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Chapter 5: The Phrase
Prepositional, Verbal, & Appositive Phrases
pg. 140-163
What is a phrase?
• A phrase is a group of related words that is
used as a single part of speech and DOES
NOT contain BOTH a verb and its subject.
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Prepositional phrase
Participial phrase
Infinitive phrase
Appositive phrase
Prepositional Phrase-Review
• Includes a preposition, the object of the
preposition, and any modifiers of that object
• A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or
pronoun is called an adjective phrase.
• The boy in the blue shirt is tall.
• A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an
adjective, or an adverb is called an adverb
phrase.
• The students have been at school since 8am.
Verbals & Verbal Phrases
• A verbal is a word that is formed from a verb but
is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
• There are 3 kinds of verbals:
• participle
• gerund
• infinitive
Verbals & Verbal Phrases:
Participles
• A participle is a verb form that can be used
as an adjective.
• Present participles end in –ing.
• The laughing children enjoyed the clown show.
• Most past participles end in –d or –ed, but some
are irregularly formed.
• The cracked mirror shattered into a million pieces.
Verbals & Verbal Phrases:
Participial Phrase
• A participial phrase consists of a participle
and any modifiers or complements the
participle has. The entire phrase is used as
an adjective.
• We heard the students singing joyfully in the chapel.
• A participial phrase “should” appear as close as possible to the
word it modifies in the sentence. Otherwise, the phrase may seem
to modify another word and the sentence may not make sense.
• Slithering through the grass, I saw a snake. (WRONG!)
• I saw a snake slithering through the grass. (CORRECT!)
Verbals & Verbal Phrases:
Gerunds
• A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing that
is used as a noun.
• We watch TV in the evening. (watch is a verb)
• Watching TV is relaxing. (gerund)
• If you aren’t sure if an –ing word is a gerund or
a participle, try this test.
• Substitute a pronoun for the –ing word. If the
sentence still makes sense, the word is a gerund.
• Watching TV is relaxing.
• It is relaxing.
Verbals & Verbal Phrases:
Gerund Phrase
• A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and
any modifiers or complements the gerund
has. The entire phrase is used as an noun.
• Watching TV is relaxing. (functions as the subject)
• The students heard the loud ringing of the bell. (DO)
• Mom made desert by baking cookies. (OP)
Verbals & Verbal Phrases:
Infinitives
• An infinitive is a verb form that can be used
as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
• Most infinitives begin with to.
• To bake brownies takes about an hour.
• The best time to bake brownies is in the afternoon.
• Mom was ready to bake brownies when I got home.
Verbals & Verbal Phrases:
Infinitive Phrase
• An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive
and any modifiers or complements the
infinitive has. The entire phrase may be
used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
• To bake brownies takes about an hour. (functions as the
subject)
• The best time to bake brownies is in the afternoon.
(modifies time)
• Mom was ready to bake brownies when I got home.
(modifies ready)
Verbals & Verbal Phrases:
Appositives
• An appositive is a noun or a pronoun placed
beside another noun or pronoun to identify
or describe it.
• My teacher Mrs. Harris enjoys watching Jeopardy.
• Mrs. Legendre, our principal, loves SJS.
Verbals & Verbal Phrases:
Appositive Phrase
• An appositive phrase consists of an
appositive and its modifiers.
• An appositive or appositive phrase that is NOT
essential to the meaning of the sentence is set off
by commas.
• My teacher Mrs. Harris enjoys watching Jeopardy.
• Mrs. Legendre, our principal, loves SJS.