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Phrases
A phrase is a group of related words that lack a subject or a verb, or both.
A phrase cannot stand alone as a sentence, but is used in sentences as single
parts of speech. There are several types of phrases:
Table of Phrase Types
Phrases
function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
Type
Definition
Example
Prepositional phrase
 Acts most often as I walked to the store.
(most common type of
(adverb –where?)
adverbs,
phrase)
With a smile I told the
sometimes as
joke. (adverb-how?)
adjectives or
After sunset is a good
nouns.
time to go fishing. (noun)
 Begins with a
The girl with freckles
preposition and
Is friendly.(which one?)
ends with a noun
or pronoun.
Appositive phrase
 An appositive is a
My English teacher, an
re-naming or
excellent author, just
amplification of a
published his second
word that
book. (middle)
immediately
precedes it.
An award-winning
 Within a sentence, it is gymnast, Jessie was
surrounded by
invited to speak about
commas
her career. (beginning)

Verbal phrases:
Infinitive phrases
Participle phrases
Gerund phrases
Absolute phrases
(noun or pronoun and a
participle with modifiers)
It may appear at the
beginning or end of a
sentence, offset by a
comma




Acts as nouns
To + verb
Act as adjectives
Feature a present
or past tense verb
which describes
something else in
the sentence


Acts as nouns
Features an “ing”
verb
Has no grammatical
connection to any part of
speech, instead modifies
the entire rest of the
sentence
We decided to serve
pork, the other white
meat.(end)
I wanted to leave.
Flying high in the air,
the rocket exploded.
(present participial
phrase)
Broken and worn, the
wagon sat in the garage
for decades.(past
participial phrase)
Getting the promotion
is my only hope.
My passion is singing
opera.
An uncertain future
looming, I forged ahead.
Tom stood in the
doorway, book in hand.
Clauses
A clause is a group of related words that contain both a subject and a
verb. If it is an independent clause, it may stand alone as a sentence: Ex:
White dogs are pretty. If it is a dependent (subordinate) clause, it may not
stand alone: Ex: Although white dogs are pretty.
As shown in the preceding example, a subordinating word is used in
dependent clauses. This word relates the dependent clause to an independent
clause, thus giving purpose to the dependent clause:
Although white dogs are pretty, they are not popular.
Such words are either subordinating conjunctions (such as: although,
since, because, like, while, as, if, while, when, since) or relative pronouns (such
as: which, that, who, whom, what, whatever, whoever). Dependent clauses are
used as single parts of speech, functioning as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
There are several types of dependant clauses:
Types of Dependent Clauses
function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
Type
Definition
Example
Relative or Adjective
 Acts as an adjective Bob didn't get the job in
administration, which
Clauses
and begins with a
really surprised his
relative pronoun:
friends.
(what, which, who,
The dress that she bought
that, whatever,
on Tuesday was torn.
whoever).
Noun Clauses
Adverb clauses
Elliptical clauses


Acts as a noun
May function as a
subject, object or
direct object, or
object of prep.
Acts as an adverb by telling
something about the verb


Grammatically
incomplete, but
clear in meaning
Called elliptical,
because it refers
backt something
earlier in the
sentence,
completing a “loop”
Whoever stole my pen
must give it back. (subj)
I know that you hate
grammar. (d.o.)
Give the gift to whomever
you wish. (o.p.)
They gave whoever
passed by an information
packet. (d.o.)
Mary felt happy when she
found her dog.(when?)
She bought a house where
her friends live (where?)
She speaks like she is a
college professor. (how?)
She left because she felt
unwelcome.
(why?)
I knew he could fix the car
better than I (could fix the
car). May omit “could fix the
car”
Jessie can run faster than
she (can run).
Now you knowwhy the sentence
“Jessie can run faster than her”
would be grammatically incorrect!