PHRASES

A phrase is a group of words without a subject or a predicate or both and does not express a complete
thought. Therefore, a phrase can never stand on its own as a complete sentence. Using different kinds of
phrases enables a writer or a speaker to create informative and descriptive sentences that vary in structure.
Phrases combine words into a larger unit that can function as a sentence element.
The most common kinds of phrases in English are: Noun phrases, verb phrases, prepositional phrases,
gerund phrases and participial phrases
Noun phrases
• A noun phrase consists of a noun and all its modifiers. It can function as a subject, object, or
complement in the sentence. The modifiers may include articles, prepositions and adjectives.
• Examples:
• (a) Noun phrases as subjects
• The lazy old man sleeps all day long.
• Some school boards reward teachers who produce good results.
• (b) Noun phrases as objects
• Teachers rejected the proposed performance contracts.
• Critics opposed the controversial marriage bill.
• (c) Noun phrases as complements
• Teaching is a valuable profession.
• Sheila is a hardworking no-nonsense lady.
Verb phrases
• A verb phrase consists of a main verb and its helping verbs. It can
function as the predicate of a sentence. The predicate tells what the
subject does or is. (It tells something about the subject).
• Examples:
• John was born in Malindi.
• This problem may have contributed to the collapse of the economy.
• Without highly-trained workers, many Kenyan companies would be
forced to close down.
• Sometimes the parts of a verb phrase are separated from each other
by words that are not verbs.
EXAMPLES

• He is finally buying a new house.

• Salesmen must occasionally travel long distances.
• Some words are joined with other words to make contractions.
• Examples:
• He hasn’t turned up for the meeting. (has + not)
• We couldn’t tell what had killed the cow. (could + not)
• I’ve ordered them to leave the house. (I + have).
• NB: The word not and the contraction n’t are adverbs. They are never part of a
verb or verb phrase.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
• A prepositional phrase is made up of a preposition, the object of the preposition, and
all the words between them. It often functions as an adjective or adverb, but it can
function as a noun as well.
• Examples:
• We carried the fruits in our school bags. (Adverb telling where)
• The plane flew through the cloud. (Adverb telling where)
• Almost half of Africa’s population suffers from water – related diseases. (Adverb
modifying suffers).
• The water supply in the United States is expected to decline dramatically. (Adjective
modifying water supply).
• The best time to practise water conservation is before a water shortage. (Noun
functioning as a complement).
• In sentence 1 above, the preposition is in, the object of the preposition is
bags, and the modifiers or adjectives are our and school.
• Sometimes two or more nouns or pronouns are used as objects in a
prepositional phrase.
• Example:
• He needs a wife with diligence and a good character.
• Diligence and character are objects of the preposition with.
• When prepositional phrases function as adjectives and adverbs in
sentences, they are called adjectival and adverbial phrases respectively.
• (a) An adjectival prepositional phrase modifies nouns or pronouns.
EXAMPLES
• In sentence 1 above, the preposition is in, the object of the preposition is
bags, and the modifiers or adjectives are our and school.
• Sometimes two or more nouns or pronouns are used as objects in a
prepositional phrase.
• Example:
• He needs a wife with diligence and a good character.
• Diligence and character are objects of the preposition with.
• When prepositional phrases function as adjectives and adverbs in
sentences, they are called adjectival and adverbial phrases respectively.
• (a) An adjectival prepositional phrase modifies nouns or pronouns.
EXAMPLES
• When prepositional phrases function as adjectives and adverbs in sentences, they are
called adjectival and adverbial phrases respectively.
• (a) An adjectival prepositional phrase modifies nouns or pronouns.
• Examples:
• The woman wears shoes with sharp heels. (An adjectival phrase modifying the noun shoes)
• The man with a funny-looking dog crossed the road. (An adjectival phrase modifying the
noun man)
• (b) An adverbial prepositional phrase modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
• Examples:
• Soldiers train for many months. (An adverbial phrase modifying the verb train)
• People are lazy in the afternoons. (An adverbial phrase modifying the adjective lazy.)
• A prepositional phrase can be at the beginning, in the middle, or at
the end of a sentence.
• Examples:
• At dusk, we began to walk home.
• The map of the area was very helpful.
• The path went by a forest and a large lake.
GERUND PHRASES
• A gerund is a verb form used as a noun. It is formed by adding -ing to the present tense
of a verb. Gerunds can be used as subjects, direct objects, objects of prepositions, and
complements.
• Examples:
• Subject: Fishing is a popular activity in Nyanza Province.
• (Fishing is a gerund, the subject of the verb is)
• Direct object: The sport involves riding. (riding is a gerund, the direct object of the verb
involves)
• Object of preposition: The sport is similar to fencing. (fencing is a gerund, the object of
the preposition to).
• A gerund phrase includes a gerund, its modifiers, objects or complements. It always
functions as a noun.
EXAMPLES
• Becoming a Tusker Project fame finalist was Msechu’s lifetime
dream. (The gerund phrase is the subject of the sentence.)
• Msechu dreamt all his life about winning the top award. (The gerund
phrase is an object of the preposition about).
• One of Msechu’s biggest disappointments was losing to Alpha. (The
gerund phrase is a complement).
• The game involves jumping over hurdles. (The gerund phrase is an
object of the verb involves).
PARTICIPLE PHRASES
• A participial phrase consists of a present or past participle and its modifiers, objects, or
complements. It always functions as an adjective.
• Examples:
• Rounding the corner, the conman met two policemen.
• (Rounding the corner is a present participial phrase modifying the noun conman).
• Surprised by the appearance of the conman, the policemen started blowing their
whistles.
• (Surprised by the appearance of the conman is a past participial phrase modifying the
noun policemen).
• A participle or participial phrase is not always at the beginning of a sentence.
Sometimes it may appear in the middle but it should be near the noun or pronoun it
modifies.
ASSIGNMENT
• Research on appositives and appositive phrases