Question

Is the group of words in bold a phrase or a clause?

Gongs, circular metal percussion instruments, originated in China, where they were—and sometimes still are—used in ceremonial events

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Answer 1

Phrase is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

A phrase is defined as a group of words that does not include a subject-verb pairing (if it did, then it would be a clause because the subject is doing the action.) A phrase can be long or short. In the group of words and sometimes still are we do have a verb (are) but there isn't a subject, so it is a phrase.