Can any one please tell me how to find the difference between clause and phrase?

 The difference between phrases and clauses can be confusing.
A phrase is a group of words that has either no subject or no predicate.
opening the gate (no subject) the man at the counter (no predicate) across the river (a modifier: neither a subject nor a predicate)
A clause is a group of words containing both a subject and a predicate.
Dependent Clauses cannot stand alone as sentences.

• although the man held his daughter
• because Jerry was laughing at the joke