All definitions and examples taken from pp. 413-414 of the Springboard text
Phrase – a word group that functions as a specific part of speech and does NOT contain both a subject and its verb.
ex: on the left, to the left, The cold dark woods
Clause – a word group that contains both a subject and its verb.
Independent clause – can stand alone as a sentence.
Dependent / subordinate clause – does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.