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THE PHRASE
Phrase: group of related words used as a single part of speech and NOT containing
a verb and its subject
Prepositional phrase: a group of words beginning with a preposition and usually
ending with a noun or pronoun (object of the preposition)
Adjective phrase: prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun
The instinct of self-preservation is perhaps the most basic drive in
living things.
Adverb phrase: prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or
another adverb
(how, when, how long, where, and why)
Fear sometimes springs from ignorance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Verbals: formed from verbs; NOT used as verbs in a sentence – used as nouns,
adjectives, or adverbs
1. participles – verbal adjectives
2. gerunds – verbal nouns
3. infinitives – verbal adjectives, verbal nouns, or verbal adverbs
verbal phrase – phrase consisting of verbal and its complements
1. participle – word that is formed from a verb and used as an adjective
The skidding car stopped just in time.
Present participles – end in –ing
Past participles – end in –ed, -d, -t, -en, and n
Perfect participles – formed with helping verb having
Participial phrase – a phrase containing a part. and any complements or
modifiers it may have
Sparta and Athens, putting aside their own rivalry, fought off the Persians.
2. gerund – word ending in –ing that is formed from a verb and used as a noun
(subject, direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative, or object of the
preposition
Reading is a great pleasure.
Used as a subject
Gerund phrase – phrase consisting of a gerund and any complements or
modifiers it may have
The judge warned him about telling lies.
Used as obj. of prep.
3. infinitive – verb form, usually preceded by to, that is used as a noun or a
modifier (adj. or adv.)
To give is praiseworthy. (noun-subject)
Darius Green’s attempt to fly was a failure. (adjective)
The chicken was too raw to eat. (adverb)
To go (infinitive)
to the game (prepositional phrase)
 to is sometimes omitted
infinitive phrase – consists of an infinitive and any complements or modifiers
it may have
when an infinitive has a subject, the construction is called an infinitive clause
appositive – noun or pronoun that follows another noun or pronoun to identify or
explain it
appositive phrase – appositive and its modifiers