Phrase Notes
 Prepositional
 Preposition + Modifiers+ Object
 2 uses for prepositional phrases: adjective and
adverb
 Ex. She is wearing a dress with polka dots. (what
kind of dress? With polka dots) Adj
 Ex. We went to the ballpark. (where did we go? To
the ballpark) Adv
 Appositive
 nouns or pronouns + modifiers
 usually immediately follow another noun or
pronoun, but can precede it with a comma
 rename the noun or pronoun they follow
 essential appositives—identify or define
 Ex. My brother Chris won the election.
 nonessential appositives—just extra information
 Chris, my brother, won the election yesterday.
Refer to text for examples and further explanation.
Verbal Phrases
Participle Phrase
 A participle is an ing or ed verb (present and past
forms) used as an adjective. It becomes a part.
phrase when you add modifiers and objects to it.
Make sure you do not identify the main verb in the
sentence as a participle.
 EX. The running deer crossed the stream. Ing
participle used as an adj to describe deer. Tells
which deer. Present participle –ing.
 The deer running toward the stream was frightened.
 The deer running wildly was frightened.
 The ball caught in the 4th quarter made all the
difference in the final score.
Gerund Phrase
 An ing verb (NO ED) used as a noun. Make sure it is
not the main verb in the sentence.
 Sentence positions where you can find gerunds:
Subject, Indirect Object, Direct Object, Predicate
Nominative, Object of the Preposition, Object of a
verbal.
 Ex. Running was (tiring) for the boy. Running the 5K
was tiring for Jim. 5K is the object of the gerund
running because it answers running what. Gerund is
subject. Tiring is a predicate adjective, therefore a
participle.
 The running of the race was a (grueling) experience.
Gerund phrase is subject. Grueling is a participle.
 Sally slept after running the 5K. The gerund phrase
is the object of the prep after.
 Jenny loves decorating cakes. Decorating cakes is the
DO of the sentence. Cakes is the object of the
gerund decorating.
 Sally gave running a try last year, and she loves it.
Running, the gerund, is the indirect object because it
answers the question to what after the verb. Sally
gave what? Try. To what? Running.
 Sally’s favorite exercise is running the mile. Running
the mile renames exercise (the subject) and is the
predicate nominative. It naturally follows a linking
verb—is.
Infinitive
 To + verb + any objects or modifiers. Remember to +
noun is a prepositional phrase.
 Infinitives may be used as adjectives, adverbs, or
nouns.
 Adj—describes nouns, pronouns. Can be a predicate
adjective. Ex. The puppy to buy is right here. To
buy says which puppy. The one to buy.
 Adv.—describes verbs, adjectives, and other
adverbs. (See book p. 61). Ex. The diamond was
rather expensive to purchase. Expensive is an
adjective. Expensive how? To purchase.
 Noun—S, DO, IO, PN, OP, OV. Ex. To run was Sally’s
dream. To run is the subject.
MAKE SURE THAT ALL PHRASES ARE
DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE
WORD(S) THEY MODIFY. OTHERWISE
YOU CAN HAVE SPLIT INFINITIVES OR
MISPLACED MODIFIERS!!!!!!!!!!
READ P. 56-64.