{Grammar: Phrases

Ms. MitchellFreshman Composition

A group of related words that is used as a singular part of speech.

It does not contain both a subject and a verb.

Most phrases act as modifiers (like adjectives and adverbs)

What are phrases?

Starts with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun (object of the preposition).

There may be additional modifiers inside to describe the noun or pronoun that ends the phrase.

Prepositional Phrases

I enjoy walking to school. My best friend came to the movies with

me. During the film, my popcorn spilled on

my lap. I smelled like butter all day.

Ex) Prepositional Phrases

{ {Adjectival

Modify noun or pronoun Here is a letter from your

Aunt Mildred. The dog in the yard with

the fence keeps barking. The airports in Chicago

and New York are extremely crowded.

The light in the kitchen is broken.

Adverb

Modify a verb, adjective, or adverb

Answer how, when, where, why, and to what extent.

Barbara answered her cell with a smile.

They walked across the park. By Friday, you will have a

test on this material. Jane is good at tennis but

better at soccer.

Types of Prepositional Phrases

The next types of phrases are formed from words called verbals.

These words look like verbs, but are NOT used as verbs.

They can be used as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.

There are three types: Participle, Gerund, and Infinitive.

Verbals and Verb Phrases

A Participle is a verbal that is used as an adjective.

The verbal can have either present (ing) or past tense (ed, t, d, en) endings.

Whatever the ending, the verbal functions as an adjective.

Participles and Participial Phrases

We saw the waddling raccoon in our yard.

We ran inside to get out of the pouring rain.

Watching the clock, our coach started to worry.

Waxed floors can be slippery. I gave my family framed pictures of us

for the holiday. Peeled and sliced cucumbers taste

delicious in a salad.

Ex) Participles and Participial Phrases

Participial phrases usually start with the present or past participle and include any modifiers that follow (like prepositional phrases).

Participles and Participial Phrases

Swinging too high, the child fell off the swing set.

She heard me sighing loudly, so she canceled the meeting.

Living in NYC, Amy never needs a car.

Ex) Participles and Participial Phrases

A Gerund is a verbal that is used as a noun.

The gerund can ONLY end in ING, and it is always used as a noun.

Gerund phrases usually start with the gerund and include any modifiers that follow (like prepositional phrases).

Gerunds and Gerund Phrases

Swimming is my favorite avocation. We are flying to Greece so that I can

participate in swimming. The dancing was so fun that I lost track

of the time. Sailing around the world is one of my

lifelong goals. Another goal I have is climbing Mt.

Everest. Circling the airport, our pilot was

preparing for landing on the long runway.

Ex) Gerund Phrases

An infinitive is a verbal that can be used as a noun, and adjective, or an adverb.

Most infinitives begin with “to”. Infinitive phrases usually start with the

infinitive and include any modifiers that follow (like prepositional phrases)

Infinitive Phrases

To fly is a glorious feeling. The place to see in California is San

Francisco. To visit my family in India would be a

real treat. To make something for dinner quickly is

a difficult task. Chris is the player to watch in the next

football game. You will be excited to finish this

grammar unit.

Ex) Infinitive Phrases

Appositives and appositive phrases are not verbals.

They are nouns or pronouns placed beside another noun or pronoun in order to identify or describe the word preceding it.

The sculptor Jane Embry is quite famous. Eric, a talented musician, plans to study

in Europe

Appositives and Appositive Phrases

The Appositive phrase usually follows the word it is modifying and includes additional words or modifiers of its own.

Often, the appositive phrase is placed inside two commas because it interrupts the flow of the sentence.

However, this interruption is sometimes important when you are trying to introduce a character in an essay.

Appositives

Grendel, the famous monster from the epic poem Beowulf, is described as a demon.

My teacher, the one with the long brown hair, loves grammar.

Ex) Appositives

Prepositions: p444-448 ex 2, 3, and Rev C

Gerunds: p450-456, ex 4, 6, 8, and Rev E

Infinitives: p459-461, ex 11 and Rev G Appositives: p462-463, ex 12 and Rev H

Further Work