Week 3

PHRASES
1. Definition
‘A phrase is a group of words which have a grammatical relationship to each other and
which together perform a structural unit. A phrase operates as an element in clause
structure.’ (Blake, 1993: 11)

‘A phrase is a group of grammatically related words without a subject and a predicate. A

phrase functions as a single part of speech. It differs from a clause, which has a subject and
a verb.” (Lester: 268)

A phrase contains a head word / main word and performs as a unit in the sentence.
Ex: in the morning
to cook a pot of chili on an open campfire.
coming home in the evening
the dog sleeping near the front gate

2. Identification
A phrase is identified by the headword. (HW)
 Noun phrases (NP) consist of a head noun and modifying words.
A noun phrase can perform different functions:
+ Subject. Ex: The boy near the window is my son.
+ DO. Ex: I love the boy next door.
+ I O. Ex: I offer the boy next door a bouquet.
+ OP. Ex: I went out with the boy next door last night.
+ SC. Ex: Paula is the girl I met yesterday.
+ OC. Ex: Paul calls her his expected sweetheart.
 Adjective phrases (AP) consist of a main word, which is an adjective, and its
modifier(s).
Adjective phrases tell which one or what kind about a noun that immediately precedes
or follows the phrase.
An adjective phrase may be of different functions:
+ Modifier. Ex: A very handsome boy is playing chess in class.
+ Modifier. Ex: The films harmful to children are not to be shown.
+ SC. Ex: Paula is very charming.
+ OC. Ex: Paul find the exercise extremely difficult.
 Adverb phrases (AvP) contain a head word, which is an adverb, and its modifier(s).
Adverb phrases tell why, when, where, how, what for, under what conditions, to what
degree … to describe a verb, adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or a clause.
An adverb phrase is in function modifier.
Ex: He sings very beautifully. (verb modifier)
Very luckily, the boy did not die. (sentence modifier)
  Preposition phrases (PP) consist of a preposition as head word and its object. PP =
P + NP.
A preposition phrase may function as:
+ A noun
Ex: On the beach now is much better than in class. (subject)
I prefer in class. (DO)
The mouse emerged from behind the wardrobe. (OP)
My favorite hiding place is under the table. (SC)
I find your explanation over their head. (OC)
+ An adjective
Ex: My son is the boy near the window. (noun modifier)
The smile on Jack’s face faded at the news. (noun modifier)
+ An adverb
Ex: Work with extreme caution when you set the fuse.
(verb modifier)
Due to the bad weather, the plane arrived one hour late.
(sentence modifier)

Infinitive phrases (Inf.P) consist of an infinitive verb as head word, followed by its object(s),
modifier(s), or complement(s).
Inf.P = Inf. + O/C/M
Infinitive phrases may act as:
+ A noun
Ex: To eat a lot of vegetables everyday is good for health (S)
They are trying to build a fire. (DO)
To study English effectively, the best way is to be in an
English speaking environment. (SC)
I consider to study this way to waste time. (OC)
+ An adjective
Ex: A test to check cholesterol level is needed for fat people.(M)
+ An adverb
Ex: We used dynamite to demolish the building quickly. (VM)
To pass the final exam, you must study hard. (St M)

In some circumstances, the infinitive may take a subject:

Ex: The coach wanted his players to learn patience.( ‘his players’
is the subject of ‘to learn’).
 Gerund phrases (GP) contain a gerund as head word and its object(s), modifier(s), or
complement(s). GP = G + O/C/M
A gerund phrase acts as a noun phrase.
Ex: Swimming everyday is good ( S )
 I enjoy swimming in the morning. (DO)
I give studying English all my favor ( IO )
Before going to school, I always have a big breakfast (OP)
Most children’s hobby is playing in the rain. (SC)
I find to live this way being in prison (OC)
 Present participle phrases (PresPP) consist of a present participle as head word plus
its object, modifier, or complement.
Pres.PP = Pres.P + O/C/M.
A present participle can serve as:
+ An adjective
Ex: The boy sitting near the window is a new student. ( noun M)
+ An adverb
Ex: The little girl rushes into my arms crying loudly. (verb M)
Coming home, I found my dog poisoned (sentence M)
 Past participle phrases (PPP) contain a past participle as head word followed by its
modifier(s). PPP = Past.P + M
A past participle phrase can act as
+ An adjective
Ex: On the river bank sat little Robert, covered with mud (NM)
+ An adverb
Ex: Wounded by an arrow, the eagle fell on the ground (St M)
Note: Participial phrases must share the same subject with the main
verb.
 Absolute phrases
An absolute phrase modifies an entire clause rather than one word and is
grammatically unconnected to the clause, so it is set off by commas.
An absolute phrase usually consists of a participle and its own subject.

An absolute phrase acts as an adverb phrase / modifier / adverbial.

Ex: Their child being hurt on the playground, the parents sued the city.
The general paced the room, voice pitched with passion, eyes darting from one
person to another, and hands gesturing wildly.
The van loaded, we headed for the mountains.
The President left the room, reporters clustering around him.
The concert being over, everyone went home.
(Lester, 268-273)
 Verb phrases
A verb phrase consists of the main verb, its auxiliary(ies), object(s), complement(s),
or modifier(s).
Verb phrases act as the Predicator of a sentence.
Ex: The small boy is sleeping.
Paul usually goes to school early with his friends.
 The boy is playing chess with his friends in the class.
EXERCISE 3
Analyze the underlined phrases in the following sentences
Ex: Explaining the process, Dr. Ford drew simple illustrations
PresPP/M
1. Leaves falling, air smelling of crisp apple, and white clouds billowing against the sky, no

other season matches autumn.

2. Crowds poured into the streets to welcome home the victors, the hometown football team.

3. The team having won all its games, Chicago celebrated as never before.

4. Even the stern history professor, his face smiling and eyes shining, dismissed us to join the

throng.

5. An unnecessary tragedy, an athlete’s neck injury, marred the final days of the winning

football season.

6. Successfully merchandising a product is creative.

7. Americans have always needed to know the point of it all.

8. They have also been getting tougher by enforcing strict new anti-litter laws.

9. Taking criticism from others is painful but useful.

10. Merely to argue for the preservation of park land is not enough.

11. Angry and proud, Claire resolved to fight back.

12. After giving birth, most women lapse into some sort of melancholy.

13. Workers managed to pipe the gas through a purifying plant and into a pipeline.

14. All human acts – even saving a stranger from drowning or donating a million dollars to the

poor – may be ultimately selfish.

15. This method of growing plants without soil has long been known to scientists but has only

recently begun to attract amateurs’ attention.

16. His leaving the farm prompted her to sick a job in town.

17. Crawling through the thicket, I suddenly remembered the box of shells left on top of the

truck.

18. They worked fast, one man sawing logs and the other loading the truck.

19. Not wanting to appear in court, Marilyn decided to pay the fine.

20. All told, fame is fickle.

TEST 2
1. Which of the following is not true about phrases?
a. A phrase is a group of words consisting of a noun and all its modifiers.
b. A phrase is a group of words which functions as a grammatical unit.
c. A phrase is a group of words with a headword and all its modifiers or complement.
d. A phrase has its own function in a sentence.
2. Which of the following is true about phrases?
a. A phrase contains a finite verb b. A phrase contains a non-finite verb
c. A phrase does not contain a finite verb d. A phrase is named by its function
3. A phrase is named by its headword.
a. True b. False
4. The main difference between a phrase and a clause is the verb.
a. True b. False
5. A clause differs from a phrase in that a clause contains a finite verb.
a. True b. False

6. A phrase does not contain any verb.

a. True b. False
7. Which of the following is true about noun phrases?
a. A noun phrase is a phrase with a noun as headword
b. A noun phrase is a phrase as subject of verb
c. A noun phrase is a phrase in function of a noun
d. A noun phrase is a phrase which takes the position of a noun.
8. Which of the following is true about adjective phrases?
 a. An adjective phrase is a phrase with an adjective as headword
b. An adjective phrase is a phrase completing a noun
c. An adjective phrase is a phrase in function of modifier
d. An adjective phrase is a phrase following a noun
9. Which of the following is true about adverb phrases?
a. An adverb phrase is a phrase with an adverb as headword
b. An adverb phrase is a phrase completing a verb
c. An adverb phrase is a phrase in function modifier
d. An adverb phrase is a phrase modifying a noun
10. Which of the following is true about preposition phrases?
a. in a preposition phrase, the noun is the most important word
b. in a preposition phrase, the preposition is the most important word
c. in a preposition phrase, the preposition is always the first word
d. in a preposition phrase, the preposition is a nominal modifier
11. Which of the following is not true about infinitive phrases?
a. An infinitive phrase contains a finite verb
b. An infinitive phrase can perform different functions in a sentence.
c. An infinitive phrase usually begins with an infinitive verb.
d. The head word in an infinitive phrase is an infinitive verb
12. Which of the following is not true about gerund phrases?
a. A gerund phrase is used as a noun phrase
b. A gerund phrase can perform the functions of an adverb
c. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and all its objects, complements, or modifiers
d. A gerund phrase can perform the functions of a noun
13. Which of the following is not true about present participle phrases?
a. A present participle phrase can perform as a noun
b. In a present participle phrase, the head word is a present participle verb.
c. A present participle phrase is used as an adjective.
d. A present participle phrase is used as an adverb.
14. Which of the following is not true about past participle phrases?
a. A past participle phrase is used as an adjective
b. A past participle phrase consists of a past participle and all the words clustering around it
c. A past participle phrase can perform the functions of a verb
d. A past participle phrase can perform the functions of an adverb
15. Which of the following is not true about absolute phrases?
a. In an absolute phrase, the participle must share the same subject with the main verb
b. In an absolute phrase, the participle has its own subject.
c. An absolute phrase is used as an adverb phrase.
d. In a sentence, the absolute phrase is usually in function sentence modifier
16. By form the underlined part in ‘I consider living this way being in prison’ is a:
 a. verb phrase b. noun phrase c. present participle phrase d. gerund phrase
17. By form the underlined part in ‘swimming regularly is good for health’ is a:
a. verb phrase b. noun phrase c. present participle phrase d. gerund phrase
18. By form the underlined part in ‘swimming regularly, I am getting healthier’ is a:
a. present participle phrase b. gerund phrase c. noun phrase d. verb phrase
19. By form the underlined part in ‘being a student, I must study hard’ is a:
a. gerund phrase b. present participle phrase c. noun phrase d. verb phrase

20. By form the underlined part in ‘the concert being over, everyone went home’ is a:
a. present participle phrase b. gerund phrase c. absolute phrase d. noun
phrase
21. By form the underlined part in ‘the van loaded, we headed for the camping ground’ is a:
a. absolute phrase b. noun phrase c. past participle phrase d. verb phrase
22. By form the underlined part in ‘on the river bank sat little Robert, covered with mud’ is a:
a. past participle phrase b. absolute phrase c. adjective phrase d. verb
phrase
23. By form the underlined part in ‘concerning the weather, the match should be cancelled’ is a:
a. absolute phrase b. preposition phrase c. present participle phrase d. gerund
phrase
24. By form the underlined part in ‘Paul being late disturbs everybody’ is a:
a. gerund phrase b. absolute phrase c. present participle phrase d. noun
phrase
25. By form the underlined part in ‘the whole city celebrated the winning football season’ is a:
a. noun phrase b. absolute phrase c. present participle phrase d. gerund phrase