CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 16 The phrase And The Clause

1. Look at the groups of words in italics in the following sentences —

Examples:

He left us in the morning.
He left us when the morning came.

2. The group of words in sentence 1, in the morning, has a meaning, or makes sense, but it does not make complete sense. It is not a sentence, for it has no Subject and no Predicate. Such a group of words is called a Phrase.

3. A Phrase is a group of words that makes sense, but not complete sense. It has no Subject and no Predicate.

4. The group of words in sentence 2, when the morning came, is not a Phrase, for it has a Subject (the morning) and a Predicate (came) of its own. Such a group of words is called a Clause.

A Clause is a group of words that forms part of a larger sentence, and has a Subject and a Predicate of its own.

5. Study the words in italics in the following sentences

Example:

He returned at sunset. [Returned when ?]
He returned when the sun set.[Returned when ?]

6. It is evident that both the groups of words in italics, in sentences 1 and 2, do the work of an Adverb, as they show when he returned. But in sentence 1, the group of words at sunset is a phrase. Since it does the work of an Adverb, it is called an Adverb Phrase.

In 2, the group of words when the sun set is a clause, for it has a Subject (the sun) and a Predicate (set) of its own. But since it does the work of an Adverb, it is called an Adverb Clause.

An Adverb Clause is a group of words that contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own, and does the work of an Adverb.

7. Study the words in italics in the following sentences —

Examples:

He likes a story with a moral in it.[Which story ?]
He likes a story that has a moral in it. [Which story ?]

The first group of words, with a moral in it, describes what sort of story he likes, that is, it qualifies the Noun story and does the work of an Adjective. It is, therefore, called an Adjective Phrase.

8. The second group of words, which has a moral in it, also describes what sort of story he likes, and so does the work of an Adjective. But since it contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own, it is called an Adjective Clause.

An Adjective Clause is a group of words that contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own, and does the work of an Adjective.

9. Study the words in italics in the following sentences:—

Examples:

They expected to win the match. [Expected what?]
They expected that they would win the match. [Expected what?]

The first group of words, to win the match, does not contain a Subject and a Predicate of its own. It is, therefore, a Phrase. This Phrase does the work of a Noun, since it is the Object of the Verb expected. It is, therefore, called a Noun Phrase.

The second group of words, that they would win the match, contains a Subject (they) and a Predicate (would win the match). It is, therefore, a Clause. This Clause is the Object of the Verb expected and so does the work of a Noun.

It is, therefore, called a Noun Clause. A Noun Clause is a group of words that contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own, and does the work of a Noun.

10. Thus, there are three kinds of Clauses —

The Adverb Clause
The Adjective Clause
The Noun Clause

Exercise -1

Underline the Clauses in the following sentences, and tell the kind of each

Question 1. I asked her where she was going. ________________
Answer: Noun clause

Question 2. He expected that he would win a prize. ________________
Answer: Noun clause

Question 3. The boys went home when the school was over. ________________
Answer: Adverb clause

Question 4. He will pass if he works hard. _______________
Answer: Adverb clause

Question 5. No one knows where he lives. ________________
Answer: Noun clause

Question 6. The mice will play when the cat is away. ________________
Answer: Adverb clause

Question 7. God helps those who help themselves. ________________
Answer: Adjective clause

Question 8. This is the house where I was born. ________________
Answer: Adjective clause

Question 9. I do not know what she wants. ________________
Answer: Noun clause

Question 10. I think he will pass this year. ________________
Answer: Noun clause

Question 11. This is the boy who saved your child’s life. ________________
Answer: Adjective clause

Question 12. I met her when I was in Mumbai.
Answer: Adverb clause

Question 13. The dog that bit the child was mad.____________
Answer: Adjective clause

Question 14. I know who is to blame. ________________
Answer: Noun clause

Question 15. I know the man who is there. ________________
Answer: Adjective clause

Question 16. This is the house that Jack built. ________________
Answer: Adjective clause

Question 17. People who eat too much die early. ________________
Answer: Adjective clause

Question 18. This is the beggar whom we met yesterday. ________________
Answer: Adjective clause

Question 19. I know when he will come. ________________
Answer: Noun clause

Question 20. I know the time when he will come.
Answer: Relative Clause

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with suitable Clauses

Adverb Clauses

Question 1. He will pass______
Answer: If he studies hard.

Question 2. He came______
Answer: When the bell rang.

Question 3. They fought______
Answer: As if their lives depended on it.

Question 4. Make hay______
Answer: While the sun shines.

Question 5. His father died______
Answer: Before he could see his grandchild.

Question 6. Work hard______
Answer: So that you may succeed.

Question 7. Wait______
Answer: Until the rain stops.

Question 8. Do I
Answer: As I say.

Question 9. We eat ______
Answer: Because we need energy.

Question 10. ______ will keep it.
Answer: Wherever you put it

Adjective Clauses

Question 1. He lost the book ______
Answer: That you gave him.

Question 2. I know the man ______
Answer: Who lives next door?

Question 3. This is the pen______
Answer: Which I bought yesterday

Question 4. They never fail______
Answer: Those who trust in God.

Question 5. I found an umbrella______
Answer: That someone had left behind.

Question 6. I remember______
Answer: What you told me.

Question 7. God helps those ______
Answer: Those who help themselves.

Question 8. This is the book______
Answer: That inspired me.

Question 9. All that glitters is ______
Answer: Not gold.

Question 10. He is the boy______
Answer: Who won the competition?

Noun Clauses

Question 1. Do you know______
Answer: Where did she go?

Question 2. He spends______
Answer: What he earns.

Question 3. We Know ____________
Answer: That the Earth is round.

Question 4. Can you guess______
Answer: Who called me today?

Question 5. I often wonder______
Answer: Why do birds migrate?

Question 6. She says______
Answer: She will come tomorrow.

Question 7. Do you deny ______
Answer: that you take the money?

Question 8. ______ is quite certain.
Answer: That he is guilty

Question 9. This is______
Answer: What I wanted.

Question 10.______ is a mystery.
Answer: Why did he disappear