Sentences Part 2 Phrases Phrase: a group of related words that function as a single part of speech. A phrase lacks a subject, predicate, or both. Types of Phrases There are several types of phrases: verb, verbal, prepositional, appositive, absolute.
Verb Phrase: consists of a main verb preceded by one or more helping verbs. The snow has been falling for three days.
Verbal: a word that is derived from a verb, has the power of a verb, but acts as another part of speech. Like a verb, a verbal may take an object, a modifier, and sometimes a subject, but unlike a verb, a verbal functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. There are three types of verbals: gerund, infinitive, participle. Verbal Phrase: a phrase based on one of the three types of verbals.
Gerund: a verb form that ends in ing and is used as a noun. Swimming is my favorite pastime. (subject) I began swimming at the age of six months. (direct object) Because of swimming, I m in good condition. (object of preposition)
Gerund Phrase: consists of a gerund and its modifiers. The whole phrase functions as a noun. Spotting the tiny mouse was easy for the hawk. (The gerund phrase is used as the subject of the sentence.) Dinner escaped by ducking under a rock. (The gerund phrase is the object of the preposition by.)
Participle: a verb form usually ending in ing or ed. A participle functions as an adjective, but also retains some of the characteristics of a verb. It is sometimes thought of as a verbal adjective. The farmhands harvesting corn are tired and hungry. (Harvesting functions as an adjective by modifying farmhands. Harvesting also acts like a verb because it has a direct object.) The cribs full of harvested cobs are evidence of their hard work. (Harvested functions as an adjective by modifying cobs.)
Participle Phrase: consists of a past or present participle and its modifiers. The whole phrase functions as an adjective. Following his nose, the beagle took off like a jackrabbit. (The participle phrase modifies the noun beagle.) The raccoons, warned by the rustling, took cover. (The participle phrase modifies the noun raccoons.)
Infinitive: a verb form that is usually introduced by to; the infinitive may be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. To swim the English Channel must be a thrill. (noun) If it were easy to swim the Channel, more people would do it. (adverb) The urge to swim in tropical waters is more common. (adjective)
Infinitive Phrase: consists of an infinitive and its modifiers. The whole phrase functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. To shake every voter s hand was the candidate s goal. (The infinitive phrase functions as a noun used as a subject.) Your efforts to clean the chalkboard are appreciated. (The infinitive phrase is used as an adjective modifying efforts.) Please watch carefully to see the difference. (The infinitive phrase is used as an adverb modifying watch.)
Preposition: a word (or group of words) that shows the relationship between its object (a noun or pronoun) and another word in the sentence.
Prepositional Phrase: a group of words beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun or pronoun. Prepositional phrases are used mainly as adjectives and adverbs. Zach won the race in record time. (The prep phrase in record time is used as an adverb modifying the verb won.) Reach for the catnip ball behind the couch. (The prep phrase behind the couch is used as an adjective modifying catnip ball.)
Appositive Phrase: follows a noun or a pronoun an renames it, consists of a noun and its modifiers. An appositive adds new information about the noun or pronoun it follows The Trans-Siberian Railroad, the world s longest railway, stretches from Moscow to Vladivostok. (The appositive phrase renames Trans- Siberian Railroad and provides new information.)
Absolute Phrase: consists of a noun and a participle (plus the participle s object, if there is one, and any modifiers. Because it has a subject and a verbal, an absolute phrase resembles a clause. Its wheels clattering rhythmically over the rails, the train rolled into town. (The noun wheels is modified by the participle clattering.)
Identify each underlined phrase. Use the following abbreviations: PREP = Prepositional G = Gerund A = Appositive INF = Infinitive PART = Participial 1. Vincent Van Gogh, the famous Dutch Impressionist painter, was the subject of the show. 2. People waited in long lines to get tickets. 3. Painting peasant life was one of Van Gogh s early ambitions. 4. His famous painting The Potato Eaters reflects this ambition. 5. He is most famous, however, for recording nature. 6. Filling canvases with thick brush strokes of color, Van Gogh re-created fields and meadows. 7. He presented a new way of looking at the land. 8. Some of his most famous paintings are of the springtime in Provence. 9. I had a chance to see his haunting painting, Wheatfield with Crows.
Ethan avoided doing his homework. Her husband Ken is a nice guy. Karen walked along, with a mind at rest, its peace reflected on her face. The students gathered signatures for increasing the hours of the library. Running down the street, Alice tripped and fell. She wants to earn enough money to buy a car.
The Grand Canyon, one of our nation s most popular tourist attractions, is breathtaking. Jane stood by the window, her eyes darting around the room. The car sliding out of control toward the building is going to hit the car. Neil Armstrong, the first man who walked on the moon, is a native of Ohio. The astronaut who was chosen for the space shuttle to Mars is afraid of heights.
The flying saucer appeared above the lake. You should consider reading the notes before class. In the Spring, I always plant a garden. The child looked under the bed with fear. Upon my arrival, I was whisked into a secret chamber.
Identify the underline phrases using G for Gerund, I for Infinitive, P for participle, and A for Appositive. Circle all of the prepositional phrases. 1. Shaking violently from the cold, Janis couldn t wait outside any longer. 2. To earn a grade based on effort seemed fair to the students. 3. Who is the woman in Leonardo da Vinci s famous painting the Mona Lisa? 4. Walking alone at night is not safe. 5. The entire building, the two shops and the bank, was being renovated. 6. The town s safety codes about renovating old structures are outdated. 7. His empty stomach, rumbling like an avalanche, needed food. 8. The alarm clock told him it was time to get up and work in the shop. 9. Grandma s cookies, their insides chocked-full of chocolate chips and nuts, waited for us every afternoon.
Underline and identify the phrases in the following sentences. Use the same symbols as above and circle the prepositional phrases. 1. In the game of baseball, stealing first base is impossible. 2. Why is it so hard to steal first base? 3. Raising the coffin s lid, Dracula, that scary monster, peered into the darkness at the other cloaked figures. 4. Her face, puckered from old age and countless worries, broke into a wide grin at the sight of her granddaughter. 5. To save the child, the paramedic performed CPR inside the wrecked automobile. 6. Feeding the birds is becoming a year-round activity. 7. Mike, his eyes shining with delight, climbed into the seat on the Ferris wheel.
Running five miles a day is her summer goal. The man running across the street is my dad. The man who is running across the street is my dad. Kari, the main character of the story, dies at the end.
Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences. They do not appreciate my singing. The police arrested him for speeding. Everyone wanted to go. Children introduced to music early develop strong intellectual skills.
His ambition is to fly. That man, our manager, spoke out about racism. We waited in our favorite meeting place, the park. The two kids received their awards, their faces beaming happily. Sarah avoided going home.