DIFFERENT TYPES OF PHRASES
10th Grade
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to identify a appositive phrase
in a sentence.
Students will be able to identify a participial phrase
in a sentence
Students will be able to identify a gerund phrase in
a sentence.
Students will be able to identify an infinitive phrase
in a sentence.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
How do I analyze and identify the grammatical
patterns of a sentence to identify types of phrases?
What is the difference between an appositive
phrase and a participial phrase?
What is the difference between a gerund phrase
and an infinitive phrase?
WHAT IS A PARTICIPIAL PHRASE?
A participial phrase contains a participle and any
modifiers needed to complete its meaning.
Examples
Warmed by the fire, we took off our jackets.
Having misplaced my keys, I could not get into
my house.
WHAT IS AN APPOSITIVE?
An appositive is a noun or a pronoun that further
identifies another noun or pronoun.
Ex.
My music teacher, Mr. Price, studied with famous
musicians.
The new boy in school, Derek Peterson, is from
Montana
WHAT IS AN APPOSITIVE PHRASE?
An appositive phrase is the appositive along with any
modifiers. It is set off by commas if it is not
important.
Ex.
 We rented bicycles to ride through that area, the
most charming part of town.
 Edison’s experiments led to an important discovery,
the first central electric-light power station.
WHAT IS AN APPOSITIVE PHRASE?
An appositive phrase is the appositive along with any
modifiers. It is set off by commas if it is not
important.
Ex.
 The teacher assigned a final project, a term paper.
 In chemistry we worked on a chemical solution, a
combination of two acids.
APPOSITIVE PHRASE PRACTICE
Find the appositive phrase in the sentence
Cindy and I always order the same dinner, a burrito
and refried beans.
Sarah is from Springfield, the capital of Illinois.
WHAT IS A GERUND?
A gerund is another type of verbal that ends in ing. It is a verb form that is used as a noun.
A gerund may function as a subject, an object of a
verb, or the object of a preposition.
Nina made us laugh by packing for the trip two
weeks in advance.
WHAT IS A GERUND PHRASE?
 A gerund phrase includes a gerund and any
complements and modifiers needed to complete its
meaning.
Ex.
The rules prohibited eating anywhere in the library.
Doctors are constantly finding new cures for
diseases.
GERUND PHRASE PRACTICE
Find the gerund phrase in the sentence
Charlie complained of hearing noises outside.
I told Laura that she should consider acting as a
career.
My brother plans on returning home after a year in
Spain.
WHAT IS A PARTICIPAL?
A participle functions as an adjective when it
modifies a noun or a pronoun.
A present participle always ends in -ing.
A past participles usually end in -ed.
Ex.
The child watched the spinning top. (Present)
We admired the freshly planted flowers. (Past)
WHAT IS A PARTICIPAL PHRASE?
A participial phrase contains a participle and any
modifiers needed to complete its meaning.
Examples
Knowing the answer, I raised my hand.
Guided by a strong sense of direction, I found
my way out of the forest.
PARTICIPIAL PHRASE PRACTICE
Find the participial phrase in the sentence
Playing major league hockey, Rafael fulfilled his
dream.
Disappointed by the loss, the fans quietly left the
stadium.
Rescued by the firefighters, the kitten was shaking.
WHAT IS AN INFINITIVE?
An infinitive is another type of verbal. It is a verb that is
usually preceded by the word to.
An infinitive functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
The word to may also begin a prepositional phrase
Ex.
We were content to wait.
WHAT IS AN INFINITIVE PHRASE?
An infinitive phrase includes the infinitive and any
complements and modifiers.
Infinitive = to
Ex.
To have lost the championship would have
been devastating for the team.
INFINITIVE PHRASE PRACTICE
Find the infinitive phrase in the sentence
Joel was eager to save money for a new
stereo.
Dan always tries to remain calm in
emergencies.
We decided to order a pizza.