CHAPTER 2: PHRASES

I. What is a phrase?
• group of two or more words → occupy the same slot as a single word.
• The head of a phrase is the word in the phrase that defines what sort of phrase it is.
For example: A very silly mistake.(NP)
the head
II. Types of phrases
1. Noun Phrase
2. Adjective Phrase & Adjectival Phrase
3. Adverb Phrase & Adverbial Phrase
4. Prepositional Phrase
5. Verb Phrase
1. Noun Phrase (NP)
A NP is any phrase that has a noun as its head and that can occupy the same slot as a
single noun or pronoun in a larger phrase or in a sentence.
For example:
Big dogs frighten me.
She gave him a great big kiss.
The head of a NP is the noun being described or referred to in the phrase.
For example:
Her older sister
A great big kiss
Sometimes a pronoun can be the head of a NP
For example:
They both knew the truth.

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FUNCTIONS OF NOUN PHRASES
Subject
For example:
The boy near the window is her son.
Direct Object
For example:
He loves the girl next door.
Indirect Object
For example:
He offered the girl next door a bouquet of flowers.
Object or complement of a preposition
For example:
He went out with the girl next door last night.
Subject Complement
For example:
Laura is a gorgeous lady.
Object Complement
For example:
Paul calls her his expected sweetheart.
Adverbial
For example:
I’ll see you tomorrow night.
It’s a lot worse than I expected.
2. Adjective Phrase & Adjectival Phrase
2.1. Adjective Phrase (AP)
An AP is any phrase that has an adjective as its head and that can occupy the same
position as a single adjective in a NP or fill the same slot as a single adjective in a
sentence.
For example:

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 Her behavior was absolutely unbelievable.
head
It was a very happy marriage.
Head
2.2. Functions of AP
as adjectival modifier (modify NOUNs)
For example:
A very exciting proposal
AP as Subject-complements or Object-complements
For example:
Her proposal was very exciting.
You’ve made us very proud.
2.3. Adjective Phrase vs Adjectival Phrase
An adjective phrase is a phrase that has an adjective as its head.
For example:
I was absolutely amazed at what I saw.
An adjectival phrase is any phrase that can function like an adjective.
For example:
We had a five-minute delay at the airport.
I must have reliable, up-to-date information.
3. Adverb Phrase & Adverbial Phrase
3.1. Adverb Phrase (Adv P)
An adverb phrase is a group of words that has an adverb as its head.
For example:
She got out of bed very slowly.
The head of an adverb phrase is the adverb that carries the main meaning of the phrase.
For example:
very slowly, fast enough, more quickly

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3.2. Functions of AvP
Adverb phrase function as adverbials.
For example:
I so often feel that no-one is listening to me.
Quite frankly, I don’t want to know your reasons.
She might agree. Then again, she might not.
3.3. Adverb Phrase vs Adverbial Phrase
An adverb phrase is a group of words that has an adverb as its head.
For example:
He runs very fast.
An adverbial phrase is any phrase that can function as an adverbial in a sentence.
For example:
I’ll visit Susan tomorrow morning. (NP as adverbial)
School starts again on Tuesday.(PP as adverbial)
4. Prepositional Phrase (PP)
A pp is a phrase that consists of a preposition followed by, for example, a noun, a
pronoun, a noun phrase or an adverb.
For example:
We saw her in town the other day.
Is she really going out with that guy?
The head of a PP is the prep it begins with.
For example:
In silence On the bed To my room
The rest of the PP is called the object or complement of the prep.
Functions of Prepositional phrases
as adverbials
The cat was on the table.
To my surprise, there was no-one there.

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 On the one hand, he’d like the job that pays more. On the other hand, he enjoys
the current job.
as Subject-complements
Your work is of great value.
as Object-complements
We considered the information of little importance.
as adjectival modifiers (modify NOUNs)
For example:
Who is that man with red hair?
We need an in-depth survey of the state of the roads.
as complement of an adj, adv, N or a V
For example:
I am afraid of dogs.
Tom insisted on a vote.
What is the purpose of this visit?
She quickly moved away from the wall.
5. Verb Phrase (VP)
A VP is a group of two or more words that can function in a sentence in the same way as
a single verb.
For example:
We have been looking for you everywhere.
Anna should have known what to do.
The head of a VP is the main verb or lexical verb in that phrase, the word that carries the
main meaning of the phrase.
For example:
I have been reading some very interesting books.
The other words in a VP are Aux verbs or helping verbs.
Functions of a VP
VP as (part of) the predicate of a sentence.

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For example:
The small boy is sleeping.
The boy is playing chess with his friends in the class.
Phrasal verbs
A phrasal verb is an expression that consists of a lexical verb plus an adverb or a
preposition or both.
For example:
Everybody please stand up. (v+adv)
This calls for immediate action. (V+P)
I get along with her very well. (V+Adv+p)

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