They are different, and they have different uses.
PHRASE: a group of related words that does not contain both a subject and a finite verb. Example: The woman in the fake-fur coat Example: Having survived the storm CLAUSE: a group of related words with subject and a finite verb. Independent clause: a clause that could function as a sentence if left alone. Example: The woman in the fake-fur coat survived the storm Dependent clause: a clause that could not function as a sentence if left alone. Example: If the woman in the fake-fur coat survived the storm Finite verb: a verb that is not an infinitive (to survive); not a participle (was surviving); and not a past participle (has survived). Examples: survive; survived.
