PHRASES

What are

Phrases?

Phrases• A group of related words that lacks both a

subject and a verb• A group of related words that cannot act as a

sentence• A banal term for two or more words that

convey an idea (according to Mark Nichol)

What are the kinds of Phrases

?

Prepositional Phrases

Participial Phrases

Gerund Phrases

Infinitive Phrases

Prepositional Phrase

• Begins with a preposition and includes the object of the preposition

• Consists of a noun or pronoun that serves as the preposition’s object, and often one or more adjectives

• I went for a walk in the dark woods.

• Marie spent the whole day laughing with her closest friends.

• The baby crawled under the table.

• Jonah left her bag on top of the cabinet.

• She witnessed the accident across the street.

Prepositional

Phrase

Participial Phrase

• Begins with a participle and includes the object of the participle or other words that are connected to the noun by the participle

• Consists of verbals ending in –ing or –ed, or another irregular form of the verb, and serves as an adjective

• Left alone in the dark, Matthew was so afraid.

• The little girl, crying loudly, stepped in front of the crowd.

• No one bothered to listen to the man dressed in shabby clothes.

Participial Phrase

Infinitive Phrase

• Begins with an infinitive and includes the object of the infinitive or other words that are acting as part of the phrase

• Includes the word “to” and a verb as the basis of modification of a root sentence

• His effort to pass the bill doomed his political ambitions.

• Luis plans to see a movie this coming weekend.

• To obtain a passing grade is my goal this semester.

Infinitive Phrase

Gerund Phrase

• Begins with a gerund and include the object of the gerund or other words that are acting as the complete subject or complete object

• Includes a verbal that functions as a noun

• Juggling knives is not recommended for children.

• Learning how to swim is my dream.

• Waking up from a dream that he really likes you should now happen to prevent you from getting hurt.

Gerund Phrase

References:

• www.grammaruntied.com• www.dailywritingtips.com