Introduction to Phrases
 Phrase-a group of related words that is used as a single part of speech
and that does not contain both a verb and its subject
Verb Phrase: have been sleeping [no subject]
Prepositional Phrase: during the afternoon [no subject or verb]
Infinitive Phrase: to snore loudly [no subject or verb]
 Verb Phrase-consists of a main verb and at least one helping verb
(auxiliary verb)
Examples-Woodstock will fly to Charlie Brown’s house.
Have you ever read the Sunday comics?
Snoopy should have been playing.
C0mmon Helping Verbs
Forms of
Be
am
are
be
been
being
is
was
were
Forms of
Have
had
has
have
Forms of
Do
do
does
did
Modals
can
could
may
might
must
shall
should
will
would
Application
Write two sentences using verb phrases about the image
below.
Prepositions and Prepositional
Phrases
Where is Snoopy?
Answer the above question
three different ways.
Use a prepositional phrase
each time and underline it.
Prepositional Phrases
On the roof, Snoopy daydreams.
Snoopy is above his doghouse.
Snoopy naps outside his home.
Prepositional Phrases
 A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, the object of
the preposition, and any modifiers of that object
Examples:
Did Lucy remember Charlie Brown’s plans for the party?
According to Linus, all the kids are planning to play baseball
at the field.
Common Prepositions











about
above
across
after
against
along
among
around
at
before
behind
below
beneath
beside(s)
between
beyond
but
by
concerning
down
during
except
for
from
in
inside
into
like
near
of
off
on
out
outside
over
past
since
through
throughout
to
toward
under
underneath
until
unto
up
upon
with
within
with
without
Compound Prepositions
Compound Preposition-preposition that consists of two or more
words
Examples-She has been accepted by several private colleges in
addition to both state universities.
As of today, she hasn’t made her final choice.
Commonly Used Prepositions
-according to
-by means of
-along with
-in addition to
-apart from
-in front of
-as of
-in place of
-because of
-in spite of
-instead of
-next to
-on account of
-out of
Prepositional Phrase or Infinitive?
Be careful not to confuse a prepositional phrase beginning with to with an infinitive
phrase beginning with to.
Remember a preposition always has a noun or pronoun as an object.
An infinitive is a verb form, usually preceded by to, that is used as a noun, an adjective,
or an adverb. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive and any modifiers and
complement.
Infinitive Phrase or Prepositional Phrase?
1) To leave now would be rude.
2) Snoopy whispered his idea to Woodstock.
3) Her goal is to win.
4) Sally wanted to hug Linus.
5) He is eager to give her the valentine.
6) Lucy raced to the school bus.
S V IO DO vs. S V DO with a
prepositional phrase
 Do not mistake an object of the preposition to or for
for an indirect object.
 Object of Preposition:
My grandmother wrote a letter to me.
 Indirect Object
My grandmother wrote me a letter.
Object of the Preposition
 The object of a preposition is a noun, a pronoun, or a word
group that functions as a noun; in most cases it follows a
preposition. Together, the preposition, its object, and any
modifiers of the object makes a prepositional phrase.
 Examples:
Did you see Marcie at the last game?
The line starts behind him.
They played a new song by Schroder’s band.
Object Pronouns
 The personal pronouns in the objective case—me, you, him, her, it, us,
and them---are used as direct objects, as indirect objects, and as objects
of prepositions.
 Examples:
She gave the valentine to him.
Peppermint Patty went to the movies with me.
Snoopy laughed at them.
Preposition or Adverb?
 Prepositions always have objects; adverbs don’t.
Prepositions
The ball flew through the net.
We play behind the school.
Adverbs
Leave your worries behind when you go on vacation.
We were waved right through.
Preposition or Adverb?
Practice
Label each underlined word preposition (P) or adverb (A).
1. Have you ever seen a live college basketball game before?
2. A sign outside the arena said my two favorite teams were playing inside.
3. Come along; let’s get to our seats before the game.
4. The teams came out to warm up before the game.
5. Two aggressive players fouled each other throughout.
6. At half time, one team was ahead by eight points.
7. A player threw the ball in from the sideline.
8. We walked around during halftime.
9. After the game, the winners were given the championship trophy inside
the locker room.
10. Despite losing in the playoffs, that team had a winning record for the
season.
More Practice
 Write 5 sentences using adverbs and 5 sentences
using prepositional phrases. You should have ten
sentences.
 Label the object of the preposition in each
prepositional phrase.
Example: My Language Arts class was hungry for lunch.