Phrases and Clauses
A key component to improving one’s writing skills is to understand the difference between a phrase and a clause. An independent clause is the group of words that can express a complete thought. A dependent clause needs help from the main clause to complete the thought or sentence. A phrase is a group of words which plays a smaller role in the schematic of a complete sentence.
The Phrase
A phrase is a collection of words that may have nouns or verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives); but it does not have a subject doing a verb. Therefore, it is not a complete sentence.
Very soon
Near the fence
For the guests
In my room
Within the picture
The Clause
The underlined part of each of following sentences shows a clause, while the rest part (non-underlined) of each sentence shows a phrase.
The show will start very soon.
He hit the ball near the fence.
I’m making dinner for the guests.
I have to clean in my room.
Within the picture, there’s a painting of an ocean.
The Independent Clause
An independent clause has a subject and predicate and can stand by itself (hence independent; it stands alone), thereby forming a complete sentence with punctuation.
The show will start.
He hit the ball.
I’m making dinner.
I have to clean.
The Dependent Clause
A dependent clause, which cannot stand on its own (hence it “depends” on help) has a subject doing a verb, but they have a conjunction (i.e. and, but, or, etc.) placed in front of the clause; or do not form a complete thought. That conjunction means that the clause can't stand independently by itself and become a complete sentence. In the following examples, the subject is underlined and the verb is bold-faced; but these clauses do not form a complete thought, which makes them dependent.
When my mom arrives
Because she asked for help
Until the sun rises
Since I can’t afford it
When you come to visit