Which term describes a group of words that lacks either a subject or a predicate and does not form a complete sentence?

Which term describes a group of words that lacks either a subject or a predicate and does not form a complete sentence?

• A. Phrase
• B. Clause
• C. Independent clause
• D. Simple sentence

Answer: (A)

This item tests how phrases differ from clauses and from complete sentences. A phrase is a group of words that does not have both a subject and a predicate, or does not express a complete thought, so it cannot stand alone as a sentence. For example, “in the morning,” “to sing softly,” or “the tall pine tree” are phrases because they lack either a verb that carries the action or a full assertion, and they rely on other words to complete meaning. By contrast, a clause contains a subject and a predicate. It can form a sentence on its own if it’s independent (as in “She runs every day.”), or it cannot stand alone if it’s dependent (as in “because she loves music”). A simple sentence is made up of one independent clause. So the term that describes a group of words missing a subject or a predicate and not forming a complete sentence is a phrase.

This item tests how phrases differ from clauses and from complete sentences. A phrase is a group of words that does not have both a subject and a predicate, or does not express a complete thought, so it cannot stand alone as a sentence. For example, “in the morning,” “to sing softly,” or “the tall pine tree” are phrases because they lack either a verb that carries the action or a full assertion, and they rely on other words to complete meaning.

By contrast, a clause contains a subject and a predicate. It can form a sentence on its own if it’s independent (as in “She runs every day.”), or it cannot stand alone if it’s dependent (as in “because she loves music”). A simple sentence is made up of one independent clause.

So the term that describes a group of words missing a subject or a predicate and not forming a complete sentence is a phrase.