Which of the following describes the difference between a clause and a phrase?

A clause modifies another word in the sentence, but a phrase does not.
A clause occurs at the beginning of a sentence, but a phrase does not.
A clause has commas around it or after it, but a phrase does not.
A clause has a subject and a verb but a phrase does not.

1 answer

The correct description of the difference between a clause and a phrase is:

A clause has a subject and a verb but a phrase does not.

A clause can stand alone as a complete thought (independent clause) or may not (dependent clause), while a phrase lacks a subject-verb combination and therefore does not express a complete thought.