Generally, a sentence comprises on one or more clauses which themselves consist of one or more phrases. Sentences are of different kinds. Their kind is mainly determined by the type of clause incorporated in it.

1-    SENTENCE

A group of words which gives complete meaning is called a sentence. Usually, a sentence contains subject, verb and object. Sometimes, we find a sentence containing only a single verb. Nevertheless, sentences comprise on clauses.

1.1    CLAUSE

A group of words which makes a complete sentence or a part of sentence. It has its own subject and predicate (all elements except subject in a sentence).

Some sentences are comprised on a single clause and therefore, are known as simple sentence. For example:

(1)    I play cricket.                                (Simple Sentence)

Generally, we find two types of clauses e.g., independent clause and dependent clause.

1.1.1    INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

A clause which gives its full meaning independently is called an independent clause. It does not depend on the other clauses to complete its meaning. For example:

(2)    The children were flying kites.        (Independent clause)

Sometimes, a sentence comprises on two independent clauses and therefore, are termed as a compound sentence. For example:

(3)    You are old but I am young.            (Compound Sentence)

1.1.2    DEPENDENT CLAUSE

A clause which cannot stand by itself, but depends on other clauses to complete its meaning is generally known as dependent clause. For example:

(4)    If I go to Lahore, I shall bring a gift for you.

Sometimes, a sentence contains a dependent clause along with an independent clause and therefore, is called a complex sentence. For example:

(5)    When I woke up, the sun was rising.    (Complex Sentence)

Generally, a clause comprises on one or more phrases which evolve when words combine together. Nevertheless, phrases have a head word with which they are recognized.

1.2    PHRASE

A phrase is usually defined as a group of words which gives meaning but not complete meaning. Phrases combine and make clauses/sentences.

For example, the following sentence contains a verb phrase, a prepositional phrase and a noun phrase.

(6)    Go to the zoo.

1.2.1    STRUCTURE OF PHRASE

Usually, a phrase comprises on a head word and a determiner. For the most often, we come across a phrase containing only a head word (= without any determiner). However, it is always the head word which determines the appellation of a phrase. For example:

(7)    The zoo            (Noun Phrase)

(8)    To the zoo        (Prepositional Phrase)

(9)    Go to the zoo    (Verb Phrase)

1.2.2    PHRASE STRUCTURE RULES

A few rules govern and determine the structures of phrases. Hence, a sentence (S) comprises on a verb phrase (VP) and a noun phrase (NP) or prepositional phrase (PP).

S           =          VP  +   NP

VP        =           V    +   NP, PP

PP        =           P    +   NP

NP        =           N    +  D

Where V stands for verb, P stands for preposition, N stands for noun and D stands for determiner.

1.2.3    KINDS OF PHRASE

Phrases are of different kinds. Their names correspond to the head word incorporated in the phrase.

1.2.3.1    NOUN PHRASE

A phrase in which head word is a noun is known as a phrase sometimes the noun carries a determiner with it. For example:

(10)    My brother likes sweet mangoes.

1.2.3.2    PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

A prepositional phrase contain preposition as the head word accompanied by noun phrase. For example:

(11)    They grow plants on their roof.

1.2.3.3    VERB PHRASE

A verb phrase comprises of a verb and a prepositional phrase or a noun phrase, or both. For example:

(12)    Children play in the ground.