AP English Language Grammar Intensive Phrases Review

Prepositional Phrases A group of words beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun or pronoun [at the post office] [to school] The noun or pronoun that ends a prepositional phrase is called the object of the preposition Don’t be misled by a modifier coming after the noun/pronoun

Adjective Phrase Prepositional phrases used as adjectives Usually follows the word it modifies More than one adjective phrase can modify the same noun/pronoun Sometimes an adjective phrase can modify the object of a previous prep phrase Some frogs produce a poison [from glands] [in their skin]

Adverb Phrase Prepositional phrases used as an adverb to tell when, where, in what way (how), or to what extent. Modifies a verb, adjective or adverb May appear anywhere in sentences More than one adverb phrase can modify the same word

Adverb Phrase - continued VERB: The book was written [in the 1800’s]. ADJ: [In a short time], the book became popular. ADV: Twain became famous early [in his career]. [During his youth], Twain worked [as a newspaper writer].

Appositive Phrase Appositive: a noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to identify or explain it Appositive phrase: an appositive and its modifiers Your friend [Ramla] called after you left. Jesse Sheng, [the vice president of the bank], sent me a card.

Participles A verb form that can be used as an adjective – present and past Present: ends in –ing Past: usually end in –ed or –d The pacing lion made me nervous. The hunted animal camouflaged itself.

Participial Phrases A phrase containing a participle and any complements or modifiers it may have [Removing his coat], Jack rushed to the river. [Hesitating for a moment], he quickly grasped the situation. High school graduates [replying to a college questionnaire about their courses] often mention freshman English as the course [giving them the most trouble].

Gerunds and Gerund Phrases A verb form that is used as a noun Ends in –ing Gerund phrase consists of a gerund and all of the related words Test: try replacing the gerund/phrase with “it” or “this”… if it works, it’s a gerund! Studying always makes Trevor hungry. My favorite pastime is sailing. Ada made reading a top priority. [Waiting on tables] is a good way to earn money in the summer.