Kandahar University

Engineering Faculty
Smimulhaq samimi
First Year, 1st Semester [2017]

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Phrase, Clause & Sentence

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 Outlines

Phrase
Clause
Sentence
Parts of the Sentence
Classification of Sentences
How to write a sentence?
Practice on writing sentence
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 Phrase
A small group of words that adds meaning to a sentence.

A phrase is a group of words that have a function in a sentence,

but do not have a subject and verb.

A group of words that has no subject and verb and

does not give complete meaning.

Examples:
on the wall,
in strict condition 4
 Phrase (Contd.)

In English there are five different kinds of phrases:

1. Noun Phrase:
In a noun phrase, one or more words work together to give more
information about a noun.

Examples:
all my dear children
the information age
seventeen hungry lions in the rocks

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 Phrase (Contd.)

2. Adjective Phrase:
In an adjective phrase, one or more words work together to give
more information about an adjective.

Examples:
so very sweet
very happy with his work

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 Phrase (Contd.)

3. Verb Phrase:
In a verb phrase, one or more words work together to give more
meaning to a verb. In English, the verb phrase is very complex.

Examples:

Running on the wet floor, she slipped and broke her arm.
Fill up the gas tank to help it run better.
To bake a cake, you need flour and sugar.
Finally, I have saved enough to buy a car.

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 Phrase (Contd.)

4. Adverb Phrase:
In an adverb phrase, one or more words work together to give more
information about an adverb.

Examples:
especially softly
formerly of the city of Paris
much too quickly to see clearly

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 Phrase (Contd.)

5. Preposition Phrase:
In a prepositional phrase, one or more words work together to give
information about time, location, or possession, or condition.
The preposition always appears at the front of the phrase.

Examples:
after a very long walk
behind the old building
for all the hungry children
in case it should happen again
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 Clause

A clause is a part of a sentence.

A clause normally contains at least a subject noun phrase and

only one main verb.

There are two types of clauses:

(i) independent and

(ii) subordinate (dependent).

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 Clause (Contd.)

i. independent (primary, main, principle)

An independent clause or main clause is a complete sentence in itself,
although it may not express a complete thought.

Examples:
I live in Kandahar.
They did it.

Two clauses can be joined with a pronoun.

Example:

I live in London, which is in England.

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 Clause (Contd.)

ii. subordinate (dependent)

A subordinate clause or dependent clause is one which is dependent on
the main clause (the primary clause).
The main clause makes sense on its own. However, the subordinate clause
does not.

Example:
I love you. makes perfect sense left on its own.
However, and I always will, does not.

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 Sentence

A group of words put together to mean something

Has at least a subject and a main verb.

Basic unit of language which expresses a complete thought.

A group of words that contains subject and verb and gives a

complete meaning is called sentence.

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 Sentence (Contd.)

A sentence is made of two main parts (Subject and Predicate):

1. The subject of a sentence is usually a noun that comes before the verb. This noun is
usually the thing that is doing the action, and it is usually the topic of the sentence.
2. A predicate is the head of a clause and says something about the subject.

Examples:
My brother is a lecturer.
Rafiullah usually eats fattening food.
Subject Predicate

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 Sentence (Contd.)

Sentence Classification by Structure:

Simple sentence
Compound sentence
Complex sentence
Complex Compound Sentence

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 Sentence (Contd.)

1. Simple Sentence
A simple sentence is one (main/independent) clause.

Examples:
Ahmad is sleeping.
The company headquarters moved to Kabul.
I teach math classes.

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 Sentence (Contd.)

2. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is two or more (main) clauses joined together with
conjunctions, punctuation, or both.

Examples:
The dog is happy, but the cat is sad.
Ahmad traveled to India but Ali stayed to finish school here.

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 Sentence (Contd.)

3. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence is one (main) clause with a relative/dependent clause.

Examples:
The dog, which is eating the bone, is happy.
I couldnt stop laughing when she was eating.

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 Sentence (Contd.)

4. Complex-Compound Sentence
A complex-compound sentence or compound-complex sentence is many
clauses, at least one of which is a relative clause:

Examples:
The dog, which is eating the bone, is happy, but the cat is sad.
When a dog bites a man, that is not news because it happens so
often, but if a man bites a dog, that is news.

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 Sentence (Contd.)

Sentence Classification by Purpose:

Declarative (assertive) sentence

Interrogative sentence
Exclamatory sentence
Imperative sentence

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 Sentence (Contd.)

1. Declarative (Assertive) Sentence

A declarative sentence, or declaration, is the most common type of
sentence. It tells something.
A positive or negative statement is called assertive sentence. It ends
with a full stop .

Examples:
Ahmad is happy.
Today is warm and beautiful.
Sadiqullah didnt talk to the classmates.

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 Sentence (Contd.)

2. Interrogative Sentence
An interrogative sentence, or question, asks something. It ends with
a question mark (?).

Examples:
Is Ahmad happy?
Did he buy an iPhone 6?
Will we watch a movie tonight?

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 Sentence (Contd.)

3. Exclamatory Sentence
An exclamatory sentence, or exclamation, expresses excitement or
emotions or says something out of the ordinary. It ends with an
exclamation mark (!).

Examples:
What a nice house!
Wow! You brought me an iPhone!

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 Sentence (Contd.)

4. Imperative Sentence
An imperative sentence, or command, tells someone to do
something.

Examples:
Lock the door.
Please, be on time.

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 Sentence (Contd.)

When writing a sentence, observe the following steps:

1. Capitalization
2. Punctuation
3. Spacing
4. Logical Connection
5. Reread (Check)

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 Sentence (Contd.)

Examples:
My brother is a carpenter.
Are you a school student?
Our English teacher is in Kabul.
Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan.
My brother lives in Helmand.
Karimullah studies in Scotland.

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