PHRASES & CLAUSES:

A clause is a section of a sentence which contains both a noun (or pronoun) and one finite verb, whereas a phrase is a group of words which does not contain a finite verb.  For example:

'Climbing to the top, Colin surveyed the fantastic view'.

Here 'Climbing to the top' is a phrase and 'Colin surveyed the fantastic view' is the clause it links to.  The phrase adds some information to the clause which is not essential but which helps give us further information.  'Colin surveyed the fantastic view' for example, could be used alone whereas 'Climbing to the top' is meaningless without something to link to.

Punctuation

In an identifying relative clause we do not use commas (except, of course, where they are required for other reasons such as lists), e.g. The woman who painted this picture is a very dear friend.

In a non-identifying relative clause we must use commas.

The additional information is put between commas:

e.g. Mercy Campus, which is in Ascot Vale, is easy to get to.

or after a comma:

e.g. I take the tram from Niddrie, where I live.

Zero pronouns

If the pronoun refers to the object, you don't have to use it in an identifying relative clause.

The following three sentences are all correct:

The poem (object) you wrote was beautiful.
The poem (object) that you wrote was beautiful.
The poem (object) which you wrote was beautiful.

If the pronoun refers to the subject, you must use it:

The woman (subject) who cuts my hair is French.
The woman (subject) that cuts my hair is French.

Exercise

Choose a suitable 'ending' to each 'beginning' to complete the sentence.  Compare your answer by clicking the 'Beginnings' phrases.

	Beginnings He looked really smart The child laughed and giggled Throwing open the door He reflected on the day's events Richard broke his ankle		Endings he rushed into the room. in a car accident. when he attended the interview. as he played with the balloon. as he settled down for the night.