In This lesson we will
 Probe prepositional phrases
 Admire appositives
 Visit verbals
Phrases: Prime-Time Players
In this lesson, we continue the construction of your writing with the phrase,
one of the key building blocks of the sentence. There are several different
kinds of phrases
prepositional
phrases
adjectival phrases
Verbal phrases
Appositive
phrases
Participle phrases
Gerund phrases
adverbial phrases
Infinitive phrases
Phrases of the Moon
A phrase is a group of words that functions in a sentence as a single part of speech.
A phrase does not have a subject or a verb. As you write, you use phrases to ...
 Add detail by describing.
 Make your meaning more precise.
 Fold in additional information.
 A phrase is a group of words, without a subject or a verb, that functions
in a sentence as a single part of speech.
 A phrase cannot stand alone as an independent unit.
 A phrase can function only as a part of speech.
A. prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends
with a noun or a pronoun. This noun or pronoun is called the "object of the
preposition."
 By the ocean
 Near the window
 Over the cabinet
 With us
 In your ear
 Under your hat
 You can connect two or more prepositional
phrases with a coordinating conjunction.
 The seven coordinating conjunctions are
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.
For example:
 The resort is beside the mountain and by
the lake.
 You can usually find Macho Marvin in the
steam room, on the exercise bike, or under
the barbells.
 When a prepositional phrase serves as an
adjective, it's called an adjectival phrase.
 An adjectival phrase, as with an adjective,
describes a noun or a pronoun.
Here are some examples:
1. The manager with the blue shirt terrorized the employees.
The adjectival phrase "with the blue shirt" describes the noun "manager."
2. The price of the promotion was much too steep.
The adjectival phrase "of the promotion" describes the noun "price."
3. Something in the corner of the desk was moving.
The adjectival phrase "in the corner“ describes the noun "something"; the
adjectival phrase "of the desk" describes the noun "corner."
 Depending on how it is used in a sentence, a
prepositional phrase can function as an
adverbial phrase by modifying a verb, an
adjective, or an adverb.
Here are some examples:
1. She lost her head at the retro love-in.
The adverbial phrase "at the retro love-in" describes the verb "lost."
2. The salesperson skimmed over the product's real cost.
The adverbial phrase "over the product's real cost" modifies the verb "skimmed.“
3. The boss was thrilled at their attitude.
The adverbial phrase "at their attitude" modifies the adjective "thrilled."
4. The rock climbers arrived late at night.
The adverbial phrase "at night" modifies the adverb "late."
Key Answers
It’s Your Turn
Work in pairs to write five sentences
including preposition phrases