Sentences are made from phrases and clauses.

A clause (bold) is a group of words that typically contains a subject (the ‘doer’ of the action) and a verb (the action). e.g. ‘The badgers feasted on worms.’ When a clause expresses a complete thought like this, it can act as a sentence on its own. This type of clause is called a main clause.

A phrase (underlined) is a small group of words that forms part of a clause. Because it doesn’t contain both a subject and a verb, it cannot act as a sentence on its own. Phrases are often the parts of a sentence that add extra detail, making it more descriptive for the reader, e.g. ‘some juicy worms’ or ‘in the forest.’

Scintillating Sentences

1A) (main clause) The badgers feasted on worms.

1B) (phrases) the secretive badgers, in the forest, some juicy worms

1C) (sentence) In the forest, the secretive badgers feasted on some juicy worms.

2A) (main clause) The cubs were playfighting.

2B) (phrases) in the evening light, the fun-loving cubs, near the sett entrance

2C) (sentence) In the evening light, the fun-loving cubs were playfighting near the sett entrance.

1. The thirsty badger lapped up the refreshing water.

2. The badger dug several holes.

Challenge 1

Is the underlined part of the first sentence a phrase or a clause? How do you know? Could you replace this part of the sentence with some different words?

Challenge 2

Can you make the main clause ‘The badger dug several holes’ more descriptive by adding one or more phrases? Your phrases could explain when or where the badger was digging its sett and/or what the badger looked like.

Challenge 3

Using some of the phrases on the Word Wall, write your own scintillating sentence about a badger.