Phrases and Clauses Worksheet | PDF - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one. We need to decide if the underlined part is a phrase or a clause.

Remember:
- A clause has a subject + verb and makes some sense on its own (like a mini-sentence).
- A phrase does NOT have both a subject and a verb — it’s just a group of words that adds detail.

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1. The doctor’s practice was a long way _from her house_.
→ “from her house” = preposition + object → no subject/verb → Phrase

2. The doctor _did a thorough examination of the patient_ and decided he would need to rest for at least a week.
→ “did a thorough examination...” = verb + object, but no subject here (the subject “doctor” is outside the underline) → actually, wait — this whole underlined part starts with “did”, which is a verb, but where’s the subject? The subject “doctor” is before the underline. So this is not a full clause — it’s missing the subject in the underlined part → Phrase

Wait — let’s double-check:
Actually, “did a thorough examination...” is a verb phrase — it doesn’t include the subject. So yes → Phrase

But hold on — look again:
The full sentence is: “The doctor did... and decided...” — so “did” and “decided” are two verbs sharing the same subject “doctor”. But since we’re only looking at the underlined part “did a thorough examination of the patient”, that’s just a verb + objects — no subject included → still a phrase

3. _All through the night_ the rain fell.
→ “All through the night” = time expression → no subject/verb → Phrase

4. _For four days_ the child had a terrible hacking cough.
→ “For four days” = time phrase → no subject/verb → Phrase

5. _The sheep were lead_ to the field.
→ “The sheep were lead” → subject (“sheep”) + verb (“were lead”) → makes sense → Clause

(Note: “lead” should be “led” — but that’s spelling, not grammar for our task.)

6. _There are a huge number of people_ living in the Borough of Barnet.
→ “There are a huge number of people” → subject (“people”) + verb (“are”) → even though “there” is dummy subject, this is still a clause → Clause

7. Under the sea _lived all kinds of animals_.
→ “lived all kinds of animals” → verb (“lived”) + subject (“all kinds of animals”) — inverted order, but still has subject + verb → Clause

8. _Over the weekend_ I went shopping.
→ “Over the weekend” = time phrase → no subject/verb → Phrase

9. I always have a biscuit and cup of tea _at five o’clock_.
→ “at five o’clock” = time phrase → no subject/verb → Phrase

10. Next Saturday evening, _we’re having pizza and chips_.
→ “we’re having pizza and chips” → subject (“we”) + verb (“are having”) → Clause

11. Above the castle _lurked a menacing monster_.
→ “lurked a menacing monster” → verb (“lurked”) + subject (“a menacing monster”) — again, inverted, but still subject + verb → Clause

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Now let’s fill in the table:

| Sentence | Phrase | Clause |
|----------|--------|--------|
| The doctor’s practice was a long way from her house. | ✓ | |
| The doctor did a thorough examination of the patient and decided he would need to rest for at least a week. | ✓ | |
| All through the night the rain fell. | ✓ | |
| For four days the child had a terrible hacking cough. | ✓ | |
| The sheep were lead to the field. | | ✓ |
| There are a huge number of people living in the Borough of Barnet. | | ✓ |
| Under the sea lived all kinds of animals. | | ✓ |
| Over the weekend I went shopping. | ✓ | |
| I always have a biscuit and cup of tea at five o’clock. | ✓ | |
| Next Saturday evening, we’re having pizza and chips. | | ✓ |
| Above the castle lurked a menacing monster. | | ✓ |

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Final Answer:

✔ Phrases: Sentences 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9
✔ Clauses: Sentences 5, 6, 7, 10, 11

You can mark ticks accordingly in your worksheet!