Definition Of Idioms, Phrases, Clauses and Proverbs

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IDIOMS, PHRASES, CLAUSES & PROVERBS

IDIOMS: Idioms are expression (phrase) peculiar to a language, which cannot be understood simply by looking at the meaning of the individual words in the phrase.
Many verbs, when followed by various prepositions, or adverbs acquires idiomatic sense.
Example:

• Break down
• In black & white
• An apple of one's eye
•  A red letter day etc.

PHRASE: Phrase is a group of words or a word without a subject or predicate. It is a grammatical unit and it adds meaning to a sentence.

Types Of Phrases:
There are five main types of phrases:

1. Noun Phrase: A Noun phrase is a group of words that does work of a noun. 
   E.g.
   * Early to bed
   * Playing cricket
   * To go home
   * A big red balloon etc.
   
   
2. Adjective Phrase: An adjective phrase is a group of words that does work of an adjective. 
   E.g.
   * Made of gold
   * In need
   * Of purple
   * With a white skin etc.
   
   
3. Adverb Phrase: An adverb phrase is a group of words that does work of an adverb.
   E.g.
   * On the whole
   * In a former time
   * Run quickly
   * All my heart etc.
   
   
4. Verb Phrase: A verb phrase is a group of words that does work of a verb. They are combination of auxiliary verb (helping verb) and the main verb.
   E.g.
   * Are working
   * Have eaten
   * Can smell
   * Will have been studying etc.
   
   
5. Prepositional Phrase: A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase.
   E.g.
   * At a glance
   * In a hurry
   * On the table
   * For a reason etc.

CLAUSE:
Such a group of words that forms part of a sentence and has a Subject and Predicate of its own is called a clause.
E.g.

• They rested when evening come.
  In above sentence,'when evening come' is a clause' as it is a part of sentence. Here evening is noun (subject) and when come is predicate. 

Types Of Clauses:
There are some common type of clauses are:

1. Independent Clause: is a group of words that can stand alone to make a simple meaningful sentence as a regular sentence. It contains a subject and predicate. It is also called a principal clause.
   Independent clauses can be connected by  using a semicolon or comma the followed by a coordinators such as and, but, so, or, nor, for, yet.
   Example:
   * I will call you when I reach home.
   * John is a very successful doctor.
   * Can you do it?
   * I want to buy a phone, but I don’t have enough money. (Two independent clauses).
   
   
2. Dependent Clause: is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not give complete idea or thought but help the independent clauses to complete the sentence. It contains subject and predicate. It is also called a subordinate clause or subclause or embedded clause. 
   In each of the dependent clauses, the first word is a subordinator. Subordinators include relative pronouns, subordinating conjunctions, and noun clause markers.
   Example:
   * When the sunset the stars come out.
   * Caesar couldn't catch the train because he was late.
   * If you don’t eat, I won’t go.
   * After the storm, we went outside to access the damage.
   
   Types Of Dependent Clauses:
   They are divided into three types:
   i) Adjective Clause: An adjective clause is a Dependent Clause that modifies a Noun. It is a group of words which contains a subject and predicate of its own and does the work of an Adjective.  These are also called Relative Clauses and they usually come right after the Nouns they modify.
   Examples:
   * The umbrella which has broken handle is mine.
   * He met a girl whose eyes are blue.
   * A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
   
   ii) Noun Clause: A noun clause is a Dependent Clause. It is a group of words which contains a subject and predicate of its own and does the work of a Noun.
   They are called Nominal Clauses. These clauses often start with “how,” “that,” or other WH-words (What, Who, Where, When, Why, Which, Whose and Whom), if, whether etc.
   Examples:
   * I expect that I shall get a prize.
   * I don't know what he wants.
   * He knows how things work around here.
   
   iii) Adverbial Clause: An adverb clause is a  Dependent Clauses. It is a group of words which contains a subject and predicate of its own and does the work of an Adverbs. It means that these clauses have the power to modify Verbs, Adjectives and other Adverbs.
   Example:
   * Alice is not playing with us because he injured his knees last night.
   * I went through the book at a lightning speed.
   * They rested when evening come.
   
   
3. Coordinate Clause: A coordinate clauses are two or more independent clauses in a sentence that are joined by one or more Coordinating Conjunctions (and, or, but etc.) in terms of Compound Sentences are called Coordinate Clauses. It is a group of words containing a subject and predicate.
   Examples:
   * Andrew prefers flying but his wife always wants to take a bus.
   * The students finished class so they went to lunch.
   * The rain ended and the sun came out.
   
   
4. Non-finite Clause: Non-finite clause does not have a finite verb. It does not show tense or time of verb  and does not contain subject.
   There are three types of non-finite clause.
   (i) The word ending in -ing is used.
   Examples:
   * The stars shone brightly, dancing around the moon last night.
   * Hearing the fireworks, the children jumped up.
   (ii) The verb come after the word to
   * He gave up his job to travel the world.
   * He was the last person to talked to me.
   
   (iii) The past particle form of the verb is used.
   * Disappointed with his quality the boss decided to fire him.
   * All children gathered in the group, were ready to perform a traditional dance.

PROVERBS: A proverb is a brief and wise saying that shares practical advice or general truth about life. In simple words proverb is a short saying or statement that usually offers life advice, wisdom, or a truth.
Example:

• Honesty is the best policy.
• An apple a day keeps the doctor away
• Don’t judge a book by its cover