PHRASES AND CLAUSES

Phrases

a group of related words that does not include a subject and verb

A noun phrase

comprises a noun (obviously) and any associated modifiers:

Examples:

The long and winding road

A noun phrase

any associated modifiers

A prepositional phrase

consists of a preposition, a noun or pronoun that serves as the object of the preposition, and, more often than not, an adjective or two that modifies the object.

List down the prepositional phrases you can find in this paragraph:

The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun. Close against the side of the station there was the warm shadow of the building and a curtain, made of strings of bamboo beads, hung across the open door into the bar, to keep out flies.

List down the prepositional phrases you can find in this paragraph:

The American and the girl with him sat at a table in the shade, outside the building. It was very hot and the express from Barcelona would come in forty minutes. It stopped at this junction for two minutes and went on to Madrid.

List down the prepositional phrases you can find in this paragraph:

The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun. Close against the side of the station there was the warm shadow of the building and a curtain, made of strings of bamboo beads, hung across the open door into the bar, to keep out flies.

List down the prepositional phrases you can find in this paragraph:

The American and the girl with him sat at a table in the shade, outside the building. It was very hot and the express from Barcelona would come in forty minutes. It stopped at this junction for two minutes and went on to Madrid.

An appositive phrase

is a re-naming or amplification of a word that immediately precedes it.

My favorite teacher, a fine chess player in

her own right, has won several state-level

tournaments.[Noun phrase as appositive]

An Absolute Phrase

is a group of words consisting of a noun or pronoun and a participle as well as any related modifiers.

Their reputation as winners secured by victory, the New York Liberty charged into the semifinals.

The best exercise, walking briskly, is also the

least expensive. [Gerund phrase as appositive]

Tashonda's goal in life, to become an

occupational therapist, is within her grasp this

year, at last. [Infinitive phrase as appositive]

Other examples of Absolute phrases The old firefighter stood over the

smoking ruins, his senses alert to any sign of another flare-up.

His subordinates, their faces sweat-streaked and smudged with ash, leaned heavily against the firetruck.

They knew all too well how all their hard work could be undone — in an instant.

An infinitive phrase

consists of an infinitive — the root of the verb preceded by to — and any modifiers or complements associated with it. Infinitive phrases can act as adjectives, adverbs, and nouns.

Examples of infinitive phrases• Her plan to subsidize child care won

wide acceptance among urban politicians. [modifies plan, functions as an adjective]

• She wanted to raise taxes. [noun-object of the sentence]

• To watch Uncle Billy tell this story is an eye-opening experience. [noun-subject of the sentence]

Examples of infinitive phrases• To know her is to love her.

[noun, predicate nominative] • Juan went to college to

study veterinary medicine. [tells us why he went, so it's an adverb]

Gerund phrases

are verbals that end in -ing and that act as nouns, frequently are associated with modifiers and complements in a gerund phrase.

Examples of gerund phrases Cramming for tests is not a good

study strategy. [gerund phrase as subject]

John enjoyed swimming in the lake after dark. [gerund phrase as object]

I'm really not interested in studying biochemistry for the rest of my life. [gerund phrase as object of the preposition in ]

Participial phrases• present participles, verbals

ending in -ing, and past participles

• verbals that end in -ed (for regular verbs) or other forms (for irregular verbs), are combined with complements and modifiers

Participial phrases

act as adjectives. When they begin a sentence

set off by a comma (as an introductory modifier

set off by commas if they are parenthetical elements.

Examples of Participial phrases

The stone steps, having been worn down by generations of students, needed to be replaced. [modifies "steps"]

Working around the clock, the firefighters finally put out the last of the California brush fires. [modifies "firefighters"]

The pond, frozen over since early December, is now safe for ice-skating. [modifies "pond"]

What kind of phrase is it?

ASHAMED OF HIS ROLE IN THE ESCAPADE,

Dr. Chuck avoided reporters for the next six

months.

participial phrase

What kind of phrase is it?

SCREECHING HER TIRES AND BLASTING HER HORN, Esmerelda took off in a cloud of dust and smoke.

participial phrase

What kind of phrase is it?

Charlie spent time WITH HIS DAUGHTERS yesterday.

prepositional phrase

What kind of phrase is it? We never accepted the principle

of LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS.

gerund phrase

What kind of phrase is it?

TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS

REGARDING SEXUAL HARASSMENT,

management provided several workshops.

infinitive phrase

What kind of phrase is it?The UConn basketball program, ONE OF

THE

MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE COUNTRY, continued

to thrive in recent years.

appositive phrase

source

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/phrases.htm#absolute

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/clauses.htm

Clauses

What is the meaning of each quote? On Work

The best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

On Happiness

Childhood is happy because it believes in everything. Old age doubts everything.

On Brotherhood

Brotherly kindness is possible when we are willing

to forget the gap between us.

On Giving Honor

It is better to honor a man in life than to worship him after he is dead.

On Setting Example

Be the living example of truth. Be careful not to do something bad so that the little ones will not be misled.

 

What is the meaning of each quote?

Discussion questions:

What is the difference between the underlined word groups and the groups that are in bold letters ?

How do we call these word groups?

What is a clause?

It is a group of related words containing a subject and a verb.

Independent clause

Independent clauses can stand by themselves

Two independent clauses can be combined with the use of coordinating conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs, and a semicolon.

Conjunctive adverbs

accordingly, furthermore, moreover, similarly, also, hence, namely, still, anyway, however, nevertheless, then, besides, incidentally, next, thereafter, certainly, indeed, nonetheless, therefore, consequently, instead, now, thus, finally, likewise, otherwise, undoubtedly, further, meanwhile.

Dependent clauses

Dependent Clauses cannot stand by themselves and make good sense.

must be combined with an independent clause

a dependent clause always contains a subject and a verb, but it cannot stand by itself.

Noun clause as a subject

What they did with the treasure remains a mystery.

Whatever you want for dessert is fine with me.

That you should feel this way about her came as a great surprise to us.

Noun clause as object

Juan finally revealed what he had done

with the money.

Her husband spent whatever she had saved

over the years.

I don't know what I should do next.

Noun clause as object of the preposition

In fact, he wrote a book about what he had done

over the years.

We are interested in what he does for a living.

Noun clause as predicate nominative

The trouble was that they had never been there

before.

The biggest disappointment of last season was

that the women's team didn't make it to the final

four.

Adjective clause/Relative clause

My brother, who now teaches math in a small college, never liked math in high school.

The dealership that sold more cars ended up actually losing money.

The Federated Bank, which was founded nearly two centuries ago, folded during the state's economic crisis.

Adverb clause

The team had fallen behind by ten points before they were able to figure out the opponent's defense.

Since he started working nights, he doesn't see much of his kids.

While Josie sat inside watching television, Gladys shoveled the driveway.

Identify the italicized clause as independent or dependent clause. Write your answers on your paper.

1. My cousin’s friends who were mostly foreigners had enjoyed their stay in the Philippines.

2. Unless the teacher tells you to speak, you have to stay quiet on your seat.

3. The student teacher has to prepare the visual materials so that the lesson becomes more interesting.

Identify the italicized clause as independent or dependent clause. Write your answers on your paper.

4. Whether you like it or not, you look very much like your father.

5. The Philippines still has hope if we will start loving and caring for each other.

6. The teacher whom everybody admires received a “Model Teacher” award.

Complete the following by supplying the indicated kind of clause. Rewrite the complete sentence on your paper.

1. I can bring pride and honor to my country (dependent clause)

2. I care for the environment (dependent clause)

3. Nature is a gift (dependent clause)

4. If you care for mother earth (independent clause)

5. Even if the world is already polluted (independent clause)

Complete the following by supplying the indicated kind of clause. Rewrite the complete sentence on your paper.

6. We should support the integrity of God’s creation (dependent clause)

7. When nature is destroyed (independent clause)

8. God gave us nature (dependent clause)

9. People lack concern for the environment (dependent clause)

10. I am a student (dependent clause)