how to differenciate between -
* noun phrase * noun clause
*adverb phrase*adverb clause
*adjective phrase
*adjective clause ??
Noun Phrase and Noun Clause:
While a noun clause has a verb, a noun phrase does not. Both of them function as a noun in a sentence.
Example:
Noun phrase: The boy wants to go to school.
"To go to school" is the object of the verb "wants". Hence it is a noun phrase. The phrase "to go to school" performs the work of a noun. It answers the question "What does the boy want?".
Noun Clause: The book I was reading last night is written by Jhumpa Lahiri'
In this sentence, the section 'The book I was reading last night' is a noun clause, which acts as a noun.