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Year 8 English — Phrases and clauses

Tell a phrase from a clause, and a main clause from a subordinate one.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Sort each clause by whether it could stand alone as a sentence.

    Groups: Main clause · Subordinate clause

    • although the door creaked
    • she opened the box
    • birds were singing
    • the shop was closed
    • when we arrived
    • because it was locked

  2. 2.Which group of words is a phrase?

    • a) at the end of the road
    • b) although he tried
    • c) if you agree
    • d) before the sun rose

  3. 3.Sort each group of words by whether it contains a verb.

    Groups: Contains a verb · Contains no verb

    • we waited
    • a red umbrella
    • under the bench
    • he was sleeping
    • very carefully
    • the birds flew

  4. 4.In "We stayed indoors because it was raining", which part is the main clause?

    • a) We stayed indoors
    • b) because it was raining
    • c) it was raining
    • d) stayed indoors because

  5. 5.Put the parts in order to make one correct sentence. More than one order works here.

    • because the road was closed
    • the bus took
    • to the town
    • a longer route

  6. 6.Write the one word that begins the subordinate clause in "She smiled because she had won."

  7. 7.Match each term to its meaning.

    • a phrase
    • a main clause
    • a subordinate clause
    • a subject
    • a predicate
    • the person or thing the clause is about
    • a clause that makes complete sense on its own
    • a group of words with no subject and verb of its own
    • what the clause says about its subject
    • a clause that depends on another clause

  8. 8.How many clauses are there in "He ran fast, but he missed the bus"?

Answer key — Year 8 English — Phrases and clauses

  1. 1. the shop was closed → Main clause; when we arrived → Subordinate clause; she opened the box → Main clause; because it was locked → Subordinate clause; birds were singing → Main clause; although the door creaked → Subordinate clause
  2. 2. a) at the end of the road
  3. 3. the birds flew → Contains a verb; a red umbrella → Contains no verb; we waited → Contains a verb; under the bench → Contains no verb; he was sleeping → Contains a verb; very carefully → Contains no verb
  4. 4. a) We stayed indoors
  5. 5. 1. because the road was closed 2. the bus took 3. a longer route 4. to the town
    Also accepted, in full:
    • 1. the bus took 2. a longer route 3. to the town 4. because the road was closed
  6. 6. because
  7. 7. a phrase → a group of words with no subject and verb of its own; a main clause → a clause that makes complete sense on its own; a subordinate clause → a clause that depends on another clause; a subject → the person or thing the clause is about; a predicate → what the clause says about its subject
  8. 8. 2