The PhraseKinds of Phrases and Their Functions

(Chapter 16)

Single group of related words Used as a single part of speech Does not contain both a verb and its subject It is NOT a sentence! It is PART of a

sentence! Examples:

◦ have been waiting (no subject)◦ during the storm (no subject or verb)◦ to boldly go where no one has gone before (no

subject or verb)

What is a Phrase?

Prepositional Phrases

Include a preposition, object of the preposition, and any modifiers of the object

Examples:◦ Did the members of Starfleet Command vote to

place Earth under martial law due to the threat from the Borg?

◦ This is Captain Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise.◦ According to both Mr. Spock and the

computer bank, the last tribble in the Alpha Quadrant was eradicated in the twenty-third century.

Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases that modify a noun or pronoun

Answers the question “what kind?” or “which one?”

Example: One of the crew members is filing a complaint about the size of his quarters.◦ of the crew members modifies the pronoun one.◦ of his quarters modifies the noun size.

Adjective Phrases

The adjective phrase generally follows the word it modifies.

That word can be the object of another preposition.

Example: Another crew member filed a complaint about the quality of the food in the mess hall.◦ about the quality modifies the noun complaint◦ of the food modifies the noun quality◦ in the mess hall modifies the noun food

Adjective Phrases

More than one adjective phrase can modify the same word.

Example: The ship’s log related the adventures of the crew near Earth and in deep space.◦ all three phrases modify the noun adventures

Adjective Phrases

Some adjective phrases are combined with nouns to form a compound noun.

In these cases, the entire thing is considered a noun.

Examples:◦ Helen of Troy◦ tug-of-war◦ meals on Wheels◦ jack-in-the-box

Adjective Phrases

Exercise 1 on pp. 555 – 556

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Prepositional phrases that modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb

Tells how, when, where, why, or to what extent (how much, how long, how far)

The Adverb Phrase

Modifying a verb: After the early 800s, the Fujiwara family ruled as regents in Japan for more than three hundred years.◦ All three phrases modify the verb ruled◦ After the early 800s tells when◦ As regents tells how◦ in Japan tells where◦ for more than three hundred years tells how long

The Adverb Phrase

More than one adverb phrase can modify the same word

Adverb phrases can precede the words they modify (unlike adjective phrases which must always follow the word they modify)

The Adverb Phrase

Exercise 2 on pp. 556 – 557

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Verbals and Verbal Phrases

Verbal: a very form that is used as a noun, and adjective, or an adverb. ◦ There are three kinds of verbals: participles,

gerunds, and infinitives A verbal phrase consists of a verbal and

its modifiers and compliments.◦ There are three kinds of verbal phrases: participial

phrases, gerund phrases, and infinitive phrases.

Verbals and Verbal Phrases

A verb form that can be used as an adjective Two forms:

◦ present participle: ends in –ing◦ Past participle: ends in –d or –ed

Present Participles◦ The freezing rain made the road slick.◦ Bowing, the performers acknowledged the

applause. Past Participles

◦ First prize was an engraved trophy.◦ Rested and relaxed, we returned to school.

The Participle

Participles also have a present perfect form This form adds having or having been to the

past participle of the verb. This form indicates a completed (finished)

action. Examples:

◦ Having completed her homework, Alyson decided to check for updates on her Facebook.

◦ Having been declared not guilty, Max Keenan ran to thank his daughter for her help.

The Participle

Consists or a participle and its modifiers and compliments

The entire phrase is used as an adjective. Examples:

◦ Smiling broadly, Taylor Swift accepted the award. (The participial phrase modifies the noun Taylor Swift. The adverb broadly modifies the present participle smiling.)

◦ Proclaiming her innocence, the student vehemently denied her involvement in the vandalism of Senior Hall. (The phrase modifies the noun student. The noun innocence is the direct object of Proclaiming.)

The Participial Phrase

◦ Annoyed by their reticence, the teacher assigned her class extra homework. (The whole phrase modifies the noun teacher. The adverb phrase by their reticence modifies the past participle Annoyed.)

◦ Georgia, formerly considered a member of the Soviet Union, declared its independence on April 9, 1991. (The phrase modifies the noun Georgia. Formerly modifies the verb considered. Of the Soviet Union modifies the noun member.)

The Participial Phrase

Exercise 3 on pp. 560.

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Consists of:◦ A participle or participial phrase◦ A noun or pronoun modified by the participle or

participial phrase◦ Any other modifiers of that noun or pronoun

The entire word group is used as an adverb to modify a clause in a sentence.

Remember, it is NOT a sentence unto itself!

The Absolute Phrase

Their school day having been cancelled due to snow, Sarah and Emily stayed in and played video games all day.

Wearily the young boy trudged onward through the rough terrain, his loyal Alaskan husky keeping pace at his side.

Dr. McCoy said that, the transporter being such an unreliable device, he would rather take a shuttlecraft.

The Absolute Phrase

Review B on pp. 561 – 562.

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A verb form ending in –ing that is used as a noun.

Examples:◦ Photographing athletes takes great skill and

patience. (subject)◦ Please stop whispering. (direct object)◦ The issue is his lying. (predicate nominative)◦ In answering, please give specific examples.

(object of preposition) Please do not confuse gerunds with present

participles that are used as adjectives!

The Gerund

Consists or a gerund and its modifiers and complements

The entire phrase is used as a noun. Examples:

◦ Managing one’s time efficiently requires much planning and hard work.

◦ My cousin enjoys working as a mechanical engineer.

◦ Her greatest achievement was winning the Mock Trial state championship.

◦ We were fined for littering in the park.

The Gerund Phrase

Exercise 4 on p. 563.

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Verb form that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb

Most infinitives begin with to Examples:

◦ To leave now would be rude. (subject)◦ No one wants to go. (direct object)◦ They are the team to beat. (adjective)◦ We came to win. (adverb)

The Infinitive

Infinitives also have a present perfect form. This form adds to have to the past participle

and to have been to the present or past participle.

This form indicates a completed action. Examples:

◦ To have met Gene Roddenberry would have pleased Bob.

◦ Harry Potter was known to have been involved in opening the Chamber of Secrets.

The Infinitive

Sometimes the to is omitted from an infinitive.

Examples:◦ Let’s wait [to] here.◦ The clowns made us [to] laugh.◦ Help me [to] clean the house.

The Infinitive

Be careful where you put adjectives in infinitives!

Old School Rule: keep the infinitive intact (i.e. do not put the adjective between to and the verb)◦ To run quickly◦ To study efficiently◦ To act accordingly

Splitting infinitives: can be done for style or emphasis, but generally should be avoided◦ to boldly go where no one has gone before

Split Infinitives

Consists of an infinitive and its modifiers and compliments

Entire phrase can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb

Noun: To get a law degree is her goal. Adjective: We have time to get locker

break cookies. Adverb: He is eager to give Sally her

birthday present.

The Infinitive Phrase

Exercise 5 on p. 566

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Appositives and Appositive Phrases

A noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to identify or describe it.

The appositive generally follows the noun or pronoun it describes.

Examples:◦ My cousin Erin is an accomplished violinist and pianist.◦ Dilithium, a crystal, is a common fuel source for

Federation ships. An appositive may be placed at the beginning of

a sentence for emphasis.◦ Mollusks, both snails and clams, have shells.

Appositives

Consist of an appositive and its modifiers Usually follows the noun or pronoun it

describes.◦ My husband’s car, a sporty black Chevy with a

sunroof and spoiler, is parked in front of the house.

◦ Mrs. Hudson, the landlady of 221 Baker Street, is a sweet Scottish woman.

May precede the noun/pronoun it describes:◦ Once a pagan feast, December 25th is now

widely celebrated as a Christian feast day.

Appositive Phrases

Exercise 6 on p. 568.

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