What is the difference between a dependent clause and a phrase
A dependent clause and a phrase are both groups of words that are related and function as a unit within a sentence. However, there is a key difference between them.
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It relies on an independent clause to form a complete thought. For example: "Although I studied hard" is a dependent clause since it needs more information to be a complete thought, such as "Although I studied hard, I did not pass the exam."
On the other hand, a phrase is a group of words that does not contain a subject and a verb in a way that forms a complete sentence. It can be a combination of words acting as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb, but it does not express a complete thought. For example: "the blue sky" is a phrase that functions as an adjective modifying a noun, but it cannot stand alone as a sentence.
In summary, a dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but needs an independent clause to form a complete thought. A phrase, however, does not have a subject and a verb and cannot express a complete thought on its own.