sentence, then what is the difference between them?
The difference between them is structural: clauses contain at least one finite verb,
whereas phrases do not:
Adj. Phrase: „It is a mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without
accepting it.. (Aristotle) [N.B.: the prepositional phrase „without accepting it. functions as an adverb
modifying the verb „to entertain. within the framework of the larger adjective phrase which modifies the
noun „mark.. Neither of these phrases contains a finite verb.]
Adj. Clause: „A man who has committed a mistake and doesn.t see it, is committing
another mistake. (Confucius, „Success and Failure.) [Here the Adj. Clause contains two finite

verbs, „has committed‟ and „doesn‟t see,‟ joined together by the conjunction „and‟; this clause modifies the
noun „man‟ in the main clause.]
Concept # 4: The Two Essential Aspects of Both Phrases and Subordinate Clauses:
Their Form and Function..
In our analysis of the more complex units of speech (phrases and clauses) we must
consider their two different aspects that make them what they are:
 function, or relation to other words within a larger framework (noun, adjective, or
adverb; naming or modifying), and
 form, or structural pattern. Phrases may be or may not be introduced by
prepositions, but they never contain a finite verb. Clauses, on the other hand, may
or may not be introduced by relative pronouns or subordinating conjunctions, but
they always have their „autonomous‟ nexal pattern (S/ finite V/ C).
Both phrases and subordinate clauses may function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. The
presence/absence of a finite verb within a particular group of words that functions as one
part of speech determines whether it is a phrase or a clause.
*Prepositional Phrases: Simply put, a prepositional phrase is a preposition plus a group
of words without a finite verb in it that answers the question „what?‟ after it. The list of
words that can function as prepositions:
About, Above, Across, After, Against, Along, Among, Around, As, At, Before, Behind,
Beneath, Beside, Between, Beyond, By, Despite, During, Except, For, From, In, Inside,
Into, Like, Near, Of, Off, On, Onto, Outside, Over, Since, Through, To (not the particle
„to‟ indicating the infinitive form of the verb!), Toward, Under, Until, Up, Upon, With,
Within, Without, Aside from, As to, Because of, Instead of, Out of, Regardless of, But
(when it means „except‟), Past (when it means „by‟)
In sentence analysis, it is helpful to eliminate prepositional phrases in order to see the
main S/Finite V/C patterns more clearly. If the group of words following a preposition
does contain a nexal pattern (S/Finite V/C), then the preposition introduces a subordinate
clause,

 Noun clauses name something/somebody in the main clause, i.e., „The most
incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.‟ (Einstein)
 Adjective clauses modify (describe) nouns in the main clause, for example: The
person who knows how to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused.
 Adverb clauses modify verbs in the main clause, i.e., „We don‟t see things as they
are. We see things as we are.‟ (Anais Nin)
Main clauses, however, do not have such function:
 „I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.‟ (Confucius)
Concept # 6: the Finite Verb. The finite verb is a verb that has a Subject which defines
its form (number and person). Subject-Verb Agreement is what makes a sentence.
Concept # 7: the Infinitive Verb. This is the base form of the verb (as listed in
dictionaries). Infinitive verbs have no subjects, or „doers‟ – they simply signify actions or
states of being, and thus function as nouns, giving names to these actions or states of
being. They are usually preceded by the particle „to‟ when used in sentences, except after
modal verbs (can, must, may, might, could, should, would, etc.). Example (infinitives are
in italics):
A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell and make you happy to be on your
way.

Concept # 8: Compounding. Compounding means joining of two or more similar items
by compound conjunctions „and,‟ „or,‟ „but,‟ „either … or,‟ and „neither … nor.‟ These
conjunctions are often used to join equal grammatical constructions – subject and
subject, object and object, adjective and adjective, verb and verb, etc. Whatever
grammatical construction appears before one of these words should also appear after it.
Concept # 9: Ellipsis. Ellipsis is simply the omission of understood words in a sentence
(reduction). For example,
[You] Help! [me]
[You] Put your thinking cap on [your head]!