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What is a phrase?
A group of words WITHOUT a subject and its predicate that acts like
a single part of speech.
How do I know how a phrase is functioning?
Phrases
Definition
Prepositional phrase
Begins with a
preposition and
ends with the
object of the
preposition
Appositive phrases
Participle Phrases
Infinitive Phrases
Gerund Phrases
Function
Adjectively
(immediately
follows the
noun that it
modifies)
OR
Adverbially
(if it modifies a
verb, adjective
or another
adverb)
Interrupting
Adjectively
definitions
(modifies a
sometimes set
noun or
off by commas
pronoun)
Verbs that act as Adjectively
adjectives. They (modifies a
often end in
noun or
-ing, -ed, or –en. pronoun)
Verbs that act as Nouns
(can replace
nouns or
phrase with “it”)
modifiers that
begin with “to”
Adjectively
followed by a
(modifies a
verb
noun or
pronoun)
Verbs ending in
-ing that act as
nouns.
Adverbially
(if it modifies a
verb, adjective
or another
adverb)
Noun
Example
The man with the whoopee
cushion did not feel angry.
(modifies “man”)
The surgery was performed by
a trained circus clown.
(modifies “was performed”)
Jennifer Showalter, English
teacher, ate a bag of dried
mangos. (modifies “Jennifer
Showalter”)
Shaking fearfully, Dr. Leo
Marvin attempted death
therapy. (modifies “Dr. Leo
Marvin”)
To dance is a pleasure.
Spider pig loves to eat. (d.o.)
The best food to eat is bologna
pizza. (modifies “food”)
He lives to dance.
You need a spoon to eat soup
properly. (modifies “need”)
Dancing is fun. (“Dancing” is
(can replace
the subject)
phrase with “it”)