Clauses and Phrases

Answer Key
Directions: Use your knowledge to decide if the statement is true or false. Circle your answer.

1. True False Both phrases and clauses have subjects and verbs.

2. True False Independent and dependent clauses must have a subject and a verb.

3. True False Clauses sometimes contain phrases.

4. True False A phrase can contain a clause.

5. True False Sometimes a phrase or clause will act as adverbs.

6. True False Sometimes a phrase or clause will act as an adjective.

7. True False Sometimes a phrase or clause will act as a noun.

8. True False Dependent clauses and phrases can stand on their own.

9. True False Even though words ending in ing look like verbs, sometimes they are gerunds and participials.

10. True False My brain hurts.

11. True False I should look for S + V when determining if a part of a sentence is a phrase or a clause.

12. True False Phrases can stand on their own as complete sentences.

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Directions: Read each sentence. Is the underlined PARTCIPIAL, INFINITIVE, or GERUND functioning as a subject, direct
object, or object of the preposition?

1. Subj DO OP Running is my favorite.

2. Subj DO OP I love running.

3. Subj DO OP My love for running is immeasurable.

4. Subj DO OP To run is a gift.

5. Subj DO OP Singing is more than a hobby for me.

6. Subj DO OP I practice singing every night.

7. Subj DO OP After singing, I drink tea. Page 4

8. Subj DO OP To sing is to dream.

9. Subj DO OP Juggling should be an Olympic sport.

10. Subj DO OP I perfected juggling with knives for my performance.

11. Subj DO OP I love to juggle.

12. Subj DO OP To juggle is to multitask.

PHRASES FUNCTIOING AS ADJECTIVES
Directions: Circle the adj. phrase that modifies the underlined noun.

What question does the phrase answer?

1. Ivy wanted to meet someone fond of animals. _________________________

2. Otis, a stickler for punctuality, considers Gregory rather unreliable._________________________

3. I was driven mad by the sound of my neighbors hammering. _________________________

4. My director locked his keys in the trunk of a borrowed car. _________________________

5. With a smirk, Peter thought of his next caper. _________________________

6. We picked up the records broken in the scuffle. _________________________

7. Students of Supernova were disappointed with the outcome. __________________________

 PHRASES FUNCTIOING AS ADVERBS
Directions: Circle the adverb phrase that modifies the underlined verb/adj/adv.

What question does the adverb phrase answer?

1. The dogs were sniffing around the mailmans feet. _________________________

2. We will meet at the library at 3:30 p.m. _________________________

3. Lightning flashed in the night sky. _________________________

4. Joe bought some prunes when he went to the corner store. ___________________________

5. Things were going well at school. _________________________

6. I drove past the lakefront. _________________________

7. On the way home, I got a ticket. _________________________

8. Nicky found change in between the couch cushions. _________________________

9. Eating vegetables is good for your health. _________________________

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PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE OR DEPENDENT CLAUSE? Look for a verb! Remember, a clause has S + V!
Directions: Is the underlined portion of the sentence a clause or a phrase? Circle the correct answer!

1. Charlie will wait here until sunset. Prep phrase Dependent Clause

2. It will be some time before summer. Prep phrase Dependent Clause

3. After that effort, everyone doubts whether she can win. Prep phrase Dependent Clause

4. Charlie will wait here until we finish the test. Prep phrase Dependent Clause

5. It will be some time before the seasons change. Prep phrase Dependent Clause

6. After she did so badly, everyone doubted Ann could win. Prep phrase Dependent Clause

7. Before he could blink, the magician disappeared. Prep phrase Dependent Clause

8. Before the trick, the magician checked the secret door. Prep phrase Dependent Clause

9. Until you catch the groundhog, he will dig massive holes. Prep phrase Dependent Clause

10. Until tomorrow, the groundhog will dig holes. Prep phrase Dependent Clause

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INDEPENDENT CLAUSE OR DEPENDENT CLAUSE?
Directions: Is the underlined part of the sentence an independent clause or a dependent clause?

1. IND DEP I want the dress that is in the window.

2. IND DEP I want the dress that is in the window.

3. IND DEP I threw the wet sponge that was used in the water relay at Grace.

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4. IND DEP I threw the wet sponge that was used in the water relay at Grace.

5. IND DEP After he vaulted over the mats, Evan rounded the corner.

6. IND DEP After he vaulted over the mats, Evan rounded the corner.

7. IND DEP When I reached for the rope, I fell on my face.

8. IND DEP When I reached for the rope, I fell on my face.

9. IND DEP The balance beam that we ran across was a bit wobbly.

10. IND DEP The balance beam that we ran across was a bit wobbly.

11. IND DEP Although Supernova did not win the games, they are still the best team in the school!

12. IND DEP Although Supernova did not win the games, they are still the best team in the school!

13. IND DEP If you missed school on Friday, you missed out on tons of fun!

14. IND DEP If you missed school on Friday, you missed out on tons of fun!

15. IND DEP Let us remember that we celebrate Memorial Day to honor all US veterans.

16. IND DEP Let us remember that we celebrate Memorial Day to honor all US veterans.

17. IND DEP We waited until the rain stopped to swim in the ocean.

18. IND DEP We waited until the rain stopped to swim in the ocean.
Directions: Circle the adjective clause that modifies the underlined noun. (Yes, nouns are already underlined )

What question does the clause noun?

1. I want the dress that was in the window. ___________________________________

2. I threw the sponge that was used in the water relay at Grace. ___________________________________

3. Mr. Bound whom you all know announced the opening activities of Blue White Silver Day. _________________

4. The dog which I found wandering the streets belonged to Dr. Who.__________________________________

5. Memorial Day which is a big parade day was a soggy day. ___________________________________

6. The movie which we saw last night was terrible. ___________________________________

7. We are looking at a house that is quite expensive. ___________________________________

8. The strawberries that I picked were delicious. ___________________________________

9. Students who are trustworthy can use the pass freely. ___________________________________

10. Mount Doom that is in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy can also describe the pile of dirty laundry in my room.

___________________________________
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Directions: Circle the dependent clause. Draw an arrow to the verb, adverb, or adjective it describes (they are already
underlined for you )
What question does the clause answer about the verb, adj, adv.?

1. I will not leave until you clean up this mess. ___________________________________

2. Until we meet again, you should not worry. ___________________________________

3. I went to the beach although it was raining. ___________________________________

4. Before you answer a question, think carefully! ___________________________________

5. You may leave once you finish the test. ___________________________________

6. As the roller coaster climbed the rails, I screamed my head off. ___________________________________

7. I will wait for you while you clean out your locker.___________________________________

8. While I was walking home, it began to rain. ___________________________________

9. By the time we arrived, we were soaking wet. ___________________________________

10. Ive known him since I was a child. ___________________________________

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Directions: The noun clause is underlined for you . Decide how it functions in the sentence.
S
1. What you said is not a joking matter. Subj DO OP
DO
2. Brians friends did not know that he had an invisibility cloak. Subj DO OP

3. Chucks mistake was

PN
= that he didnt check the gas gauge. Subj DO OP PN
4. Why didnt you ask me(for what you wanted?
( Subj DO OP
S
5. That he didnt care was so sad. Subj DO OP
(
6. He waited for (what he had ordered. Subj DO OP
DO
7. The kids didnt know that they would have a test tomorrow. Subj DO OP

8. I wanted to know whichDO

was mine. Subj DO OP
S
9. That which you seek is not for sale. Subj DO OP
DO
10. I want to know why you left class early. Subj DO OP
DO
11. You said that you were ready to leave. Subj DO OP