TSA CBT Practice Test

What is a phrase defined as?

1. A group of words forming a complete sentence

2. A small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit

3. A sentence that expresses a complete thought

4. A word that describes a noun

The correct answer is: A small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit

A phrase is best defined as a small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit. This definition captures the essence of what a phrase is, as it emphasizes that a phrase can convey meaning but does not necessarily form a complete thought or a sentence. For instance, phrases can include noun phrases ("the large dog"), verb phrases ("is running quickly"), or prepositional phrases ("under the table"). Each of these examples contains related words that work together to convey a specific concept, but they do not constitute complete sentences by themselves. Other choices depict definitions of different grammatical elements. A group of words forming a complete sentence refers to a full statement that expresses a complete thought, while a sentence that expresses a complete thought also indicates a complete grammatical structure. A word that describes a noun is known as an adjective, which also falls outside the definition of a phrase. The emphasis on the conceptual unit aspect in your answer accurately captures the nature of a phrase.