What term refers to a phrase that contains a verb and normally a subject, and can stand as a sentence or be part of one?

What term refers to a phrase that contains a verb and normally a subject, and can stand as a sentence or be part of one?

• A. Clause
• B. Sentence
• C. Phrase
• D. Clause fragment

Answer: (A)

A clause is a unit that contains a verb and usually a subject, and it can function as a sentence by itself when it’s independent, or be part of a larger sentence when it’s dependent. That makes it the best fit for the description: it explicitly centers on having a verb (and typically a subject) and the potential to stand alone or appear inside a larger structure. A sentence is a complete thought and may contain one or more clauses, but the term asked for is the smaller unit that centers on the verb and subject. A phrase lacks a finite verb, so it can’t meet the description, and a clause fragment is an incomplete clause, not the general unit described here.

A clause is a unit that contains a verb and usually a subject, and it can function as a sentence by itself when it’s independent, or be part of a larger sentence when it’s dependent. That makes it the best fit for the description: it explicitly centers on having a verb (and typically a subject) and the potential to stand alone or appear inside a larger structure. A sentence is a complete thought and may contain one or more clauses, but the term asked for is the smaller unit that centers on the verb and subject. A phrase lacks a finite verb, so it can’t meet the description, and a clause fragment is an incomplete clause, not the general unit described here.