The Greatness of Grammar Phrases

Why study phrases?

What is a phrase? It is a group of related words that does not contain both a subject and its verb— there is no subject verb relationship. It is a group of related words that does not contain both a subject and its verb— there is no subject verb relationship. They can act as verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. They can act as verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. Ultimately, this group of words is functioning as one part of speech in a sentence. Ultimately, this group of words is functioning as one part of speech in a sentence.

Verb Phrase A verb phrase is made up of an auxiliary verb (verb helper) plus the past or present participle form of a verb. A verb phrase is made up of an auxiliary verb (verb helper) plus the past or present participle form of a verb. will have gone am going Note—the verb phrase can be interrupted by modifiers. will have soon gone am surely going

Noun Phrase “A noun phrase can function as a subject, object, or an appositive phrase defining or renaming a preceding noun or pronoun” (Raimes 326). “A noun phrase can function as a subject, object, or an appositive phrase defining or renaming a preceding noun or pronoun” (Raimes 326). An extremely grateful girl hugged her parents. (noun phrase as subject) An extremely grateful girl hugged her parents. (noun phrase as subject) The woman gave a hearty round of applause. (noun phrase as direct object) The woman gave a hearty round of applause. (noun phrase as direct object)

What is a prepositional phrase? It is a phrase beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun or pronoun called its object. It is a phrase beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun or pronoun called its object. The phrase’s job is to connect its object to another word in the sentence. The phrase’s job is to connect its object to another word in the sentence. This word is ultimately the word the prep. phrase modifies. This word is ultimately the word the prep. phrase modifies.

Adverb Phrase An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that acts as an adverb (it modifies a verb, adverb, adjective, or verbals) An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that acts as an adverb (it modifies a verb, adverb, adjective, or verbals) It can answer the questions where?, when?, how?, how much?, to what extent? and sometimes why? It can answer the questions where?, when?, how?, how much?, to what extent? and sometimes why? Use a comma after two consecutive adv. phrases that begin a sentence. Use a comma after two consecutive adv. phrases that begin a sentence. Adv. phrases can be located anywhere within a sentence. Adv. phrases can be located anywhere within a sentence.

Adjective phrase An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, pronoun, or verbals that act as nouns. An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, pronoun, or verbals that act as nouns. They answer what kind? which one? or how many? They answer what kind? which one? or how many? An adjective phrase must follow the word it modifies unless after another phrase/clause that modifies the same word. An adjective phrase must follow the word it modifies unless after another phrase/clause that modifies the same word.

The adv phrase with some modifies the verbal roaming and answers the question how modifies the verbal roaming and answers the question how of your buddies is modifying some, answers the question what kind? = adj. phrase

For the gifted modifies school—What kind of school? Adj. phrase For a horse’s rear end modifies expression. What kind of expression? Adj phrase

To dogs modifies the verb say and answers the question where?. It is an adverb phrase. Of the garbage modifies the adverb out. It answers the question where. It is an adverb phrase.

To him modifies the verb phrase do listen. It answers the question how? and is therefore an adv phrase. Into a tree modifies the verb ran and answers where? It is an adv. phrase. …but what is the phrase TO MISS HIM?

Verbals: The “Posers” Verbals are verb forms used as other parts of speech: infinitives, gerunds, and participles. Verbals are verb forms used as other parts of speech: infinitives, gerunds, and participles.

In this comic to miss him is called an infinitive phrase. An infinitive is made up of the word “to” plus a verb. An infinitive phrase is made up of any objects or modifiers to the infinitive. Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. DO NOT SPLIT INFINITIVES IN YOUR WRITING.

I will work to carefully write my paper. No! Help me Bilbo!!!! William Strunk is coming to get me! I will work to write my paper carefully. Phew, much better! Gandolf would be proud. The infinitive in the above sentence is acting as an adv.

The infinitive phrase to kill him is a direct object to am going and is therefore a noun. Him is part of the infinitive phrase because it is a direct object to the infinitive.

Gerund A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing but functions as a noun within a sentence. A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing but functions as a noun within a sentence. Gerunds act as subjects, direct objects, objects of prepositions, indirect objects and predicate nominatives. Gerunds act as subjects, direct objects, objects of prepositions, indirect objects and predicate nominatives.

Writing essays is a skill you will utilize throughout the rest of your educational careers. (subject) Writing essays is a skill you will utilize throughout the rest of your educational careers. (subject) Honors Comp. is the perfect class for learning to write effective essays. Honors Comp. is the perfect class for learning to write effective essays. (object of a preposition)

Scamming innocent people out of their money is a gerund phrase (scamming is the object of the preposition for) To cancel guilt is an infinitive phrase acting as an adverb.

Participles are verb forms acting as adjectives. Present Participles are made up of a verb form + -ing. Present Participles are made up of a verb form + -ing. Past Participles are made up of a verb form + a –d or –ed ending. Past Participles are made up of a verb form + a –d or –ed ending. Note: There are some irregular verbs that have different forms of past participles. Brought, bought, gone

Some notes about participial phrases Although participles and participial phrases can be located anywhere in sentence, they should be placed well. Although participles and participial phrases can be located anywhere in sentence, they should be placed well. A participial phrase that begins a sentence must modify the grammatical subject. A participial phrase that begins a sentence must modify the grammatical subject. Other part. phrases should be as near as possible to the word they modify. Other part. phrases should be as near as possible to the word they modify.

Astonishing modifies the noun incompetence To jump is an infinitive acting as a noun (direct object)

Note: an –ing word is only a verb when accompanied by a verb helper like am going. What types of verbals or phrases are in the comic? for lunchof courseare gettingto cost have donecostof the house

The Appositive An appositive is a noun or pronoun that renames another noun or pronoun. An appositive is a noun or pronoun that renames another noun or pronoun. The appositive usually comes after the word it renames but not always. The appositive usually comes after the word it renames but not always. It should be set off in commas unless is is a one word appositive or an essential to the meaning of the sentence. It should be set off in commas unless is is a one word appositive or an essential to the meaning of the sentence.

An appositive is a noun or pronoun -- often with modifiers -- set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it. Here are some examples of appositives.

An appositive phrase usually follows the word it explains or identifies, but it may also precede it.

Punctuation of appositives “In some cases, the noun being explained is too general without the appositive; the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence. When this is the case, do not place commas around the appositive; just leave it alone. If the sentence would be clear and complete without the appositive, then commas are necessary; place one before and one after the appositive” (Purdue).

The Absolute Phrase “An absolute phrase begins with a noun phrase followed by a verbal or prepositional phrase. It contains no verb form that indicates tense” (Raimes 328). “An absolute phrase begins with a noun phrase followed by a verbal or prepositional phrase. It contains no verb form that indicates tense” (Raimes 328). “An absolute phrase modifies a whole sentence and is set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma” (Raimes 328). “An absolute phrase modifies a whole sentence and is set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma” (Raimes 328).

Their reputation as winners secured by victory, the New York Liberty charged into the semifinals. The season nearly finished, Rebecca Lobo and Sophie Witherspoon emerged as true leaders. The two superstars signed autographs into the night, their faces beaming happily.

Resources Adams, Scott. Dilbert.com Jan “Farside Comics.” Angelfire. 24 Jan < Jennings, Mark. Skylar’s Den. 15 Jul Jan < htm>. Purdue University. Online Writing Lab Jan.2005.< lab/fairuse.html>. Raimes, Ann. Universal Keys for Writers. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.