Download Skill 1: Appositive Phrase

Skill 1: Appositive Phrase
The appositive phrase identifies an adjacent noun or pronoun and occurs in the sentence
opener, subject-verb split or sentence closer position. The appositive adds further
information about the noun or pronoun and thus acts the way an adjective does. Typically,
the appositive is set off by one or two commas (depending on sentence position), though
in some cases one may be set off by a dash or by dashes. The appositive can be found in
the sentence opener, subject-verb split and sentence closer positions.
Examples (appositive phrases are underlined), all from The House on Mango Street
by Sandra Cisneros
By the time we got to Mango Street we were six -- Mama, Papa, Carlos, Kiki, my
sister Nenny and me.
Meme has a dog with gray eyes, a sheepdog with two names, one in English and one
in Spanish. (an appositive within an appositive)
Darius, who chases girls with firecrackers or a stick that touched a rat and thinks
he's tough, today pointed up because the world was full of clouds, the kind like
pillows.
Skill 2: Participial Phrase
Participles describe nouns or pronouns. They are derived from verbs but act as adjectives.
The present participle is formed by adding ing to the base form of the verb. The past
participle of a regular verb is formed by adding ed to the base form of the verb. (The
correct form of the past participle is always shown in a dictionary because there are many
irregular verbs.) The participial phrase consists of the participle and other words
completing the idea. Participial phrases can be found as sentence openers, subject-verb
splits and sentence closers.
Examples (participial phrases are underlined; same source as above)
Oh no, she says, pointing the butter knife at me as if I'm starting trouble, no sir.
. . . and there isn't a landlord banging on the ceiling with a broom.
. . . then the scrape of concrete, the excited tinkling of dog tags, followed by the
heavy jingling of keys, . . .
Skill 3: Absolute Phrase
An absolute phrase describes the rest of the sentence in which it is found. If you were to
add the word was or were, the absolute phrase would be a complete sentence. Many begin
with his, her, its, their, our, my, or your (possessive pronouns). The absolute can be found
in all three sentence positions.
Examples (absolute phrases are underlined; same source as above)
My feet scuffed and round, and the heels all crooked that look dumb with this dress,
I just sit.
All brown all around, we are safe.
I shake my head no, my feet growing bigger and bigger.
Skill 4: Prepositional Phrase
Prepositional phrases describe or modify people, things or actions. Most begin with one of
these prepositions: in, before, after, down, across, at, inside, outside, over, under, below,
behind, by, between, within, with, into, through, like, except, up, toward, of, by or for.
Prepositional phrases may occur in the sentence opener, subject-verb split or sentence
closer position.
Examples (prepositional phrases are underlined; same source as above)
We didn't always live on Mango Street.
The house on Mango Street is ours, and we don't have to pay rent to anybody, or
share the yard with the people downstairs, or be careful not to make too much noise,
and there isn't a landlord banging on the ceiling with a broom.
At school they say my name funny as if the syllables were made out of tin and hurt
the roof of your mouth.
Skill 5: Adjective Clause
Like all clauses, an adjective clause has a subject and a verb. It is a dependent clause that
cannot stand as a sentence all by itself. The adjective clause must attach itself to an
independent clause. An adjective clause describes whatever is to the left of it in a
sentence. Most begin with the words who, which, whose or where. If the adjective clause
adds extra information that isn't vital to understanding the word it describes, then the
clause is accompanied by a comma or commas. If the adjective clause adds vital
information that defines the word it describes, then a comma or commas are not
necessary. The adjective clause can be found in the subject-verb split and sentence closer
positions.
Examples (adjective clauses are underlined; same source as above)
Nenny, who thinks she is smart and talks to the old man, asks lots of questions.
Instead there was a button that did it for you.
Those who don't know any better come into neighborhood scared.
Skill 6: Adverb Clause (or Subordinate Clause)
The adverb clause tells more about the sentence in which it appears. Like the adjective
clause, the adverb clause is a dependent clause that cannot stand on its own. The adverb
clause usually tells why, how, when or under what condition something was done. Most
begin with subordinating conjunctions like because, since, if, when, whenever, as soon as,
as, during, before, unless, although, even though or until. The adverb clause can appear in
the sentence opener, subject-verb split and sentence closer position.
Examples (adverb clauses are underlined; same source as above)
I wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because she
couldn't be all the things she wanted to be. (There are two adverb clauses here, one
inside the other.)
If you give me five dollars, I will be your friend forever.
He doesn't turn the lights on unless you got money to buy things with, . . . .