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. 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. Crystal could hear her sister snoring across the room. 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. UNDER is not an adverb because it alone does not answer where about the verb. You should consider reading the notes before class. 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. 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. 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. Rozakis, Laurie. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grammar and Style. New York: Alpha Books, 1997 (131-32).

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. Rozakis, Laurie. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grammar and Style. New York: Alpha Books, 1997 (136-37).

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. Rozakis, Laurie. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grammar and Style. New York: Alpha Books, 1997 (137).

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. http://grammar.uoregon.edu/phrases/participialP.html