Download Phrases

A phrase is a group of related words that lacks both a
subject and a predicate. Because it lacks a subject and
a predicate it cannot act as a sentence.
A phrase typically functions as a single part of speech in a
sentence (e.g., noun, adjective, adverb).
There are five types of phrases:
1. Prepositional phrases, which begin with a preposition and
include the object of the preposition.
2. Participial phrases, which begin with the participle and include
the object of the participle or other words that are connected to
the noun by the participle.
3. Gerund phrases, which begin with the gerund and include the
object of the gerund or other words that are acting as the
complete subject or complete object.
4. Infinitive phrases, which begin with an infinitive and include
the object of the infinitive or other words that are acting as part
of the phrase.
5. Appositive phrases, which are nouns or pronouns adding
more information to another noun or pronoun in the sentence.
Prepositions
• A preposition is a word that links a noun or pronoun
following it to another word in the sentence.
about behind around against across as of
outside down except but by on over of
before beyond during despite for onto at
• A noun or pronoun always follows a preposition.
• A prepositional phrase is a preposition and its object
(remember, objects are always nouns or pronouns).
on the wing in the door
near the violently swaying oak trees
on account of his nearly-depleted bank account
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
•
The prepositional phrase includes the preposition and the object of the preposition as
well as any modifiers related to either.
[In the following examples, the preposition is bold and the prepositional phrase is underlined.]
•
The flying saucer appeared above the lake before it disappeared into space.
–
•
Crystal could hear her sister snoring across the room.
–
•
BEFORE is not a preposition because is not followed by an object that it links to the clause. It is followed
by another clause that is subordinate in meaning to the independent clause; therefore, it is a subordinate
conjunction.
Alix walk down the ramp to the beach.
–
•
BEFORE is not an adverb because it alone does not answer where about the verb.
You should consider reading the notes before you come to class.
–
•
UNDER is not an adverb because it alone does not answer where about the verb.
You should consider reading the notes before class.
–
•
Objects usually answer the question what. Therefore, we can ask across what? to determine the object
of the preposition.
Christine discovered a pile of books hidden under the staircase.
–
•
ABOVE is not an adverb because it has an object to complete its meaning; therefore, ABOVE is a
preposition and the entire phrase is an adverb phrase.
DOWN is not an adverb because it alone does not answer where about the verb.
Alix fell down.
–
DOWN is an adverb answering where about the verb. There is no object, so it cannot be a preposition.
More Prepositions and Phrases
• The manager with the pink slips terrorized
the employees.
• The price of the promotion was much too
steep.
• Something in the corner of the desk was
moving.
• She lost her head at the retro drive in.
• The salesperson skimmed over the product's
real cost.
• The boss was thrilled at their attitude.
• The rock climbers arrived late at night.
• Ms. Werner bribed the students with candy.
A Participle is a verb form that functions as an adjective.
Participles aren’t preceded by a helping verb.
• The sputtering car jerked down the road. (participle)
• The car was sputtering down the road. (verb)
Present Participles end in –ing (jumping, burning,
speaking).
• The howling children disturbed the neighbors.
• Fred Flintstone gave Barney Rubble a crumbling rock.
• Swimming slowly, I didn’t notice the shark on my tail.
Past Participles usually end in –ed, -t, or –en (jumped,
burnt, spoken).
• The frozen candy bar broke her $900 braces.
• Annoyed, Ms. Werner waited for the students to be
quiet.
• Confused by the noise, the mouse hid its face.
Participles,3
• Use participles and participial phrases to create
concise and interesting sentences. You can
combine to simple sentences to make a more
interesting complex sentence.
• 2 Sentences: Ms. Werner gave the students a
pointed glare. She waited for them to be quiet.
• 1 Sentence: Waiting for them to be quiet, Ms.
Werner gave the students a pointed glare.
The participial phrase includes the participle and the object
of the participle or any words modified by or related to the
participle. Participial phrases act as adjectives
[In the following examples, the participle is bold and the participial phrase is underlined.]
• The car sliding out of control toward the building is going to hit the window.
– SLIDING modifies the CAR. The verb is IS GOING.
•
Cameron spotted his brother throwing rocks at the passing cars.
– THROWING is not a verb in this sentence. It describes the brother. Without an auxiliary
verb, it cannot function as a verb.
•
The astronaut chosen to ride the space shuttle to Mars is afraid of heights.
– CHOSEN describes the ASTRONAUT.
•
Running down the street, Alicia tripped and fell.
– RUNNING certainly indicates something the subject is doing, but the verbs for the subject
are TRIPPED and FELL.
•
Penned in by other runners, Steve was unable to make a break for the finish line.
– STEVE is the subject. WAS is the verb. PENNED describes STEVE.
•
Mark returned the damaged package to the manufacturer.
– DAMAGED describes PACKAGE.
•
Alex fell down the broken staircase.
– BROKEN describes STAIRCASE.
A gerund is a form of verb used as a noun.
Gerunds always end in –ing.
Gerunds always act as nouns.
• Leroy expanded his skills by studying.
• At the age of ten, Irving started running.
• My mother’s favorite occupation, nagging, makes her
tedious company.
• The quiet, steady humming soothed him to sleep.
• My evening routine features cooking a delicious
dinner.
• Thousands of Kurt Cobain fans showed their love for
the dead rocker by buying his CD boxed set.
Don’t confuse gerunds with present participles, even
though they both end with –ing. A gerund functions
only as a noun, while a participle functions only as a
modifier.
The gerund phrase includes the gerund and the object
of the gerund or any modifiers related to the gerund.
[In the following examples, the gerund is bold and the gerund phrase is underlined.]
•
Flying above the lake at this time of night seems a little dangerous.
–
•
Bill decided that scrambling over the pile of debris was not safe.
–
•
Both REGULATING and MARKETING are objects of prepositions (FROM and ON).
The young man opposes marketing smoking cigarettes as if it were glamorous.
–
•
INCREASING is the object of the preposition FOR. An object is a noun. A form of the verb ending in ING
and used as a noun is a gerund. INCREASING is a gerund. HOURS is the object of the gerund.
Philip Morris continues its fight to prevent government from regulating tobacco; nevertheless,
the government is placing restrictions on marketing cigarettes to youth.
–
•
DOING is the direct object of the verb AVOIDED. An object is a noun. A form of the verb ending in ING
and used as a noun is a gerund. DOING is a gerund. HOMEWORK is the object of the gerund.
The student gathered signatures for increasing the hours of the library.
–
•
SCRAMBLING is the subject of the dependent clause. A subject is a noun. A form of the verb ending in
ING and used as a noun is a gerund. SCRAMBLING is a gerund.
Ethan avoided doing his homework because the Wolfpack was playing the Royals.
–
•
FLYING is the subject of the sentence. A subject is a noun. A form of the verb ending in ING and used as
a noun is a gerund. FLYING is a gerund.
MARKETING is the direct object of the verb OPPOSES. SMOKING is a gerund and the object of the
gerund MARKETING. CIGARETTES is the object of the gerund SMOKING.
Andrew continues his crusade to prevent the university from limiting free speech.
–
LIMITING is the object of the preposition FROM. SPEECH is the object of the GERUND.
-ing: What’s the difference?
Present Tense Verb (requires a helping verb)
• Bob was helping Su tie her shoe.
Participle
• The helping boy tripped on his shoe laces.
Gerund
• He loves helping.
An infinitive is a verb form that comes after the word “to” and
functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
• To succeed takes courage, foresight and luck.
• Alone in her cubicle, all she wanted was to
survive.
• Afraid to move, she froze in terror.
• His goal, to break into Fort Knox, was never
achieved.
• The student’s hope was to finish the paper
before school started.
Don’t confuse infinitives with prepositional
phrases that begin with “to.” Remember that a
preposition always ends with a noun or
pronoun; an infinitive always ends with a verb.
The infinitive phrase includes the infinitive and the object of
the infinitive or any modifiers related to the infinitive.
[In the following examples, the infinitive is bold and the infinitive phrase is underlined.]
• Even in New York, fans did not manage to buy the hype.
–
•
The seemingly simple decision to appoint a Democrat caused controversy.
–
•
TO RELEASE is the direct object of the verb PLAN. REPORT is the object of the infinitive. FYI:
BLASTING is a participle modifying REPORT.
The corps has been trying to recast itself in a more ecosensitive light.
–
•
TO VOTE is an adverb modifying the predicate adjective WILLING. In other words, it tells us the degree
to which they are willing.
Two nonprofit organizations from opposite sides of the political spectrum plan to release a
report blasting 25 Army Corps of Engineers water projects
–
•
TO GIVE is an adjective modifying WAY. The object of the infinitive is CANDIDATES.
The respondents believe their neighbors are willing to vote for a woman.
–
•
TO APPOINT is an adjective modifying DECISION. A DEMOCRAT is the object of the infinitive.
The gap provides a way to give Democratic candidates an edge in close elections
–
•
TO BUY is the direct object of the verb DID MANAGE. THE HYPE is the object of the infinitive.
TO RECAST is the direct object of the verb HAS BEEN TRYING. ITSELF ( a reflexive pronoun) is the
object of the infinitive.
Now Congress has to decide whether it wants to continue to be part of the problem, or if it
wants to be part of the solution.
–
TO CONTINUE is the direct object of the verb WANTS. TO BE the object of the infinitive TO CONTINUE.
PART is the object of the infinitive TO BE.
Appositives are nouns or pronouns that rename another noun or
pronoun. Appositives are placed directly after the noun or
pronoun they modify.
• Bob’s car, a wreck, died a grisly death by the side of
the interstate.
• Spot, a cat, should understand my moods.
• She, my friend, is always late.
Some appositives are essential to the meaning of the
sentence; others are not.
Be sure to use commas carefully to establish meaning
with essential and nonessential appositives.
• Do you know my friend Bill?
– Is Bill the friend or is the speaker talking to Bill?
• Do you know my friend, Bill?
Appositives phrases are nouns or pronouns with modifiers.
Appositive phrases provide additional information and description
to the sentence. As with solitary appositives, appositive phrases
are placed near the noun or pronoun they describe.
• Columbia University, the second-largest landowner in New York City, is part of the Ivy
League.
• David Prowse, the guy in the Darth Vader suit in
the Star Wars movie, did not find out that his
lines were going to be dubbed over by James
Earl Jones until he saw the screening of the
movie.
Appositive: A word, phrase or clause that means the same thing as (i.e.,
synonym) or further explains another noun (pronoun).
Non-restrictive appositives are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Restrictive appositives are essential to the meaning of the sentence.
1. NON-RESTRICTIVE:
•
Her husband, Fritz, is a nice guy.
–
•
The firm chose Mary, vice president of public affairs, as its chief executive officer.
–
•
Because we have identified the person by name, her title is additional information. It can be set off by commas. In other
words, we could take it out and the meaning would not change.
The Grand Canyon, one of our nation's most popular tourist attractions, is breathtaking to behold.
–
•
We assume she has only one husband. Thus, commas are used.
Because we have identified the place by name, the rest is additional information. It can be set off by commas. In other
words, we could take it out and the meaning would not change.
Neil Armstrong, the first man who walked on the moon, is a native of Ohio.
–
Because we have identified the person by name, the additional information is not restricted to the sentence. It can be set
off by commas. In other words, we could take it out and the meaning would not change.
2. RESTRICTIVE:
•
Evan's friend John cheated on the test.
–
•
We students are happy with good grades.
–
•
EVAN has more than one friend; therefore, no commas are used to set off JOHN. We need the name to know which friend
we're talking about.
STUDENTS identify who WE [subj.] are. If we remove it, WE does not have the same meaning.
She waited patiently for the famous author Stephen King.
–
STEPHEN KING identifies which famous author. There is no comma after AUTHOR because there are many famous
authors.