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He ran. This sentence is also a clause.

Clauses and Phrases

Clauses and phrases are the building blocks of sentences. This KS2 English quiz helps pupils understand how they work together to make writing clear and interesting.

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Fascinating Fact:

Scientists use clauses carefully when explaining cause and effect, such as “the ice melted because the temperature rose.”

In KS2 English, pupils learn that sentences are made of clauses and phrases. Clauses contain a subject and a verb, while phrases add extra information or detail to a sentence.

Key Terms

Clause: A group of words containing a subject and a verb, such as “The dog barked.”
Phrase: A group of words without a verb that adds meaning, for example “in the garden.”
Subordinate Clause: A clause that depends on the main clause to make sense, such as “because it was raining.”

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is the difference between a clause and a phrase?

A clause has a subject and a verb, while a phrase does not. For example, “The cat slept” is a clause, and “on the sofa” is a phrase.

How can I spot a subordinate clause?

A subordinate clause starts with words like “because” or “although” and does not make sense on its own, such as “because I was tired.”

Why do writers use clauses and phrases?

Writers use them to build complex sentences, add description, and make writing more detailed and engaging for the reader.

Try These Related Quizzes

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1 .

Find the clause in the sentence. Remember, a clause could make a complete sentence on its own.
The sun was shining on the pitch, blinding the team.

The sun was shining on the pitch

was shining on the pitch

shining on the pitch, blinding

blinding the team

'The sun' is the subject and 'was shining' is the verb.

2 .

Find the clause in the sentence. Remember, a clause could make a complete sentence on its own.
The goalkeeper eyed the striker, leaning forward intently.

The goalkeeper

The goalkeeper eyed the striker

leaning forward

leaning forward intently

Subject / verb = 'The goalkeeper eyed'.

3 .

Find the clause in the sentence. Remember, a clause could make a complete sentence on its own.
Before lunch, I will finish reading my book.

Before lunch

Before lunch, I will

I will finish reading my book

finish reading my book

'Before lunch' is a phrase - it does not include a subject/verb pairing.

4 .

Find the clause in the sentence. Remember, a clause could make a complete sentence on its own.
Coming home, I could smell the delicious scent of spaghetti bolognese, my favourite meal.

Coming home

Coming home, I could smell

I could smell the delicious scent of spaghetti bolognese

my favourite meal

'Coming home' and 'my favourite meal' are both phrases.

5 .

Find the clause in the sentence. Remember, a clause could make a complete sentence on its own.
Over the fields and through the woods, the deer ran.

Over the fields

through the woods

Over the fields and through the woods

the deer ran

Although it is made up of only three words, 'the deer ran' is the clause of this sentence.

6 .

Find the clause in the sentence. Remember, a clause could make a complete sentence on its own.
The dog, not altogether unsurprisingly, hates having a bath.

The dog

not altogether unsurprisingly

hates having a bath

The dog hates having a bath

Often clauses are interrupted by phrases. When a phrase such as 'not altogether unsurprisingly' is used to add extra information, it needs a pair of commas to separate it from the main clause.

7 .

Find the clause in the sentence. Remember, a clause could make a complete sentence on its own.
Tired of practising, she quietly closed the lid of the piano.

Tired of practising

of practising

of practising, she quietly closed

she quietly closed the lid of the piano

Subject / verb = 'she closed'. 'Tired of practising' is a phrase.

8 .

Find the clause in the sentence. Remember, a clause could make a complete sentence on its own.
She walked up the stairs, laughing softly.

She walked up the stairs

walked up

walked up the stairs

laughing softly

'She' is the subject and 'walked' is the verb.

9 .

Find the clause in the sentence. Remember, a clause could make a complete sentence on its own.
Edna, my Nan's best friend, asked me if I like gooseberries.

Edna

my Nan's best friend

Edna asked me if I like gooseberries

asked me if I like gooseberries

The phrase 'my Nan's best friend' is set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas.

10 .

Find the clause in the sentence. Remember, a clause could make a complete sentence on its own.
Despite being dark and gloomy, the weather made him happy.