The PhraseThe Phrase

Chapter 14Chapter 14

Pages 415-437Pages 415-437

What is a Phrase?What is a Phrase?

A phrase is a group of related words A phrase is a group of related words that is used as a single part of that is used as a single part of

speech and that does not contain speech and that does not contain both a verb and its subject.both a verb and its subject.

What is a clause?What is a clause?

A clause is a group of related words A clause is a group of related words that is used as a single part of that is used as a single part of

speech and that does contain both a speech and that does contain both a verb and its subject. verb and its subject.

Let’s see, are these Let’s see, are these phrases or clauses?phrases or clauses?

As soon as the bell ringsAs soon as the bell rings Around the beautiful, fragrant gardenAround the beautiful, fragrant garden That I really wantThat I really want Any student can joinAny student can join Thinking about tonight’s gameThinking about tonight’s game To run the marathonTo run the marathon Swimming the length of the poolSwimming the length of the pool

What is a Prepositional What is a Prepositional Phrase?Phrase?

A prepositional phrase includes a A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, a noun or a pronoun preposition, a noun or a pronoun

calledcalled the object of the preposition the object of the preposition, , and any modifiers of that object.and any modifiers of that object.

There are 2 kinds of prepositional There are 2 kinds of prepositional phrases: phrases: adjective phrases and adjective phrases and

adverb phrasesadverb phrases

Prepositional Phrase Prepositional Phrase ExamplesExamples

The Seine River flows through Paris.The Seine River flows through Paris.

The car in front of us slid into an icy snow The car in front of us slid into an icy snow bank.bank.

During the stormy night, the black horse ran During the stormy night, the black horse ran off.off.

The dish is filled with raw carrots and celery.The dish is filled with raw carrots and celery.

What is an Adjective What is an Adjective Phrase?Phrase?

A prepositional phrase that modifies a A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun is called an noun or a pronoun is called an

adjective phrase.adjective phrase.

An adjective phrase tells An adjective phrase tells what kind or what kind or which one.which one.

Adjective Phrase ExamplesAdjective Phrase Examples

Wang Wei was a talented painter of Wang Wei was a talented painter of landscapes.landscapes.

Mrs. O’Meara is the one on the left.Mrs. O’Meara is the one on the left.

What is an Adverb Phrase?What is an Adverb Phrase?

A prepositional phrase that modifies a A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb is verb, an adjective, or an adverb is

called an adverb phrase.called an adverb phrase.

An adverb phrase tells An adverb phrase tells how, when, how, when, where, why, or to what extent (how where, why, or to what extent (how long, how many, how much, or how long, how many, how much, or how

far).far).

Adverb Phrase ExamplesAdverb Phrase Examples

The sportswriter interviewed the coach The sportswriter interviewed the coach before the game.before the game.

Before the game the team did two laps.Before the game the team did two laps.

Over the weekend, the family went to two Over the weekend, the family went to two different museums.different museums.

On April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space On April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into space.Telescope was launched into space.

What is a Verbal What is a Verbal Phrase?Phrase?

A verbal is a verb used as a noun, A verbal is a verb used as a noun, adjective, or adverb. A verbal phrase adjective, or adverb. A verbal phrase

consists of the verbal and any consists of the verbal and any complements or modifiers of the verbal.complements or modifiers of the verbal.

There are 3 types of verbal phrases: There are 3 types of verbal phrases: participial phrase, gerund phrase, and participial phrase, gerund phrase, and

infinitive phraseinfinitive phrase..

What is the Difference What is the Difference Between a Participle Between a Participle

and a Participial and a Participial Phrase?Phrase?

A participle is a verb form that can be used as A participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective.an adjective.Present – The smiling child waved.Present – The smiling child waved.

Past – The police officers searched the abandoned Past – The police officers searched the abandoned warehouse.warehouse.

A participial phrase consists of a participle and A participial phrase consists of a participle and any of its complements or modifiersany of its complements or modifiers

Present - Seeing itself in the mirror, the duck Present - Seeing itself in the mirror, the duck seemed quite bewildered.seemed quite bewildered.Past - Broken into hundred of pieces, the mirror Past - Broken into hundred of pieces, the mirror was ruined.was ruined.

What’s Being What’s Being Modified?Modified?

The trotting horses were not afraid The trotting horses were not afraid of the crowd.of the crowd.

This plate, bought at a flea market, This plate, bought at a flea market, is a valuable antique.is a valuable antique.

Seeing itself in the mirror, the duck Seeing itself in the mirror, the duck seemed quite bewildered.seemed quite bewildered.

The abandoned house was very The abandoned house was very spooky.spooky.

I heard the dog barking loudly.I heard the dog barking loudly.

BEWARE! MISPLACED BEWARE! MISPLACED MODIFIERS!MODIFIERS!

A participial phrase A participial phrase should be placed should be placed

as close as as close as possible to the possible to the

word it modifies. word it modifies. Otherwise, the Otherwise, the

phrase may phrase may appear to modify appear to modify

another word another word and the sentence and the sentence

may not make may not make sense.sense.

Slithering through the Slithering through the grass, I saw a snake grass, I saw a snake trimming the hedges this trimming the hedges this morning.morning.

Trimming the hedges this Trimming the hedges this morning, I saw a snake morning, I saw a snake slithering through the slithering through the grass.grass.

What’s the Difference What’s the Difference Between a Gerund Between a Gerund

and a Gerund Phrase?and a Gerund Phrase? A gerund is verb form ending in –ing that is A gerund is verb form ending in –ing that is

used as a noun.used as a noun. SkiingSkiing down that slope was fun. – subject down that slope was fun. – subject Dad’s favorite pastime is Dad’s favorite pastime is fishingfishing for bass. – for bass. –

predicate nominativepredicate nominative We enjoyed We enjoyed hikinghiking. – direct object. – direct object Give Give sailingsailing a try. – indirect object a try. – indirect object Please sweep the sidewalk after Please sweep the sidewalk after mowingmowing. – object . – object

of prepositionof preposition

What’s the What’s the Difference Between Difference Between

a Gerund and a a Gerund and a Gerund Phrase?Gerund Phrase?

A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any modifiers or complements the gerund any modifiers or complements the gerund has. The entire phrase is used as a noun.has. The entire phrase is used as a noun. Having a part-time job Having a part-time job may interfere with your may interfere with your

schoolwork. – subjectschoolwork. – subject The townspeople heard The townspeople heard the loud clanging of the loud clanging of

the fire bellthe fire bell. – direct object. – direct object We crossed the stream by We crossed the stream by stepping carefully stepping carefully

from stone to stonefrom stone to stone. – object of preposition. – object of preposition

BE CAREFUL!BE CAREFUL!

Do not confuse a gerund with a Do not confuse a gerund with a present participle used as part of a present participle used as part of a verb phrase or as an adjective.verb phrase or as an adjective.

PausingPausing, the deer was , the deer was sniffingsniffing the wind the wind before before steppingstepping into the meadow. into the meadow.

What’s the Function of What’s the Function of the Gerund in These the Gerund in These

Sentences?Sentences? TypingTyping the paper took an hour. the paper took an hour. In the past, In the past, workingworking took up most people’s time. took up most people’s time. My sister has always enjoyed My sister has always enjoyed ridingriding horseback. horseback. I look forward to I look forward to restingresting after this tiring job is after this tiring job is

done.done. Uncle Eli’s specialty is Uncle Eli’s specialty is barbecuingbarbecuing on the grill. on the grill. Considering the other choices, Melinda decided Considering the other choices, Melinda decided

on on walkingwalking.. Why won’t that dog stop Why won’t that dog stop barkingbarking??

What’s the Function of What’s the Function of the Gerund Phrase?the Gerund Phrase?

The eerie sound they heard was The eerie sound they heard was the the howling of the wolves.howling of the wolves.

We sat back and enjoyed We sat back and enjoyed the slow the slow rocking of the boat.rocking of the boat.

Angelo’s pleading Angelo’s pleading rarely influenced his rarely influenced his mother’s decisions.mother’s decisions.

Ants try to protect their colonies from Ants try to protect their colonies from storms by storms by piling up sand piling up sand against the against the wind.wind.

What’s an What’s an Infinitive?Infinitive?

An infinitive is a verb form that can be An infinitive is a verb form that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Most infinitives begin with adverb. Most infinitives begin with toto.. Wendy really likes Wendy really likes to skateto skate. - noun. - noun If you want information about computers, If you want information about computers,

that is the magazine that is the magazine to readto read. - adjective. - adjective The gymnasts were ready The gymnasts were ready to practiceto practice. - . -

adverbadverb

WARNING!WARNING!

Don’t confuse an infinitive with a Don’t confuse an infinitive with a prepositional phrase beginning with prepositional phrase beginning with toto. . A prepositional phrase always has an A prepositional phrase always has an

object that is a noun or pronoun.object that is a noun or pronoun. I handed the vase I handed the vase to my motherto my mother..

An infinitive is a verb form that usually An infinitive is a verb form that usually begins with begins with toto..

She is ready She is ready to swimto swim..

What’s the Part What’s the Part of Speech?of Speech?

Jen and I like Jen and I like to walkto walk together. – together. – We go to my house We go to my house to listento listen to music. – to music. – To installTo install the fan took two hours. – the fan took two hours. – The best time The best time to visitto visit Florida is Florida is

December through April. – December through April. – Nunu got up Nunu got up to danceto dance. – . – He needs a car He needs a car to driveto drive. – . –

nounnoun

adverbadverbnounnoun

adjectiveadjective

adverbadverbadjectiveadjective

What’s an What’s an Infinitive Phrase?Infinitive Phrase?

An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive and any modifiers or complements the and any modifiers or complements the infinitive has. The entire phrase may be infinitive has. The entire phrase may be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. The crowd grew quiet The crowd grew quiet to hear the speakerto hear the speaker. - . -

adverbadverb Peanuts and raisins are good snacks Peanuts and raisins are good snacks to take on to take on

a camping tripa camping trip. - adjective. - adjective To lift those weightsTo lift those weights takes great strength. - takes great strength. -

nounnoun

What’s the Part of What’s the Part of Speech?Speech?

Taking care of your bicycle is one way Taking care of your bicycle is one way to make to make it lastit last. – . –

We used machine oil We used machine oil to lubricate the chainto lubricate the chain. – . –

I learned I learned to place a small drop of oil on each to place a small drop of oil on each linklink. –. –

Then Aunt Elsie showed me the valve that is Then Aunt Elsie showed me the valve that is

needed needed to fill the inner tubeto fill the inner tube. – . – My aunt said My aunt said not to twist the wrench too hardnot to twist the wrench too hard. – . –

I thanked her for taking the time I thanked her for taking the time to help meto help me. -. -

adjectiveadjective

adjectiveadjective

nounnoun

nounnoun

adverbadverb

adverbadverb

What’s an Appositive?What’s an Appositive?

An appositive is a noun or pronoun An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or placed beside another noun or pronoun to identify or describe it.pronoun to identify or describe it. The cosmonaut The cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin Yuri Gagarin was the was the

first person in space.first person in space. I chose one person, I chose one person, herher, to organize the , to organize the

volunteers.volunteers.

OK, What’s an OK, What’s an Appositive Phrase?Appositive Phrase?

An appositive phrase consists of an An appositive phrase consists of an appositive and its modifiersappositive and its modifiers Officer Webb, Officer Webb, one of the security one of the security

guardsguards, caught the burglar., caught the burglar. Leonardo da Vinci , Leonardo da Vinci , an Italian painter an Italian painter

known for his artworksknown for his artworks, was also an , was also an architect, engineer, and scientist.architect, engineer, and scientist.

What About Commas?What About Commas? Commas are generally used with Commas are generally used with

appositives that refer to proper nouns.appositives that refer to proper nouns. Rachel Carson, Rachel Carson, a biologist and writera biologist and writer, published , published

the book the book Silent Spring Silent Spring in 1962.in 1962. Appositives and appositive phrases that are Appositives and appositive phrases that are

not essential to the meaning of the not essential to the meaning of the sentence are set off by commas.sentence are set off by commas. My sister, My sister, MaryMary, has red hair. – only one sister, has red hair. – only one sister

If the appositive is essential to the meaning, If the appositive is essential to the meaning, it is generally not set off by commas.it is generally not set off by commas. My sister My sister MaryMary has red hair. – more than one has red hair. – more than one

sistersister

Find the AppositivesFind the Appositives Tacos, one of the most popular Mexican Tacos, one of the most popular Mexican

dishes, are served here.dishes, are served here. My twin, Daniel, rode in the Mardi Gras My twin, Daniel, rode in the Mardi Gras

parade.parade. I’ll have a sandwich, tuna salad on rye bread.I’ll have a sandwich, tuna salad on rye bread. Shelley asked everyone where her friend Shelley asked everyone where her friend

Bianca had gone.Bianca had gone. They sang the song “I’ve Been Working on They sang the song “I’ve Been Working on

the Railroad” over and over all the way down the Railroad” over and over all the way down the path.the path.