Words and Groups of Words
A word is a collection of letters that is used to convey meaning or to name:
desk run Bob green Ow! because suspiciously them into
There are eight different parts of speech.
A phrase is a group of words that go together but that is missing EITHER a subject OR a predicate OR both:
was swimming in the bay (no subject) My green and purple striped shirt (no predicate) in the middle ages (no subject, no predicate)
A clause is a group of words with BOTH a subject AND a predicate. There are two kinds of clauses:
independent clause: expresses a complete thought; can "stand on its own"; no other information is needed --- Mr. B played his music loudly.
Some independent clauses are sentences.
dependent clause: does NOT express a complete thought; cannot "stand on its own"; more information is needed --- If you want to earn money
Some words that can indicate a dependent clause are When, If, Because, Even though
Some dependent clauses are fragments.