PHRASES

PHRASES
⚬A phrase is a group of words that works together in a
sentence but it doesn’t form a complete sentence on
its own.
⚬Unlike clauses, phrases do not contain both a subject and
a verb. They may have one or the other, but not both
together.
⚬They enhance the meaning and clarity of a sentence by
providing descriptive details or specifying relationships
between different elements.
 1.Noun Phrase
2.Verb Phrase
3.Adjective Phrase
KINDS OF 4.Adverb Phrase
5.Prepositional Phrase
PHRASES 6.Gerund Phrase
7.Appositive Phrase
8.Infinitives Phrase
9.Participial Phrases
10.Absolute Phrase
 What is a Noun Phrase?
A noun phrase is a group of two or more words headed by
a noun that includes modifiers. In these examples of noun
phrases, the noun are bolded. All the other words are
modifiers.
Examples of Noun Phrases
• the dog
• a cat
• a group of them
• the man with her
A noun phrase plays the role of a noun. In a noun
phrase, the modifiers can come before or after the noun.
Note: A noun phrase can also be headed by a pronoun.
For example:

• the dog with fleas

(This is a noun phrase headed by a noun.)
• the one with fleas
(This is a noun phrase headed by a pronoun.)
 Examples of Noun Phrases
In normal writing, nouns nearly always
feature in noun phrases. It is rare to find a
noun functioning by itself (i.e., without any
modifiers) in a sentence.
• Man proposes, but God disposes.
In real life, it is far more common for nouns to
feature in noun phrases, i..e, to be accompanied by
modifiers. Here is a list of noun phrases. In this list,
every noun phrase consists of a head noun
(highlighted) and at least one modifier.
• People: the soldier, my cousin, dopey
Alan, the lawyer with the big nose
• Animals: that aardvark, one rat, a shark,
funny Mickey
 • Places: the house in the corner, inner
London, dirty factory, no shelter
• Things: this table, our London Bridge,
the sharp chisel, that nitrogen, last
month, an inch, her cooking
• Ideas: utter confusion, some kindness,
your faith, the Theory of Relativity, a joy

So, a noun with any sort of modifier (even it's just

"a" or "the") is a noun phrase.
 The Function of Noun Phrases
Like any noun, a noun phrase can function as a subject, an object, or a
complement within a sentence. In each example below, the noun phrase is
in bold and the head noun is highlighted.

• Singing in the bath relaxes me.

• I know the back streets.
• I know the back streets.
• She was the devil in disguise.

As most nouns feature in noun phrases, let's look

quickly at the definition for "phrase“.
It follows therefore that a noun phrase functions
as a noun in a sentence. We can test this
because we know that a noun can be replaced by
a pronoun (e.g., he, she, it, them). Looking at the
examples above, we can replace each noun
phrase with a pronoun.
• It relaxes me.
• I know them.
• She was him.
Here are some real-life examples of noun
phrases as subjects, objects, and complements:

• This man has a nice smile, but he's

got iron teeth.
• I never learned from a man who
agreed with me.
• Every man of courage is a man of
his word.
It can get complicated. It's not unusual for
nouns and noun phrases to be embedded
within noun phrases. Looking at the last
example, "courage" and "word" are both
nouns, but they are not the head nouns of the
phrases. They are both objects of the
preposition "of," sitting in prepositional
phrases that modify the head nouns.
The last thing to say about noun phrases is
that they can be headed by pronouns as well
as nouns, and they can be quite long.
• Anybody who wants the presidency
so much that he'll spend two years
organizing and campaigning for it
is not to be trusted with the office.
Note: When a noun phrase is the subject of a verb, ensure
subject-verb agreement with the head noun.

• The Spitfire's 9-yard belt of bullets give us the term

"the full nine yards.“ (Wrong)
• The Spitfire's 9-yard belt of bullets gives us the term
"the full nine yards.“ (Correct)
Do not be tricked into agreeing the verb with
the nearest noun (here, "bullets"). When a
noun phrase is the subject of a verb, the head
noun governs the verb.
VERB PHRASE
A verb phrase consists of a main verb
and any accompanying words, such as
auxiliaries, adverbs, or objects. It
expresses the action or state of being in a
sentence.
Examples of Verb Phrases
Verb phrases can take many forms, from simple to complex. Here are
some examples:

Simple Verb Phrase Verb Phrase with Auxiliary

Runs quickly. Will be running.

Verb Phrase with Object Complex Verb Phrase

Ate the sandwich. Has been studying for the exam.
 ADJECTIVE PHRASES
An adjective phrase modifies a noun or a pronoun. An
adjective phrase includes at least one adjective,
along with at least one other word.

EXAMPLES;
• Jenny is a sweet, intelligent, beautiful girl.
• Mafie speaks incredibly softly.
PLACEMENT OF ADJECTIVE PHRASES:
ATTRIBUTIVE AND PREDICATIVE
ADJECTIVE PHRASES

• Attributive Adjective
An attributive adjective typically sits before the noun it
is modifying
Examples:

⚬The beautifully carved frames are priceless.

• Predicative Adjective
A predicative adjective typically sits after the
noun it is modifying.

Examples:
o The frames are beautifully carved and
priceless.
 ATTRIBUTIVE AND PREDICATIVE
ADJECTIVE PHRASES
When an adjective phrase (or any adjective for that
matter) appears before its noun, it is highly likely to
be an attributive adjective. However, an adjective that
appears after its noun can also be attributive.

Example:
• The frames beautifully carved by monks are
priceless.
An attributive adjective sits inside the noun phrase of
the noun it modifies, and a predicative adjective sits
outside the noun phrase of the noun it modifies.
Typically, a predicative adjective is linked to its noun
with a linking verb (e.g., "to be," "to look," "to smell," "to
taste").

Examples:
• The dog covered in mud looks pleased with himself.
• The cake baked by my grandmother tastes delicious.
FORMATION OF ADJECTIVE PHRASES:
ADJECTIVE PAIRED WITH ADVERB INTENSIFIER
An adjective phrase can be formed by combining an
adverb functioning as an intensifier and an adjective.

Examples:
• The dazzlingly beautiful woman walked down the street.
• That lemon was amazingly sour.
• The exceptionally bright student scored the highest marks
in the class.
• The very special gift brought tears to her eyes .
FORMATION OF ADJECTIVE PHRASES:
MULTIPLE ADJECTIVES IN A ROW
A string of multiple adjectives can work together as an
adjective phrase.

Examples:
• She had the most radiant, silky, and smooth hair
I’ve ever seen.
• I saw a tall, dark, and handsome stranger.
SOMETIMES AN ADJECTIVE PHRASE DOES
NOT HAVE AN ADJECTIVE IN IT. IT STARTS
WITH THE FOLLOWING:

PREPOSITION

PARTICIPLE

INFINITIV
E
PREPOSITION-BASED ADJECTIVE PHRASE
An adjective phrase can be formed by combining a
preposition or prepositional phrase with another word
that, together, describe a noun in the sentence.

Examples:
• The book on the table is mine.
• The house across the street is haunted.
• The girl with curly hair won the competition.
• The man in the black suit is the CEO.
PARTICLE-BASED ADJECTIVE PHRASE
An adjectival phrase can function as a participle when it
consists of a participle along with any accompanying
words. Participle phrases provide additional information
about a noun or pronoun in a sentence.

Examples:
• The guy sleeping on the floor is my friend.
• The shop built next to my house is huge.
• The book written by the famous author became a
bestseller.
• The cake baked by my grandmother was delicious.
INFINITIVE-BASED ADJECTIVE PHRASE
An adjective phrase can function as an infinitive
when it includes an infinitive verb form (to + base
form of a verb) along with any accompanying words.
When used in this way, the infinitive phrase provides
additional information about a noun or pronoun in a
sentence, often expressing purpose or intention.

• He bought a tool to fix the problem.

• She brought a gift to open.
• I need a book to read.
What Is an Adverbial Phrase?
● An adverbial phrase (or
adverb phrase) is a
group of words that
functions as an adverb
to give more
information about the
main clause of a
sentence.
What Is an Adverbial
Phrase?
• Adverbial phrases are formed
in different ways. Sometimes,
they consist of two adverbs:
an intensifier or qualifier
(e.g., “very,” “quite,”
“somewhat”) followed by
another adverb.
What Is an Adverbial Phrase?

●Adverbial phrases,
like all adverbs, often
explain when, where,
why or how.
Examples of Adverbial Phrase:

●Stella is attending the meeting to protest

the new policy.
●After the movie, let’s go out to eat.
●Put that book on the top shelf.
Examples of Adverbial Phrase with Two
Adverbs:
●Adam walked to the bus stop very slowly.
●Somewhat regretfully, I sold my concert
tickets.
Note: Prepositional phrases (e.g., “under the
counter”) and infinitive phrases (e.g., “to
avoid the crowds”) can also act as adverbial
phrases. Even though they are not formed
with an adverb, these phrases can function as
adverbs in a sentence.
Prepositional and Infinitive phrases as Adverbial
Phrase Examples:

●We are meeting in the conference room at

3 p.m.
●Dev is saving money to buy a house.
Function of
Adverbial Phrase
Just like adverbs, adverb phrases can have
different functions in a sentence, as shown in
this table.
 Type Function Example

Place Describe where something happens We walked in the park.

Time Describe when something happens The principal will come before
lunch.

Purpose Describe why something happens Sofia is studying to become an

engineer.

Manner Describe how something happens I played the song almost perfectly.
Adverbial Phrase
Placement
Adverbial phrases can appear at the beginning
or end of a sentence. The choice of where to
place them often depends on what you want
to emphasize.
When used at the beginning of a sentence, an
adverbial phrase is called a fronted adverbial
and is usually followed by a comma. When an
adverbial phrase appears at the end of a
sentence, no comma is required.
Examples of Adverbial Phrase Placement:

●At the end of the performance, the

audience gave a standing ovation.
●The audience gave a standing ovation at the
end of the performance.
When adverbial phrases at the beginning of a
sentence are very short (i.e., fewer than four words),
some writers will omit the comma. This is
acceptable, but it is also acceptable to include a
comma. Longer adverbial phrases at the beginning
of a sentence should always be followed by a
comma.
Examples of Fronted Adverbial:

●On Tuesday we’re flying to London.

(Correct)
●On Tuesday, we’re flying to London.
(Correct)
Examples of Fronted Adverbial:

●On the last Tuesday of the month we

meet for coffee. (Incorrect)
●On the last Tuesday of the month, we
meet for coffee. (Correct)
Sometimes, the location of the adverb phrase can
change the meaning of the sentence. It is important
to consider your intended meaning and watch out for
misplaced modifiers (i.e., modifiers that are not
clearly connected to what they are supposed to
modify).
Examples of Modifier Placement:

●I’ll tell Theo I’ll work on the project

after the meeting.
●After the meeting, I’ll tell Theo I’ll
work on the project.
 01
Gerund Phrase
 What Is a Gerund Phrase?
● A gerund phrase
is a phrase that
consists of a
gerund, its object,
and any modifiers.
 02
Examples of
Gerund Phrases
 Examples of Gerund Phrase
Here are some easy examples of gerund phrases. (In
these examples, the gerund phrases are bolded, and
the gerunds are highlighted.)
● Removing the dressing quickly is the best way.
● I like singing songs in the shower.
 Examples of Gerund Phrase

● Try to serve the soup without

dropping the tray this time.
 Examples of Gerund Phrase
Here is an example without an object:
● Moving quickly is the key to survival.
Here is an example without a modifier:
● I want to talk to you about buying those magic
beans.
 The Function of Gerund Phrases
Like all nouns, a gerund phrase can function as a
subject, an object, or a complement within a sentence.
For example:
● Eating blackberries quickly is a bad idea.
● She hates waiting for trains.
 The Function of Gerund Phrases
● She knew a lot about growing
tomatoes in cold climates.
● Her biggest mistake was caring too
much about the quality of the
product.
 03
The Parts of a
Gerund Phrase
 The Parts of Gerund Phrases
All gerunds end "-ing." They are nouns
formed from verbs. For example:
● eating (from the verb "to eat")
● taking (from the verb "to take")
● painting (from the verb "to paint")
 The Parts of Gerund Phrases
A gerund is not like a normal noun
because a gerund can take a direct
object (just like a verb can). The direct
object of a gerund is known as a gerund
complement. For example:
 The Parts of Gerund Phrases
● eating a cake
● taking a drink
● painting a fence
These complements (or objects) make up part
of the gerund phrase.
 The Parts of Gerund Phrases
Gerunds can also be modified. For example:
● eating a cake quickly
● taking a drink at the watering hole
● painting a fence with the brush his wife bought
him
 The Parts of Gerund Phrases

These modifiers also make up part

of the gerund phrase.
Note: Gerunds can reduce your
word count and improve reading
flow.
Using normal nouns (i.e., not gerunds) and the
prepositions needed to make those nouns
often makes a sentence jolty and
unnecessarily long. For example:
● The discovery of this new cave will assist
with the facilitation of the exploration of the
western tunnels.
As a rule, the best way to fix a jolty, noun-
ridden sentence is with a well-placed verb.
However, gerunds (having verb-like qualities)
are also a useful tool for reducing your word
count and creating sentences that flow better.
● Discovering this new cave will assist with
exploring the western tunnels.
Of course, a few other things have happened
here to reduce from 18 to 11 words (e.g., the
redundant "with the facilitation of" was
removed), but the very act of trying to replace
a rabble of nouns and prepositions with some
sleek gerund phrases will drive those other
changes too.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
A prepositional phrase is a phrase
that includes:

• A preposition
• The object of the preposition
• Any modifiers
 PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
 In form, a prepositional phrase always start with a
preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun called the
object of the preposition and it can have a
modifier.
 In function, a prepositional phrase only
have two jobs which makes them easy to
understand. They can do the job of either
an adjective or an adverb phrase.
 PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES THAT
MODIFY NOUNS

When a prepositional phrase acts upon a noun, we say it is

behaving adjectivally because adjectives modify nouns.

Examples:
• The man from Cebu bought a new shirt.
• The girl in the middle is the prettiest.
• Jacob hid his books under the bed.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES THAT MODIFY VERBS

When a prepositional phrase acts upon a verb, we say it

is behaving adverbially because adverbs modify verbs.

Examples:
• After the party, the clown returned to the
headquarters.
• The clown returned to the headquarters after the
party.
• The clown, after the party, returned to the
headquarters.
 PARTICIPIAL PHRASES
A participial phrase is a group of words consisting of a
participle and the modifier(s) and/or noun(s) or pronoun(s) or
noun phrase(s) that function as the direct object(s), indirect
object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state
expressed in the participle, such as:

• Removing his coat, Jack rushed to the river.

• Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the importance of exercise.
• Catherine noticed her cousin walking along the shoreline.
PUNCTUATION

When a participial phrase begins in a

sentence, a comma should be placed
after the phrase.

Examples:
• Arriving at the store, I found that it was
closed.
PUNCTUATION
If the participle or participial phrase comes in the middle of a
sentence, it should be set off with commas only if the information is
not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

• Lizzy, watching an old movie, drifted in and out of sleep.

• The church, destroyed by a fire, was never rebuilt.

Note that if the participial phrase is essential to the meaning of the

sentence, no commas should be used:

• The student earning the highest grade will receive a special

award.
• The guy wearing the chicken costume is my cousin.
 PUNCTUATION
If a participial phrase comes at the end of a sentence, a
comma usually precedes the phrase if it modifies an
earlier word in the sentence but not if the phrase directly
follows the word it modifies.
• The local residents often saw
Paul wandering through the
streets.
• Ella nervously watched her
boyfriend, alarmed by his
silence.
INFINITIVE PHRASE
An infinitive phrase consists of the word "to" followed by
a verb. It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb
within a sentence, adding depth and complexity to the
language.
Examples of Infinitive Phrases
Infinitive phrases can serve a variety of functions within a
sentence, adding depth and nuance to the language.
AS A NOUN

To explore the rainforest is her dream.

AS AN ADJECTIVE

The decision to move was difficult.

AS AN ADVERB

She ran to catch the bus.

 APPOSITIVE PHRASE
An appositive phrase renames or identifies a noun or
pronoun by placing another noun phrase next to it. It
provides additional information about the subject and
can be removed without affecting the core meaning of
the sentence.
Examples of Appositive Phrases
Appositive phrases can take many forms and provide different
types of additional information about the subject.

IDENTIFYING DESCRIBING CLARIFYING

APPOSITIVE APPOSITIVE APPOSITIVE

My neighbor, a renowned The Eiffel Tower, a Shakespeare, the

architect, designed the stunning wrought-iron famous playwright,
new office building. structure, is one of the is known for his
most iconic landmarks in profound and
the world. timeless works.
 ABSOLUTE PHRASE
In English grammar, an "absolute phrase" is a phrase that
modifies an entire independent clause, rather than just
one word. An absolute phrase always contains a noun and a
participle.

For example:
• Eyes closed, she stroked the crystal ball and
muttered some Latin words.
• Face reddening, he ordered the boys to leave
the shop.
The Structure of an Absolute Phrase
[noun] + [participle] + [any modifiers] + [any objects]

Examples:

• His strong hands spinning the sword expertly,

he beckoned the ninjas to step forwards.
• Fingers crossed tightly, she waited for the
referee to blow the whistle.
The Five Traits of an Absolute Phrase
• There will be a noun or a noun phrase.
Examples:
• Torches flashing, the soldiers searched the river bank.
• Their bright torches flashing, the soldiers searched the river
bank.
• The noun will be followed by a participle (past
participle or present participle).
Examples:
• His fingers frozen, Jack checked the padlock.
• His fingers shaking, Jack checked the padlock.
• The phrase is grammatically independent
of the sentence.

Examples:
• Nose pinched tightly, Sarah jumped from
the pier.
• Sarah jumped from the pier.
• The phrase is offset with a comma (or
commas if mid-sentence).
Examples:
• Weather permitting, we will resume tomorrow.
• We will, weather permitting, resume tomorrow.
• We will resume tomorrow, weather permitting.
• The phrase does not start with a
conjunction, a preposition, or another
connector.
Examples:
• Weather permitting, we will resume tomorrow.
• If the weather permits, we will resume tomorrow.