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Grammar: Phrases
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Ms. Mitchell
Freshman Composition
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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?
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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
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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
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Adjectival
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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.
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Adverb
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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
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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:
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Participle,
Gerund, and
Infinitive.
Verbals and Verb Phrases
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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
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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
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Participial phrases usually start with the
present or past participle and include any
modifiers that follow (like prepositional
phrases).
Participles and Participial
Phrases
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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