Educational worksheet for identifying clauses and phrases in sentences.
A worksheet titled "Clause or Phrase?" with instructions and a list of 20 sentences for students to identify as clauses or phrases, featuring a cartoon polar bear and a definition of clause and phrase.
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Step-by-step solution for: Phrase and Clauses worksheet
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Phrase and Clauses worksheet
It looks like you've uploaded an image of a grammar worksheet that asks students to identify whether each given sentence or group of words is a clause or a phrase. The instructions are:
> "Read the group of words. Underline the ones that there is a noun and a verb in them (a subject and a verb). Then decide if it's a clause or phrase."
Let’s go through the list and solve each one step by step.
---
- Phrase: A group of words that does not contain both a subject and a verb.
- Example: *"after a good day"* — no subject/verb → phrase
- Clause: A group of words that has a subject and a verb.
- Example: *"He went home"* — "He" (subject), "went" (verb) → clause
---
Now, let's analyze each item:
1. He went home after a good day
- Subject: *He*
- Verb: *went*
- This has a subject and verb → ✔ Clause
2. I need to call you
- Subject: *I*
- Verb: *need*
- "To call you" is an infinitive phrase, but the main verb is *need* → ✔ Clause
3. The long and dangerous hallway
- Noun: *hallway*
- No verb → ✘ Phrase
4. Before the next light
- Prepositional phrase; no subject/verb → ✘ Phrase
5. Because I'm trying hard to do it quickly as possible
- Subject: *I*
- Verb: *am trying*
- Even though it starts with "because", this is a complete clause → ✔ Clause
6. The car is not working
- Subject: *The car*
- Verb: *is not working* → ✔ Clause
7. Working for himself
- Gerund phrase; no subject → ✘ Phrase
8. Whenever it gets cold
- Subject: *it*
- Verb: *gets*
- Complete clause (even though it's a dependent clause) → ✔ Clause
9. If they want to talk
- Subject: *they*
- Verb: *want* → ✔ Clause
10. Sawyer's north
- Possessive + noun → no verb → ✘ Phrase
11. In front of the building
- Prepositional phrase → ✘ Phrase
12. Jumping up and down on the bed
- Gerund phrase → no subject → ✘ Phrase
13. Until the next time
- Adverbial phrase → no subject/verb → ✘ Phrase
14. Until he finds a car
- Subject: *he*
- Verb: *finds* → ✔ Clause
15. I don't know the answer
- Subject: *I*
- Verb: *don't know* → ✔ Clause
16. Turned off the lights
- No subject → just a verb phrase → ✘ Phrase
17. Across the street from us
- Prepositional phrase → ✘ Phrase
18. Inside a deep, dark well
- Prepositional phrase → ✘ Phrase
---
| # | Group of Words | Clause / Phrase |
|---|----------------|-----------------|
| 1 | He went home after a good day | Clause |
| 2 | I need to call you | Clause |
| 3 | The long and dangerous hallway | Phrase |
| 4 | Before the next light | Phrase |
| 5 | Because I'm trying hard to do it quickly as possible | Clause |
| 6 | The car is not working | Clause |
| 7 | Working for himself | Phrase |
| 8 | Whenever it gets cold | Clause |
| 9 | If they want to talk | Clause |
|10 | Sawyer's north | Phrase |
|11 | In front of the building | Phrase |
|12 | Jumping up and down on the bed | Phrase |
|13 | Until the next time | Phrase |
|14 | Until he finds a car | Clause |
|15 | I don't know the answer | Clause |
|16 | Turned off the lights | Phrase |
|17 | Across the street from us | Phrase |
|18 | Inside a deep, dark well | Phrase |
---
- Some items are dependent clauses (like #5, #8, #9, #14), but they still count as clauses because they have a subject and verb.
- Phrases may include nouns, verbs (in non-finite forms), prepositions, etc., but must lack a finite verb and/or subject to be phrases.
- Always look for a subject + finite verb.
Let me know if you'd like this formatted into a printable answer sheet!
> "Read the group of words. Underline the ones that there is a noun and a verb in them (a subject and a verb). Then decide if it's a clause or phrase."
Let’s go through the list and solve each one step by step.
---
🔹 Definitions:
- Phrase: A group of words that does not contain both a subject and a verb.
- Example: *"after a good day"* — no subject/verb → phrase
- Clause: A group of words that has a subject and a verb.
- Example: *"He went home"* — "He" (subject), "went" (verb) → clause
---
Now, let's analyze each item:
1. He went home after a good day
- Subject: *He*
- Verb: *went*
- This has a subject and verb → ✔ Clause
2. I need to call you
- Subject: *I*
- Verb: *need*
- "To call you" is an infinitive phrase, but the main verb is *need* → ✔ Clause
3. The long and dangerous hallway
- Noun: *hallway*
- No verb → ✘ Phrase
4. Before the next light
- Prepositional phrase; no subject/verb → ✘ Phrase
5. Because I'm trying hard to do it quickly as possible
- Subject: *I*
- Verb: *am trying*
- Even though it starts with "because", this is a complete clause → ✔ Clause
6. The car is not working
- Subject: *The car*
- Verb: *is not working* → ✔ Clause
7. Working for himself
- Gerund phrase; no subject → ✘ Phrase
8. Whenever it gets cold
- Subject: *it*
- Verb: *gets*
- Complete clause (even though it's a dependent clause) → ✔ Clause
9. If they want to talk
- Subject: *they*
- Verb: *want* → ✔ Clause
10. Sawyer's north
- Possessive + noun → no verb → ✘ Phrase
11. In front of the building
- Prepositional phrase → ✘ Phrase
12. Jumping up and down on the bed
- Gerund phrase → no subject → ✘ Phrase
13. Until the next time
- Adverbial phrase → no subject/verb → ✘ Phrase
14. Until he finds a car
- Subject: *he*
- Verb: *finds* → ✔ Clause
15. I don't know the answer
- Subject: *I*
- Verb: *don't know* → ✔ Clause
16. Turned off the lights
- No subject → just a verb phrase → ✘ Phrase
17. Across the street from us
- Prepositional phrase → ✘ Phrase
18. Inside a deep, dark well
- Prepositional phrase → ✘ Phrase
---
✔ Final Answers:
| # | Group of Words | Clause / Phrase |
|---|----------------|-----------------|
| 1 | He went home after a good day | Clause |
| 2 | I need to call you | Clause |
| 3 | The long and dangerous hallway | Phrase |
| 4 | Before the next light | Phrase |
| 5 | Because I'm trying hard to do it quickly as possible | Clause |
| 6 | The car is not working | Clause |
| 7 | Working for himself | Phrase |
| 8 | Whenever it gets cold | Clause |
| 9 | If they want to talk | Clause |
|10 | Sawyer's north | Phrase |
|11 | In front of the building | Phrase |
|12 | Jumping up and down on the bed | Phrase |
|13 | Until the next time | Phrase |
|14 | Until he finds a car | Clause |
|15 | I don't know the answer | Clause |
|16 | Turned off the lights | Phrase |
|17 | Across the street from us | Phrase |
|18 | Inside a deep, dark well | Phrase |
---
📝 Notes:
- Some items are dependent clauses (like #5, #8, #9, #14), but they still count as clauses because they have a subject and verb.
- Phrases may include nouns, verbs (in non-finite forms), prepositions, etc., but must lack a finite verb and/or subject to be phrases.
- Always look for a subject + finite verb.
Let me know if you'd like this formatted into a printable answer sheet!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of phrase and clause worksheets.