Phrases and Clauses exercise - Free Printable

Problem Overview:

The task requires identifying clauses and phrases in the given sentences. Let's break down the solution step by step.

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Definitions:

1. Clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate (a verb or verb phrase). A clause can stand alone as a sentence or be part of a larger sentence.
- Independent Clause: Can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Dependent Clause: Cannot stand alone and depends on an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

2. Phrase: A group of related words that does not contain both a subject and a predicate. Phrases function as single parts of speech (e.g., noun phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase).

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Solution:

#### Sentence 1: He is laughing at a joker.
- Clause: "He is laughing"
- This is an independent clause because it has a subject ("He") and a predicate ("is laughing"), and it can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Phrase: "at a joker"
- This is a prepositional phrase. It begins with a preposition ("at") and includes the object of the preposition ("a joker").

#### Sentence 2: She is making tea for the guests.
- Clause: "She is making tea"
- This is an independent clause because it has a subject ("She") and a predicate ("is making tea"), and it can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Phrase: "for the guests"
- This is a prepositional phrase. It begins with a preposition ("for") and includes the object of the preposition ("the guests").

#### Sentence 3: I saw a girl with blue eyes.
- Clause: "I saw a girl"
- This is an independent clause because it has a subject ("I") and a predicate ("saw a girl"), and it can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Phrase: "with blue eyes"
- This is a prepositional phrase. It begins with a preposition ("with") and includes the object of the preposition ("blue eyes").

#### Sentence 4: He always behaves in a strange way.
- Clause: "He always behaves"
- This is an independent clause because it has a subject ("He") and a predicate ("always behaves"), and it can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Phrase: "in a strange way"
- This is a prepositional phrase. It begins with a preposition ("in") and includes the object of the preposition ("a strange way").

#### Sentence 5: The boy in the red shirt is my cousin.
- Clause: "The boy is my cousin"
- This is an independent clause because it has a subject ("The boy") and a predicate ("is my cousin"), and it can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Phrase: "in the red shirt"
- This is a prepositional phrase. It begins with a preposition ("in") and includes the object of the preposition ("the red shirt").

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Final Answers:

1. He is laughing at a joker.
- Clause: He is laughing
- Phrase: at a joker

2. She is making tea for the guests.
- Clause: She is making tea
- Phrase: for the guests

3. I saw a girl with blue eyes.
- Clause: I saw a girl
- Phrase: with blue eyes

4. He always behaves in a strange way.
- Clause: He always behaves
- Phrase: in a strange way

5. The boy in the red shirt is my cousin.
- Clause: The boy is my cousin
- Phrase: in the red shirt

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Boxed Final Answer:

\[
\boxed{
\begin{array}{ll}
\text{1. Clause: He is laughing} & \text{Phrase: at a joker} \\
\text{2. Clause: She is making tea} & \text{Phrase: for the guests} \\
\text{3. Clause: I saw a girl} & \text{Phrase: with blue eyes} \\
\text{4. Clause: He always behaves} & \text{Phrase: in a strange way} \\
\text{5. Clause: The boy is my cousin} & \text{Phrase: in the red shirt} \\
\end{array}
}
\]