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ase Toolboox
Phrases are groups of
o words thatt do not conttain both a ssubject and a verb. Colleectively, the
words in the phrase function
f
as a single part of speech.
Preposittional phrasse
a preposiition plus its object and modifiers
m
Preposittions
to, aroun
nd, under, ov
ver, like, as, behind,
b
with
h, outside, etcc.
Adjectiv
ve prepositio
onal phrase
Adjectivee preposition
nal phrases tell
t which on
ne, what kindd, how manyy, and how m
much, or givee
other info
ormation abo
out a noun, a pronoun, a noun phras e, or a noun clause.
The
T store aro
ound the corrner is paintted green. (W
Which store is it? The stoore around tthe
co
orner.)
The
T girl with
h the blue ha
air is angry.
p
al phrase
Adverb preposition
Adverb prepositional
p
l phrases telll how, when,, where, whyy, to what exxtent, or undeer what
condition
n about a verrb, an adjective, an adverb, an adverb
rb phrase, or an adverb cclause.
Oscar
O
is pain
nting his hou
use with the help of his ffriends. (Hoow is he painnting his houuse?
With
W the help
p of his frien
nds.)
Sally
S
is coloring outside the lines.
Infinitive phrase
An infiniitive phrase consists
c
of th
he word “to”” plus a verbb. Infinitive pphrases can function as
adjectivees, adverbs, or
o nouns.
To
T dance gra
acefully is my
m ambition. (subject of sentence)
Her
H plan to become
b
a miillionaire felll through w
when the stocck market craashed. (funcctions
ass an adjectiv
ve modifying
g “plan”)
She
Sh wanted to
o become a veterinarian. (noun—ddirect object of “wanted””)
John
Jo went to college to sttudy engineeering. (funcctions as an aadverb, tellinng why he w
went)
Appositiive phrase
An appossitive phrasee renames, orr identifies, a noun or prronoun. Wheen it adds infformation thhat is
nonessen
ntial—inform
mation that could
c
be omiitted from thhe sentence w
without hindering
understan
nding of the sentence—iit is set off by
b commas.
My
M teacher, a woman wiith curly haiir, is very prretty.
Bowser,
B
the dog
d with thee sharp teetth, is comingg around the corner.
I went to the mall
m yesterd
day with my friend
f
Lindaa. (Since I haave many friends, I musst
nclude the naame of the frriend with whom
w
I went to the mall. This apposiitive is essenntial
in
an
nd is therefo
ore not set offf by commaas.)
®
Copyright © 2012 Laying the
e Foundation , In
nc., Dallas, TX. All
A rights reserved
d. Visit us online
e at www.ltftrainin
ng.org.
Phrase Toolbox
Participial phrase
A participle is a verb form (past or present) that functions like an adjective. The phrase is the
participle plus its modifiers.
Blinded by the light, Sarah walked into the concert hall.
Swimming for his life, John crossed the English Channel.
Gerund phrase
A gerund is an “-ing” verb form that functions as a noun. The phrase is the gerund plus its
complements and modifiers.
Walking in the moonlight is a romantic way to end a date. (subject of the sentence)
He particularly enjoyed walking in the moonlight with his girlfriend. (direct object)
He wrote a poem about walking in the moonlight. (object of the preposition)
Walking the dog is not my favorite task. (subject)
Absolute phrase
An absolute phrase (also called a nominative absolute) is a group of words consisting of a noun
or pronoun, an “-ing” or “-ed” verb form, and any related modifiers. Absolute phrases modify the
whole sentence rather than a particular part of it. They are always set off from the rest of the
sentence with a comma or pair of commas (or dashes) because they are parenthetical elements.
An absolute phrase, very simply put, is an independent clause with the “was” or “were” omitted.
Absolute phrases are valuable in constructing concise, layered sentences.
Their minds whirling from the avalanche of information provided by their teacher,
the students made their way thoughtfully to the parking lot.
His head pounding, his hands shaking, his heart filled with trepidation, the young
man knelt and proposed marriage to his sweetheart.
The two lovers walked through the garden, their faces reflecting the moonlight, their
arms twined about each other, their footsteps echoing in the stillness of the night.
Note: An independent clause has a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a sentence. A
dependent, or subordinate, clause has a subject and a verb but does not express a complete
thought. It often begins with a subordinating conjunction such as when, because, although, while,
since, etc.
®
Copyright © 2012 Laying the Foundation , Inc., Dallas, TX. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.ltftraining.org.