Grammarians help needed

[dr_mabeuse]

"Trying to be helpful, he raised his hand."

What is the name for the "Trying to be helpful" phrase in this sentence? I never could learn the names of these phrases.

And what's the diff between a clause and a phrase?

---dr.M.

 

[*Catbabe*]

I might be wrong but I believe the difference between a clause and a phrase is that a clause contains a subject and a predicate(verb) where as a phrase does not

"Trying to be helpful" is a participial phrase I think.

Cat

 

[KillerMuffin]

Catbabe is correct.

There are two types of clauses, dependent (subordinate) and independent. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence--ie it has subject, predicate, and presents a complete thought or idea--while a dependent clause, while possessing both subject and predicate, do not as they do not present a complete idea.