Download Prepositional Phrases

Phrases
11 English
Grammar Review
Prepositional Phrases
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A prepositional phrase consists of a
preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the
object. Ex: Basketball was first played with real
baskets.
When a prepositional phrase modifies a noun or
pronoun it is called an adjective phrase. It tells
what kind or which one. Ex: Was Michael Jordan
the greatest player in history?
Prepositional Phrases
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When a prepositional phrase modifies a verb,
adjective, or adverb, it acts as an adverb and is
called an adverb phrase. It tells where, when,
how, or to what extent. Ex: Early hoops were
constructed of peace baskets.
In general, prepositional phrases should be
placed before or immediately after the words
they modify. Ex: From the stands, wild applause
broke out for the team.
Now You Try
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Complete questions 1-5 of Part A and 1-5 of
Part B in your grammar workbook.
Appositive Phrases
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An appositive is a noun or pronoun that
identifies or renames another noun or pronoun.
Ex: Passengers in a hot-air balloon ride in the
gondola, a small basket beneath the balloon.
An essential or restrictive appositive is needed to
make the meaning of a sentence complete (no
commas). Ex: The British tycoon Richard
Branson has made several attempts to circle the
world nonstop in a balloon.
Appositive Phrases
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A nonessential or nonrestrictive appositive adds
extra meaning to a sentence. It is not needed to
make the meaning of the sentence clear
(commas used). Ex: Steve Fossett, an American
financier, is another dedicated competitor in
around-the-world ballooning.
Now You Try
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Complete questions 1-4 of Part A and 1-3 of
Part B on page 37 of your grammar workbook.
Verbals
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A verbal is a verb form that acts as a noun, an
adjective, or an adverb. There are three types of
verbals: participles, gerunds, and infinitives.
Each of these verbals can be used to form
phrases. A verbal phrase consists of a verb plus
its modifiers and complements.
Participial Phrases
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A participle is a verb form that functions as an
adjective. There are two kinds of participles:
present participles and past participles. The
present participle always ends in –ing. Most past
participles end in –d or –ed. Ex: The falling
prices were good news for consumers. The
improved designs made the automobiles cheaper
and more reliable.
Absolute Phrases
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An absolute phrase consists of a participle and
the noun or pronoun it modifies. An absolute
phrase has no grammatical connection to the
rest of the sentence. It does not function as a
part of speech, and it does not belong to either
the complete subject or the complete predicate.
Usually, an absolute phrase relates to the rest of
the sentence by providing additional details
about circumstances or time.
Absolute Phrases
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Its popularity waning, the Model T was retired
from production in 1927.
Our deadline fast approaching, we realized that
we would have to test our solar-powered lawn
mower or else go back to our first idea.
Now You Try
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Complete questions 1-6 on page 40 of your
grammar workbook.
Gerund Phrases
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A gerund is a verb form that ends in –ing and
functions as a noun. Ex: Skiing is a winter sport.
Thank you for listening.
A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus its
modifiers and complements. Ex: Tim BerenersLee is know for inventing the World Wide Web.
Now You Try
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Complete questions 1-8 on page 43 of your
grammar workbook. Write the gerund phrase
and underline the gerund.
Infinitive Phrases
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An infinitive is a verb form that usually begins
with the word to and functions as a noun, and
adjective, or an adverb. Ex: Eileen had to goal to
pursue.
An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus
its modifiers and complements. Ex: In 1995,
Eileen Collins became the first female space
pilot to launch into space.
Infinitive Phrases
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A modifier placed between the word to and the
verb of an infinitive is said to “split” the
infinitive. Usually, a split infinitive sounds
awkward and should be avoided. Ex: Astronauts
need to rigorously train for space missions.
Astronauts need to train rigorously for space
missions.
Now You Try
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Complete questions 1-4 of part A and questions
1-4 of part B on page 46 of your grammar
workbook.
Misplaced Modifiers
A misplaced modifier is a word or phrase that is
placed so far away from the word it modifies
that the meaning of the sentence is unclear or
incorrect. Ex: The school district is issuing new
desks to students made of molded plastic.
The school district is issuing new desks made of
molded plastic to students.
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Dangling Modifiers
A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that
does not clearly modify any noun or pronoun in
a sentence. Ex: Looking around, objects made
of plastic fill our homes, offices, and schools.
Looking around, we realized that objects made of
plastic fill our homes, offices, and schools.
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Now You Try
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Complete questions 1-6 of Part A and questions
1-7 of Part B on page 49 of your grammar
workbook.