Seeing the Difference between Three Phrases
APPOSITIVE PHRASE—the subject of the phrase restates the noun it’s describing

Harry was small and tough,
a boy
running through life with his chin stuck out a mile.
Stephen King
ABSOLUTE PHRASE—the subject of the phrase is different from the noun it’s describing

Harry was small and tough,
mile.
his legs
running through life and his chin stuck out a
PARTICIPIAL PHRASE—the phrase has no subject; it begins with a verb form—either –
ing or –ed

Harry was small and tough,
running through life with his chin stuck out a mile.
Seeing the Difference between Three Phrases
APPOSITIVE PHRASE—the subject of the phrase restates the noun it’s describing

Harry was small and tough,
a boy
running through life with his chin stuck out a mile.
Stephen King
ABSOLUTE PHRASE—the subject of the phrase is different from the noun it’s describing

Harry was small and tough,
mile.
his legs
running through life and his chin stuck out a
PARTICIPIAL PHRASE—the phrase has no subject; it begins with a verb form—either –
ing or –ed

Harry was small and tough,
running through life with his chin stuck out a mile.




LOOSE SENTENCE—the main clause appears in the beginning of the sentence
o
SIMPLE—The Red Sox play their opening playoff game the tonight.
o
The Red Sox play their opening playoff game tonight, after a long season,
during which they have played 162 games and have had many ups and downs.
o
The Red Sox play their opening playoff game tonight, which is against the Los
Angelos Angels, a team the Red Sox have taken out of the playoffs the past
three times they have played.
PERIODIC SENTENCE—the main clause appears in the end of the sentence (right
before the period)
o
SIMPLE—The Red Sox play their opening playoff the tonight.
o
After a long season, during which they played 162 games and have had many
ups and downs, the Red Sox play their opening playoff game tonight.
o
Against the Los Angeles Angels, a team the Red Sox have taken out of the
playoffs the past three times they have played, the Red Sox play their opening
playoff game tonight.
LOOSE SENTENCE—the main clause appears in the beginning of the sentence
o
SIMPLE—The Red Sox play their opening playoff game tonight.
o
The Red Sox play their opening playoff game tonight, after a long season,
during which they have played 162 games and have had many ups and downs.
o
The Red Sox play their opening playoff game tonight, which is against the
Anaheim Angels, a team the Red Sox have taken out of the playoffs the past
three times they have played.
PERIODIC SENTENCE—the main clause appears in the end of the sentence (right
before the period)
o
SIMPLE—The Red Sox play their opening playoff the tonight.
o
After a long season, during which they played 162 games and have had many
ups and downs, the Red Sox play their opening playoff game tonight.
o
Against the Anaheim Angels, a team the Red Sox have taken out of the playoffs
the past three times they have played, the Red Sox play their opening playoff
game tonight.