Download Phrases

Phrase: a group of words that contains no subject/predicate set and
that only acts as a single part of speech.
We might use a simple adjective in a sentence to modify a noun or
we might use a prepositional phrase instead.
We might use a simple adverb in a sentence to modify a verb or we
might use a prepositional phrase instead.
The prepositional, appositive, and verbal phrases give us ways to
make the adjective/adverb idea more elaborate, more developed.
A government of the people, by the people, and for the people. . .
Appositive Phrase
Appositive Phrase: an interrupting definition.
Typically, an appositive defines a noun, and thus forms
an adjective.
The idea of an appositive is, “WE INTERRUPT THIS
SENTENCE TO BRING YOU A DEFINITION.”
It may consist of only one word or an entire phrase.
Appositive Phrase
Punctuation: we put commas before and after appositives.
Don’t forget the second appositive comma, or you wind up with
catastrophes in which the appositive becomes the subject of the
verb, and the subject often becomes a noun of direct address.
Botticelli, the Renaissance painter painted angels, is a totally
different thought from Boticelli, the Renaissance painter, painted
angels.
We always enclose appositive states and appositive years in
commas. Athens, Greece, is the site of the Parthenon. June 20,
1997, is the date of departure.
Parts of Speech
Parts of a
Sentence
Phrases
Jorge’s
sister,
Marcia,
Noun
Noun
Noun
Subj
is
v
Pred
Appositive
also
adv
a
sophomore.
adj noun
SC
Practice
Add appositive phrases to the following sentences.
1.
The athlete won the competition.
The athlete, with sprained ankles, won the
competition, a chess match.
2. Mary, a classmate of mine, sang during the program,
“High School Musical.”
3. The birds, chirping wildly, woke me, a dazzling young
“man,” up this morning, earlier than necessary.
Prepositional Phrases –
Phrases that begin with a preposition.
 Object of the preposition: the thing that the
preposition relates to something else. It must be a
noun or object pronoun (me, you, him, her, it, us,
them).
 It is correct to say, “This is a present for you and me.”
But it is wrong to say “This is a present for you and I.”
There is no subject of a preposition. Compound objects
of prepositions can be especially tricky.
 Adjective Prepositional Phrases: prepositional
phrases that modify nouns or pronouns should be
placed immediately after the noun or pronoun they
modify.
 If they are placed anywhere else, they are adverbial
prepositional phrases and they modify the verb.
 This error is called a misplaced modifier. We could
see corn growing from our car window. This should be
From our car window, we could see corn growing.
Try:
Example:
P of S:
P of Sent:
Phrases:
The
adj
hikers
noun
subj
hiked
verb
pred
toward
prep
the
adj
adv. Prepositional
summit.
noun
Practice
Identify the prepositional phrases in the following sentences.
1. One of the fuses must be bad.
2. According to the newspaper, the movie was tedious, dull, and meaningless.
3. The nubby bark of the hollow log was becoming uncomfortable.
4. In the dusty trunk, we found photographs from the 1920s.
5. The waters of the Bahamas were warm and clear.
Verbals
A verbal is not a verb; it is a former verb now doing
something else.
When we change a verb into a different part of speech, we
call it a verbal.
Verbals are nouns, adjectives, adverbs made out of verbs.
There are THREE types of verbals that we label:
gerunds
participles
infinitives
Gerund: a noun made from an –ing verb.
 All kinds of subjects and objects may be made out of
gerunds or gerund phrases.
 A gerund might be by itself, or it might join with other
words to make a gerund phrase.
Example:
One of my chores in the summer is mowing the lawn.
P of S:
pro prep pro noun
P of Sent:
subj
Phrases:
prep adj noun
verb noun
adj noun
pred ------SC-----------prep phrase----prep phrase----
--gerund phrase-
Practice
Do a 3-level analysis on the following sentences.
1. Making friends in
a new school can be difficult.
n
n
prep adj adj n
v v
adj
subj
pred
SC
gerund ph prep phrase
2. Ms.
n
Yashima found working
n
subj
v
pred
full time difficult on the
n
adj n
DO
gerund phrase
3. Writing my own songs has improved
n
pro adj
n
v
v
subj
pred
------- gerund phrase--
adj
body.
prep adj
prep phrase
my vocabulary.
pro
n
SC
n
4. I like shopping with my friends.
Participle Phrase
Participle: is an adjective made out of a verb using an –ing, -ed, or –en verb.
Participial Phrase: This is a participle joined with other words to make an
adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun.
Example: The cat hissed at the dog barking in the yard next door.
P of S:
adj noun verb prep adj noun adj prep adj noun adj noun
P of Sent:
subj pred
Phrases:
prep phrase ----------participial phrase--------
Practice
Identify the participial phrases in the following
sentences.
1.
Roaming America’s Southwest, cowboys discovered ancient ruins.
2. Dressed in a white, sequined tutu, the ballerina looked like a snowflake.
3. I found my little sister dressed in my best dress.
Infinitive Phrases
Infinitive: is a noun or modifier made from the to- form of the verb. To dream, to
think, to snorkel.
We think of an infinitive as one word, to wander, whereas a prepositional phrase
like to Boston is two words.
Avoid split infinitives. Splitting an infinitive means inserting an adverb between
the two words of the infinitive. To vividly see is splitting the infinitive with the
adverb vividly. It is better to put the adverb after the infinitive: to see vividly.
Example:
P of S:
P of Sent:
Phrases:
To hit a curve ball solidly is very
noun
adj adj
noun adv
verb adv
--------Subject------------------------ pred
------ infinitive phrase ---------------
difficult.
adj
SC
Practice
UNDERLINE the infinitives or infinitive phrases in the following sentences.
1. One way to improve is to practice.
2. Ryley was eager to experience life.
3. To observe the fascinating tide pool creatures, you must be quiet and
still.
4. To walk along the Great Wall of China is a remarkable experience.
5. Sarah likes to live on the edge.