2. COMPOSITION 9 Phrases

3. Phrases in General  A phrase is a group of words used as a single part of speech. Because it does not contain a subject and its predicate, it is not considered a full sentence or clause.

4. Prepositional Phrases  Remember, we already went over prepositional phrases.  Just to be sure we remember, prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun.  Example: The roof of the house is leaky. The preposition “of” begins the prepositional phrase ended by the noun “house,” clarifying the subject of the sentence, “roof.”

5. The Adjective Phrase  Follow along on text pages 450-451.  An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase used as an adjective to modify a noun or pronoun. Unlike one-word adjectives, which typically precede the nouns or pronouns that they modify, adjective phrases always follow the nouns or pronouns that they modify. They will indicate “what kind” or “which one” about the noun or pronoun they modify.  Example: The mirror in the bathroom is foggy. The adjective phrase “in the bathroom” modifies the noun “mirror.” Alternatively, one could refer to “the bathroom mirror” in order to make the sentence less wordy.

6. Adjective Phrase Rules and Exceptions  More than one adjective phrase can modify the same word in the same sentence.  Example: The carton of milk in the fridge is hers. The adjective phrase “of milk” modifies the noun “carton,” as does the adjective phrase “in the fridge.”  Alternatively, one adjective phrase can modify the object of the preposition in another adjective phrase.  Example: The abandoned house down the street with the Walmart is a bit frightening. The adjective phrase “down the street” modifies the noun “house.” The adjective phrase “with the Walmart” modifies the object of that adjective phrase, street, in order to clarify exactly what street is being referred to.  We will work through Exercise 1 in the textbook together.

7. The Adverb Phrase  Follow along on Textbook pages 452-453.  An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb by telling when, where, in what way, or to what extent, just as an adverb would. Unlike adjective phrases, adverb phrases can often be in different places in sentences.  Example: The children arrived prior to 8 A.M.  Example: Prior to 8 A.M., the children arrived. “Prior to 8 A.M.” is the adverb phrase that modifies the verb “arrived,” telling when the children arrived.  As is the case with adjective phrases, adverb phrases can work in tandem to modify the same verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.  Example: During the morning, I volunteer at an animal shelter. Both “during the morning” and “at an animal shelter” modify the verb “volunteer,” specifying when and where exactly I volunteer.  We will work together on Exercise 3 in the textbook.  Prepare for a quiz on adjective and adverb phrases.

8. Appositives  Follow along on textbook pages 453-455.  An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to explain it or further identify it.  Example: My sister Jamie got married yesterday. The proper noun Jamie identifies and further explains the noun sister.

9. Appositive Phrases  An appositive phrase may include words and phrases that modify it, as is the case with all nouns and pronouns. Typically, the appositive phrase follows the noun or pronoun that it modifies, though this is not always the case.  Example: A piece of junk, my computer froze. This works, but is a little awkward.  Example: My computer, a piece of junk, froze. Better.

10. Appositive Phrases (con’d)  Usually, appositives and appositive phrases are bordered by commas. This is always the case with appositives or appositive phrases that refer to proper nouns. This is not the case when the appositive is a single word that is closely related to the noun or pronoun being modified and is essential to the meaning of the sentence.  Example: Jerome, the quarterback, hesitated before throwing. The quarterback is the appositive relating to the proper noun Jerome, so it is bordered by commas.  Example: The instructor David screamed at the class. The writer has many instructors, so in order to clarify who yelled, the appositive David is necessary. It is one word, and since it is essential, it is not bordered by commas.  Example: The author of the book of the month, Kurt Vonnegut, writes with anger. There is only one book of the month with only one author, so the appositive Kurt Vonnegut is not necessary. Thus, it is bordered by commas.  The general rule is that if you can take out a phrase and not have that change the overall meaning of the sentence, it is nonessential and should be bordered by commas. If removing a phrase would really change the meaning of a sentence, no commas are necessary.  We will complete Exercise 5 in the textbook together.

11. Infinitives  Follow along on textbook pages 463-465.  An infinitive is a verb form that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. The word “to” typically precedes an infinitive.  Example: I want to work. The infinitive “to work” is the object of the sentence and a noun.  Example: He is a tough player to guard. The infinitive “to guard” acts an adjective by modifying the noun “player.”  Example: He shoots to kill. The infinitive “to kill” modifies the verb “shoots” and thus acts as an adverb.  There is a chart on textbook page 463 that includes some more examples.  We will work on Exercise 13 in the textbook together.

12. Prepositional Phrases and Infinitives  Whereas prepositional phrases beginning with “to” will end with nouns or pronouns, infinitives will end with verbs.  Example: I went to the store. “To the store” is prepositional because “store” is a noun.  Example: She asked me to go. “To go” is an infinitive because “go” is a verb.  We will work together on Exercise 14.

13. The Infinitive Phrase  An infinitive phrase is an infinitive and any modifiers or complements. Infinitive phrases may be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. The key is to find the infinitive and figure out its function.  Example: I am excited to sleep this weekend. The infinitive phrase “to sleep this weekend” modifies the adjective “excited,” meaning that the infinitive phrase acts as an adverb.  Example: To care for others is to share with others. The infinitive phrases both act as nouns, the first as the subject and the second as the predicate nominative in the sentence.  Example: Shakira is a woman to desire with great ferocity. The infinitive phrase “to desire with great ferocity” acts as an adjective modifying the noun “woman.” This is also true, by the way…  We will complete Exercise 15 in the textbook together.  There will be a quiz covering appositive and infinitive phrases.

14. Participles  You can follow along on Textbook pages 456-459.  A participle is a verb form that is used as an adjective. Present participles end in –ing, while past participles usually end in –ed, though some are formed irregularly.  Examples of present participles: Running, leaping, leaking, hunting, burning, etc.  Examples of past participles: Destroyed, hunted, crashed, shocked, burnt, etc.  Present participles never stand alone as verbs, only as adjectives. When they are part of verb phrases, they are used and recognized as verbs, not adjectives. When they are participles, they will answer “what kind” or “which one” about nouns or pronouns.  Example as adjective: The hunted bear sought shelter. Here, the part participle “hunted” modifies the noun “bear.”  Example as part of verb phrase: The bear hunted and sought shelter. Here, verb “hunted” indicates an action on the part of the bear.  We will work on Exercises 7 and 8 in the textbook together.

15. Passive Voice  Past participles can also be helped by forms of “be.” In verb phrases, this forms what is called the passive voice of a verb, something that good writers avoid using, since it tends to make sentences boring and confusing. It makes the sentence odd, since the subject of the sentence suddenly becomes the recipient, not the doer, of the main action.  Example: She was chased by the police officer. This is the passive voice. It reverses the traditional relationship of subject and verb by making the recipient of the action (“she”) the subject of the sentence, leaving the taker of the action (“the police officer”) as an object of a preposition. This is a sentence structure that you should avoid. This is an easy problem to fix. Just put the taker of the action before the recipient of the action in your sentences.  Example: The police officer chased her. Problem solved!

16. The Participial Phrase  A participial phrase contains a participle and its complements and modifiers. If it is placed at the beginning of a sentence, it is typically followed by a comma. Participial phrases always modify nouns or pronouns and should be placed close to the nouns or pronouns that they modify in order to avoid confusion.  Example: He saw a man jumping out a window. The participial phrase “jumping out a window” modifies the noun “man,” the object of the sentence. This is clear because of the placement of the participial phrase in the sentence. However…  Example: Jumping out a window, he saw a man. This is a completely different sentence at this point.  You should set off participial phrases with commas unless they are needed to distinguish one thing from another.  We will work together on Exercise 9.

17. Gerunds  You can follow along on textbook pages 460-462.  A gerund is a verb form that ends in –ing and is used as a noun. It can be used in any way a noun can, as evidenced by the chart on textbook page 460.  Example: Watching football is great. Here, the gerund “watching” is my simple subject.  Example: My favorite pastime is watching football. Here, the gerund “watching” is my predicate nominative.  We will work together on Exercise 10.

18. Verb, Participle, or Gerund?  Because –ing ending verbs can be verbs, participles, or gerunds, you must check and see how your –ing word functions before deciding what it is.  Example: John is playing basketball. Here, playing is part of a verb phrase.  Example: John, playing basketball, was in his element. Here, playing is part of a participial phrase modifying John.  Example: Playing basketball is John’s favorite pastime. Here, playing basketball is a gerund phrase that acts as a subject.  We will work together on Exercise 11.

19. Gerund Phrases  A gerund phrase is composed of a gerund and any modifiers or complements that it may have.  Example: Jogging outside in the rain is soothing. The gerund “jogging” is the subject of the sentence and is joined in a phrase by the modifier phrase “outside in the rain.”  Example: Her favorite activities are sitting on benches and throwing food at random passersby. The gerunds “sitting” and “throwing” are the beginnings of gerund phrases that together form the compound predicate nominative of this sentence.  When a personal pronoun precedes a gerund or gerund phrase, you should always use the possessive form of the pronoun.  Incorrect: I encouraged him buying the house.  Correct: I encouraged his buying the house.  We will work together on Exercise 12 in the textbook.  Prepare for a quiz covering participles and gerunds.

20. Lots of Phrases…  These phrases are somewhat confusing. Here are the general rules in summary.  A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun. It can act as an adjective or adverb.  An infinitive phrase generally includes the word “to” and can be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb.  A gerund phrase ends in –ing and is used as a noun.  A participial phrase can be present or past and acts as an adjective. The verbs in the phrases tend to end in –ing or –ed.  An appositive phrase is usually bordered by commas and contains a noun or a pronoun to explain, modify, or rename another noun or pronoun.  We will work together on Exercises 45 and 46 on Textbook page 486.

21. Review and Test  Test soon!