9th Grade English Homework Help

Help with 9th Grade English

Phrases

A phrase is a group of words that relate to each other and have a specific meaning. Phrases are sentence parts, but not complete sentences in themselves. They often include parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs and adjectives. Some of the common types of phrases are explained below with examples of each.

Noun

A noun phrase contains a noun or subject, which is usually a person, place or thing. It also contains modifiers, which are words that provide more information about the noun. Depending on the sentence, a noun phrase can be placed at the beginning or the end.

The dress in the display case is too expensive.

I don't like the boy who moved in next door.

Verb

Verb phrases refer to the group of words in a sentence that contain the main verb and helping verbs. In a verb phrase the helping verbs are generally placed before the main verb. Helping verbs are also known as auxiliary verbs.

Patrick was making pizza for dinner. ('Making' is the verb and 'was' is the helping verb.)

Prepositional

Prepositional phrases add more meaning to sentences. They begin with prepositions and end with nouns, pronouns or clauses. They can also contain modifiers.

Under my bed, I found the shoes I've been looking for.

Clauses

Unlike phrases, certain clauses can function as complete sentences. Furthermore, all clauses contain a subject and a verb. Some common types of clauses and examples are provided below.

Independent

An independent clause, also known as a main clause, is a complete thought. In order for a group of words to actually qualify as a sentence, it has to form an independent clause. If it doesn't, it's a fragment, or piece, of a sentence.

Big dogs bark.

Dependent

Dependent clauses are the opposite of independent clauses. Often called subordinate clauses, they can't stand alone as a full sentence. They are incomplete thoughts. Therefore, they must be attached to an independent clause to create a sentence. The example below is not a complete sentence because the dependent clause is not paired with an independent clause.

Whenever I'm in trouble.

Relative

Relative or adjective clauses are used to add description or explanation in a sentence. They begin with relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which or that) or relative adverbs (when, where or why). The two types of relative clauses are essential and nonessential.

Essential

Essential relative clauses are clauses that provide necessary information about the subject. They don't require a comma.

The man who sold me the watch ripped me off.

Nonessential

Nonessential relative clauses are clauses that contain additional information that is unnecessary. They require commas.

Johnny, who is the football team captain, received a full athletic scholarship.