Clauses and phrases
A clause is a group of words containing one finite verb (see page 16). It is often only a section of a sentence. Here is a sentence with two clauses.
You'll need to speak to the person
who arranges the timetables.
Together these clauses make a complete sentence. The first clause could be a sentence on its own, but the second couldn't unless we gave it an initial capital and a question mark.
Some sentences have only one clause.
He bought it this morning.
Some have more.
Old Alf revved the engineand off they went towards the river mouth,while we waited on the jettyuntil they were out of sight.
A phrase is also a group of words. It is a looser structure than a clause. It is short, doesn't have a finite verb (it may not have a verb at all) but it functions as a kind of unit. Here are some examples:
| • under the table | • after the exams |
| • in the drawer | • hundreds of fish |
| • eating peanuts | • through the door |
We haven't got far, but at this stage we will leave clauses and phrases for a while, and look instead at words, the raw material of our communications. When we have tried to identify and classify words, we will be able to return with greater understanding to consider clauses in more detail, and to examine their different kinds.