English Language · Lesson 10

Clauses, phrases & sentence types (grammatical name and function)

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: Sentence structure, clause and phrase analysis as tested in grammar and sentence interpretation items

WAEC: Grammatical structures: identification of phrases and clauses, their grammatical names and functions (noun, adjectival and adverbial clauses and phrases); sentence types by structure (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex) and by function (declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory)

NECO: Grammatical structures: identification of phrases and clauses, their grammatical names and functions (noun, adjectival and adverbial clauses and phrases); sentence types by structure (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex) and by function (declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory)

What you will learn

Distinguish phrases from clauses and main clauses from subordinate clauses.
Identify noun, adjectival and adverbial phrases and their functions.
Identify noun, adjectival and adverbial clauses, including all types of adverbial clause.
State the grammatical name and function of any underlined expression in WAEC format.
Classify sentences by structure and by function.
Use varied sentence structures in your own writing.

Key points

Phrase: no subject + finite verb. Clause: has subject + finite verb.
Main clause stands alone; subordinate clause depends and starts with a subordinator.
Noun clause: subject, object, complement, object of preposition, apposition (test: replace with "it").
Adjectival clause: qualifies a noun/pronoun; who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when.
Adverbial clauses: time, place, reason, purpose, condition, concession, result, manner, comparison.
WAEC answers: precise name + function naming the exact word.
Structure: simple, compound, complex, compound-complex. Function: declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory.

Start here: Words, phrases, clauses and sentences

Language is built in layers, like a house: bricks (words) form blocks (phrases), blocks form walls (clauses), and walls form rooms (sentences).

A phrase is a group of words that works as a single unit but does not contain a subject and a finite verb.
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a finite verb.

Compare:

after the match — a phrase (no subject, no finite verb).
after the match ended — a clause (subject "the match", finite verb "ended").

Finite and non-finite verbs

This is the key test. A finite verb shows tense and has a subject: Tunde runs; Tunde ran; Tunde will run. A non-finite form has no tense of its own: to run, running, run (as in "having run"). A group of words containing only non-finite verbs is a phrase, not a clause.

So running to school is a phrase; while I was running to school is a clause.

Worked example 10.1

Phrase or clause? (a) "to pass the exam" (b) "that she would pass" (c) "having finished her chores".

(a) "to pass" is an infinitive, non-finite; no subject: phrase.
(b) subject "she", finite verb "would pass": clause.
(c) "having finished" is a participle, non-finite: phrase.

(a) phrase (b) clause (c) phrase

Try it yourself. Is "when the rain stopped" a phrase or a clause?

Show solution

A clause: subject "the rain", finite verb "stopped".

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Practice questions

1. Identify the grammatical name of the underlined words: I know [that she is honest].

Noun clause
Adjectival clause
Adverbial clause
Noun phrase

Show answer

A: Noun clause
It is the object of "know".

2. Identify the function of the underlined words: [What he said] surprised everyone.

Object of the verb
Complement
Adjunct
Subject of the verb "surprised"

Show answer

D: Subject of the verb "surprised"
The clause does the surprising.

3. Identify the grammatical name of: The book [which you lent me] is interesting.

Adverbial clause of reason
Prepositional phrase
Adjectival (relative) clause
Noun clause

Show answer

C: Adjectival (relative) clause
It describes "book".

4. Identify the grammatical name of: We stayed indoors [because it was raining].

Infinitive phrase
Adverbial clause of reason
Noun clause
Adjectival clause

Show answer

B: Adverbial clause of reason
It tells why.

5. Identify the grammatical name of: She sat [under the mango tree].

Prepositional phrase
Adverbial clause
Noun clause
Adjectival clause

Show answer

A: Prepositional phrase
No finite verb; it begins with a preposition.

Key words

Phrase: A group of words that works as one unit but lacks a subject–finite verb combination.
Clause: A group of words containing a subject and a finite verb.
Finite verb: A verb that shows tense and agrees with a subject (goes, went, is).
Non-finite verb: A verb form without tense: infinitive (to go), -ing participle, -ed participle.
Main clause: A clause that makes complete sense alone.
Subordinate clause: A clause that depends on a main clause.
Subordinator: A word introducing a subordinate clause (because, when, that, if, although).
Relative pronoun: who, whom, whose, which, that, introducing adjectival clauses.
Antecedent: The noun that a relative clause qualifies.
Complement: A word or group completing the meaning of the subject or object after verbs like be, become.
Apposition: A noun or noun group placed beside another to explain it.
Grammatical name: The label of the structure, e.g. "adverbial clause of reason".

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