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Phrases

A phrase is a group of words that conveys meaning but does not form a complete sentence, functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb. There are various types of phrases, including noun phrases, verb phrases, and prepositional phrases, each serving different grammatical roles. Non-finite phrases, such as gerund and infinitive phrases, do not contain finite verbs and can include elements that resemble verbs.

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7 views10 pages

Phrases

A phrase is a group of words that conveys meaning but does not form a complete sentence, functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb. There are various types of phrases, including noun phrases, verb phrases, and prepositional phrases, each serving different grammatical roles. Non-finite phrases, such as gerund and infinitive phrases, do not contain finite verbs and can include elements that resemble verbs.

Uploaded by

Vellari Pattanam
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CHAPTER 2

PHRASES- WHAT ARE THEY?


What is a phrase?

 A phrase is a group of words that has some meaning of its own.


 Its not a sentence, so there will not be a proper subject and
predicate.
 It functions like a noun, adjective or adverb.
 May contain verbal elements (the elements that look like verbs but
in the actual sense are not) but never a finite verb.
FINITE VERB NON-FINITE VERB

 No reference to specific
 Refers to a specific person, person, number or tense.
number or tense.
 Be, being, been
 Is, am, are, was, were
 He is sleeping.  Being angry, he shouted
furiously.
 There is clear indication of third
person singular subject in the  We find no indication of the
present tense. tense, person or number by
observing the non-finite verb.
Four kinds of non-finite phrases

 Phrases introduced by infinitives  Phrases introduced by –ing participle


E.g: He has gone to visit his parents. E.g: Looking back, he ran fast.

 Phrases introduced by a bare  Phrases introduced by –ed participle


infinitive
E.g: Carried away by emotion, she
E.g: Rather than waste your time, threw a tantrum.
you should help your mom.
ABSOLUTE PHRASE VERBLESS PHRASE
An absolute phrase has a A verbless phrase is often a
subject and a partial contraction of the
predicate but is not a participial phrase.
proper clause. E.g: Being very nervous, he
E.g: The car having been walked across the room.
repaired, the Smiths
continued their journey.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PHRASES

NOUN PHRASE VERB PHRASE


 A noun phrase is a group of words that  A verb phrase is a group of words made
contain a noun (the head word)and all its up of a combination of the main verb and
modifiers that function like a noun. its auxiliaries.

1. The beautiful gothic building was sold. 1. She is helping her friend recover.
2. The clever young man cleared the test. 2. They have been waiting for a week.
3. The end of the story was unexpected. 3. He must be busy.
4. In this shelf is my old book of maps. 4. She could have completed earlier.
5. it was a very old joke. 5. We were moving out.
ADJECTIVE/APPOSITIVE PHRASE ADVERB PHRASE
 An adjective phrase is a group of words  The adverb phrase functions like an
headed by an adjective that describes a adverb and has an adverb as the head
noun. It follows a noun/pronoun it word.
modifies.

1. My brother spoke in an angry tone.


1. The child is young, honest and obedient.
2. He did not go to school due to illness.
2. We have vegetables of all kinds.
3. Flowers will bloom in spring.
3. I saw a village without any inhabitants.
4. I met her at the hotel.
4. The lady, in the blue saree, is my aunt.
PEPOSITIONAL PHRASE PARTICIPLE PHRASE
 A prepositional phrase begins with a  The participle phrase consists of a
preposition and ends with a noun. Functions participle(-ing or –ed participle) and its
as an adjective or an adverb. modifiers.

1. The girl with brown hair looks beautiful. 1. Lost many years ago, the book was never
found.
2. We went swimming before dinner.
2. Brimming with confidence, he spoke the
3. The car in the garage is my uncle’s. truth.
4. The fire alarm rang before the class. 3. Worried about the broken window, he
walked home.
4. Walking in the park, Gita thought about her
kids.
GERUND PHRASE
 A gerund ends with an –ing form and
acts as a noun. A phrase that begins 1. Jogging three miles everyday, improves
with a gerund is called a gerund your health.
phrase. (to distinguish a gerund from
2. Teaching English is my passion.
an –ing participle, replace it with
‘something’ and see if its meaningful) 3. Climbing a hill is not an easy task.

 Jogging is my favourite sport. 4. Thinking critically is a skill.


INFINITIVE PHRASE
 An infinitive is formed by adding ‘to’ to the base form of the
verb- to eat, to play etc. A phrase that begins with an infinitive
is called an infinitive phrase.

1. We packed the bag to go for a tour.


2. It feels good to be here.
3. To leave now would be rude.
4. He went home to sleep peacefully.

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