【正确答案】正确答案：A phrase is a single element of structure containing more than one word, and lacking the typical subject-predicate structure of a clause. Traditionally, it is seen as part of a structural hierarchy, positioned between clause and word. Therefore, first, a phrase must be a group of words which form a constituent; second, a phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than clauses; more precisely, simple clauses may(and usually do)contain phrases, but simple phrases do not(in general)contain clauses. For example, the three tallest girls is a nominal phrase, and has been doing is a verbal phrase.(5 points) A clause is the smallest grammatical unit that can express a complete proposition. It may be a constituent with its own subject and predicate in a complex sentence. Clause can also be classified into FINITE and NON-FINITE clauses, the latter including the traditional infinitive phrase, participial phrase, and gerundial phrase. In the sentence The best thing would be to leave early, to leave early is a non-finite clause, but it still has its logical subject.(5 points) The similarity between a phrase and a clause is that both of them are a group of words. The differences between them are as follows; i. Phrases do not have a subject or predicate, while clauses have both a subject and a predicate; ii. Phrases are always dependent while clauses can be dependant and independent. Independent clauses are full sentences, and dependant clauses are not full sentences.(5 points)

【答案解析】解析：考查短语与小句的异同。短语是包括两个或多个词的单一成分结构，它不具备小句特有的主谓结构。传统上，它被看作是结构等级的一部分，位于小句和词之间。因此，短语首先必须是组成一个成分的一组词。其次，短语在语法等级上低于小句。更确切地说，简单小句可以并且通常包含短语，但是简单短语一般不包括小句。小句是指被包含在大句中的拥有自身主语和谓语的成分，可以分为限定和非限定小句，后者包括传统的不定式短语、分词短语及动名词短语。