Communication Arts 2

PHRASES

PHRASES

A phrase is a group of related words that function as a single part of speech.

A phrase does not have a subject and a verb.

THE VERB PHRASE

Main verbs and helping verbs - a main verb and one or more helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) make up a verb phrase.

Verbs are classified as: Helping or main verbs Action or linking verbs Transitive or intransitive verbs

Common Helping VerbsForms of Be Am Been Was

Are Being WereBe Is

Forms of Have Had Has HaveForms of Do Do Does DidModals (others) Can Might Should

Could Must WillMay Shall Would

A modal (or modal auxiliary) is a helping verb that is joined with the main verb to express an attitude such as necessity or possibility.

We must win this game to reach the playoffs. (Necessity)

Mr. Garza said that if we work hard enough on the play we are writing, we may get to perform it for the whole school. (Possibility)

A helping verb may be separated from the main verb.

Have you seen Tom Stoppard’s play Rosenchrants and Guildenstern Are Dead?

You should not miss it.

Action Verbs An action verb expresses

either physical or mental activity.

Physical – Speak SleepCarry Throw

Mental – Think ImagineDream

KnowExample: The horse galloped across

the field. Do you ever wonder what

dogs dream?

Linking Verbs A linking verb connects the subject

to a word or word group that identifies or describes the subject.

Such word or word group is called a subject complement.

Example: Marcy looks serious.

Common Linking VerbsForms of Be

Am be will be had beenIs can be could be shall have beenAre may be should be will have beenWas might be would be could have beenWere must be has been should have beenBeing shall be have beenwould have been

Others

Appear grow seem stay

Become look smell taste

Feel remain sound turn 

LINKING: The fabric felt soft.

(The fabric was soft makes sense)

ACTION: I felt the fabric.

(I was the fabric does not make sense)

Tips & Tricks: to determine whether the verb is a linking verb or an action verb, substitute a form of Be or seem. If the sentence still makes sense, the verb is a linking verb.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

A transitive verb has an object – a word or group that tells who or what receives the action verb.

Example:The rain lashed the windows. We closed and bolted the shutters

Intransitive verb does not have an object.Example:

The rain fell.My cousin arrived yesterday.

  Which sentence is transitive and

intransitive verb?The chorus sang patriotic

songs.The chorus sang beautifully.

A verb phrase may be classified as action or linking verb and as transitive or intransitive.

Example:The actors are practicing their

line.

The director is meeting with the stage crew.

While action verbs may be transitive or intransitive, linking verbs and state-of-being verbs are always intransitive.

Identify the COMPLETE VERB PHRASE in each sentence. Identify the classification of the verb phrase.1. My new stereo is not being delivered today.2. Here is your breakfast.3. The river does not usually freeze in winter.4. There were thirty kinds of ice cream on the menu!5. Can you finish your chores by 2 p.m.?6. On the branch of a tree was a small nest.7. Your parents should have been told about the

situation. 8. Should I bake cookies for the school sale?9. from a small cliff we could suddenly see the lake!10. The kids at my school have all mysteriously

disappeared!

11. Haven’t your parents taught you proper manners?12. I will not be on time for class!13. Fred can never remember his own phone

number!14. Why didn’t they laugh at my joke?15. Can you always find your way home it he dark?16. His letters are often written in orange ink.17. The gentle collie will never savagely attack anyone.18. Have your friends ever thrown a party?19. Did you set your alarm for tomorrow morning?20. We really must be going now.

THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, the object of the preposition, and any modifiers of that object. The object of the preposition may be compound.

Example: Did the officials of the

Smithsonian Institution recently unveil plans for a new museum?

According to them, the National African-American Museum opened in 1995.

Do you know the Greek myth about Daedalus and Icarus?

Remember, a preposition always has a noun or pronoun as an object.

A. The Adjective Phrase

A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun

An adjective phrase tells what kind or which one.

Example:

One of my friends is making a film about school.

Example: The film won’t include all of the students in our class.

Example: Instead, it will relate the adventures of five students at school and in their neighborhood.

Note: Sometimes an adjective phrase is combined with a noun to form a compound noun.

Helen of Troy Tug-of-warmeals on wheels jack-in-the-box

1. The dog with short legs is a dachshund.

Which one(s)?2. Please empty this bag of groceries.

What kind?

3. The movie about creatures from another planet was scary.

4. The glass of milk on the table is yours.

Finding Adjective PhrasesWrite each adjective phrase. Then beside each phrase, write the word it modifies.

Example: The preserves in the jar are homemade. in the jar - preserves

1. The radio in the kitchen doesn’t work.2. The last 20 minutes of the movie at Cinema I were very funny.3. The captain of the debating team met the principal.4. The article about animals without a home was sad.5.I need a box of nails in the top drawer.

6. Edgar Allan Poe is the father of the detective story.7. The pot of soup on the stove should be removed.8. Some of the trees reach a height of almost 400 feet.9. I took a picture of my grandparents from Baguio.10. One of my brothers joined the

tennis team at school.

B. The Adverb Phrase A prepositional phrase can also be

used as an adverb. It can modify a verb, adjective, or

an adverb.

Adverb phrase: Everyone came to my house.An adverb phrase answers the question Where? When? How? To what extent? Or To what degree? Most adverb phrases modify the verb.

Where: Next summer the Rogers will drive to California.

When: We should meet during the intermission.

How: John answered the question with confidence.

Sam was happy with his report card.

The material was rough against her skin.

The meeting ran late into the night.

The kite soared high into the sky.

On Saturday meet me at ten o’clock at Harvey’s.

Write each adverb phrase. Then beside each phrase, write the word or words it modifies.

1. Hockey pucks are kept in a refrigerator before a game.2. Since Wednesday we have been rehearsing the play.3. The band performed on the field during halftime.4. On the river bank a small boy fished for trout.5. I am very happy about your promotion.

6. At certain times snow falls in the Sahara Desert.7. Throughout the state, apple trees bloom in spring.8. After English class I went to the cafeteria.9. On Sunday we should meet for breakfast.10. A bird sees everything at once in a total focus.11. During the marathon we sat on a

curbstone.12. During the winter a person cannot catch a cold at the Noth Pole.

APPOSITIVE

1. My sister Pat is coming home in June.2. In the restaurant he ordered his

favorite drink, milk.

This identifying noun or pronoun is called an appositive.

An appositive is a noun or pronoun in that identifies or explain another noun or pronoun in the sentence.

Most of the time an appositive is used with modifiers to form an appositive phrase.

1. Our car, a small compact, gets great gas mileage.

2. The award went to Mrs. Kenny, Sue’s mother.

3. Jack made dinner, chicken with rice.

Note: A prepositional phrase can be part of an appositive phrase.

Identify the appositive phrases in each sentence and the word or words it identifies or explains.1. Have ever read the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert frost?2. My sister has mastered calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing.3. July was named after Julius Caesar, a Roman ruler.4. August was named after Augustus, Caesar’s nephew.5. We discussed Moby Dick, the classic tale of a man’s quest for the white whale.

The use of commas in appositives and appositive phrases

Essential – no commas are needed Not Essential – commas are needed

before and after an appositive or an appositive phrase if the information is not essential to the meaning.

A. On Tuesday we watched the play Romeo and Juliet on television.B. Romeo and Juliet, a play by William Shakespeare, can be seen on television on Tuesday.

1. My sister plays the cornet, a wind instrument.2. I just finished reading a story by famous

science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. 3. My dog Fred is never late for a meal.4. Nora’s brother, an explorer scout, will

attend an Out-ward Bound program this summer.5. Juanita would like to take up the popular sport wind surfing.6. The first man to drive a vehicle on the moon was David Scott, an American.7. Juneau, the capital of Alaska, has a deep harbor.

VERBALS AND

VERBAL PHRASES

A verb form that is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb

Verbal

1. participle 2. gerund3. infinitive

Consists of a verbal and its modifiers and complements.

Verbal Phrase

1. Participial phrase2. Gerund phrase3. Infinitive phrase.

The Participial Phrase

A participial phrase consists of a participle and its modifiers and complements.

The entire phrase is used as an ADJECTIVE.

Two kinds of participles:a. Present participleb. Past participle

A. Present Participles end in –ing.

The freezing rain made the road slick.

Bowing, the performers acknowledged the applause.

Did I hear someone knocking on the door?

b. Most Past participles ends in –d or –d. Others are irregularly formed.

First prize was an engraved trophy.

The lab tested samples of water taken from wells in the area.

Rested and relaxed, we returned to work.

THE PARTICIPIAL PHRASE

1. Flying low, the plane circled the airport.

2. The elm growing in our yard is 20 years old.

3. The grand prize will go to the

person giving the right

answer.

4. Quickly raising his hand, Joe was

called on first.

5. Grinning broadly, Whoopy Goldberg accepted the award.

6. Proclaiming his innocence, the

candidate vehemently denied the

charges.

THE GERUND

- A verb form ending in –ing that used as a noun

- A gerund can be used in all the ways a noun can be used.

Uses of Nouns:

Subject = subj.Direct Object = d.o.Indirect Object = i.o.Object of the preposition = o.p.Predicate nominative = p.n.Appositive = appos.

4 COMMON KINDS OF COMPLEMENTS

A. Direct Object – completes the meaning of action verbs

- a noun or pronoun that receives the action

B. Indirect Objects – answers the questions To or for whom? Or To or for what? After an action verb

- to find an i.o, first find the d.o.- ask yourself, towhom? For whom?

To what? Or for what? About each d.o

C. Predicate Nominative – A noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and identifies, renames, or explains the subject.

Ex. Melba has become my best friend.

p.n.

*D. Predicate Adjective

SUBJECT

DIRECT OBJECT

INDIRECT OBJECT

Singing is my best

talent.

Do you like skiing?His trimmer waistline gave his dieting a big boost.OBJECT OF A

PREPOSITION

PREDICATENOMINATIVE

I can’t stop her from

speaking.

My favorite pastime is

reading.

Four Variations of the Gerund Phrase

1. The loud talking bothered the people

in the library.

2. Exercising daily is important for everyone.

3. Jogging in a park is a pleasant form of

exercise.

4. Watching a football game is one of my

favorite pasttimes.

INFINITIVE PHRASE

Infinitive

A verbal form that usually begins with to.

It is used as noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

Infinitive Used as a Noun

To succeed was his only goal.

They wanted to eat.

Infinitive Used as an Adjective

That is a big question to answer.

The book to read is a mystery.

Infinitive Used as an ADVERB

She was eager to study.

She ran to catch the bus.

*Infinitive Phrases

An infinitive with its modifiers and complements – all

working together as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

Three variations of the infinitive phrase

*INFINITIVE WITH AN ADVERB

We hope to finish early.

*INFINITIVE WITH A PREPOSITIONAL

PHRASE

Tomorrow my family plans to leave for

Manila.

*INFINITIVE WITH A COMPLEMENT

Does he want to cook dinner?

Sometimes to is omitted when an infinitive follows such verbs as dare, feel, hear, help, let, make, need, see, and watch.

1.Did you watch me play tennis?

[to play]

2.No one dared go without permission.

[ to go]

3.Chris helped his uncle paint the canoe.

[ to paint]

In addition to the present form, infinitive have a present and past perfect form.

Form: add to have to the past participle

(To have seen him would have pleased Jerome.)

add to have been to the present or past participle and indicates

completed action.

(Elsa was known to have been chosen.)

More examples:

1. To get a medical degree is her goal.

2. They promised to return soon.

3. We have time to walk to the concert.

4. He is eager to give Chris the award.Note:

5. Everyone expects Guadalupe to win the election.

6. We wanted her to lead the discussion.

7. I believe them to be trustworthy.

1.To win an Olympic medal is the dream of every member of the women’s ski team.

2.We went to Italy to see our grandparents.

3. Marvella, please help me learn about photography.

4. The ability to speak distinctly is an advantage in job interviews.

5. Europeans were the first people to use wallpaper.