Phrases
Prepositions and Appositives
Phrases
A group of related words
Examples:
sitting at home
lost in thought
seared by the heat
Prepositions
A preposition is a word that
shows a relationship of a noun or
pronoun to some other word in
the sentence. (Space and Time)
What is the relationship of the monkeys to the barrel?
Common
single –word
prepositions:
Aboard
Above
After
Against
Behind
Beneath
Between
Concerning
Except
For
Through
Till
Upon
With
Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition
followed by its object, called the object of the
preposition.
Prepositional phrases are always modifiers.
Prepositional Phrases
If they modify a noun they are adjective phrases.
• The book on the shelf should go back to the
library.
• The time before dawn is always the darkest.
• The present for Jerry will be a surprise.
Prepositional Phrases
If they modify verbs, predicate adjectives, or other
adverbs they are called adverb phrases.
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They had classes in astronomy at my high school.
The unloaded the truck after dinner.
They left early because of the heat.
We cleaned the tools by hand.
I have worked here for years.
I am happy with my job.
An adverb phrase answers the questions
where, when, why or how.
Appositive
A noun that follows another noun or pronoun
to identify or explain it.
• Her son, the actor, lives in New York now.
• Dr. Goldhord, a member, addressed the
organization.
Appositive Phrases
An appositive phrase consists of an appositive
and its modifiers. It is a noun phrase that
renames or identifies another noun.
Appositive phrases are normally set off with
commas.
• Emma, the only child in her class to have no cavities,
smiled proudly.
• The Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy’s old enemy,
attacked the scarecrow.
Verbal Phrases
Gerunds, Infinitives, and Participles – Oh My!
Wizard Of Oz
Verbals
Words that look like verbs, but act like other
types of words.
Gerunds
Gerunds are verbals that function as nouns and
have an –ing ending. Because gerunds function as
nouns, they occupy slots traditionally held by nouns in
sentences such as subjects, direct objects, and objects
of prepositions.
Gerunds may occur as one word, or they may be part of
a Gerund phrase.
Gerunds
Gerund, functioning as subject :
Reading is my most beneficial summer activity.
Gerund, functioning as direct object:
James enjoys swimming.
Gerund, functioning as object of preposition:
You will get good grades by studying.
Gerunds
Gerund phrase, functioning as subject
Eating on the run is one of the most unhealthy
American habits.
Gerund phrase, functioning as direct object:
The teacher simply cannot excuse sleeping
during class.
Gerunds
Gerund phrase, functioning as object of
preposition:
We found the keys by looking on the ground next
to the car.
To determine whether a word in a sentence is a gerund, look at the word(s)
ending in –ing in the sentence. If this word can be replaced by the pronoun
it, then the word is a gerund. If the word it replaces other words in addition
to the gerund, then these make up the gerund phrase (Lester 177).
My grandfather loves getting together at Christmas.
My grandfather loves it.
Note: This test, explained by Mark Lester in Grammar and Usage in the Classroom.
Participles
Participles are verbals that usually function as adjectives
and occasionally function as adverbs.
Participles generally end with an –ed or –ing ending.
When participles function as adjectives, they are
usually found preceding the nouns and pronouns in
a sentence.
When participles function as adverbs, they are
typically found following the verb in a sentence
Participles
There are two types of participles: present
participles and past participles.
Present participles have an –ing ending.
Past participles may have one of several past tense
endings, including –ed, -en, and -d.
As with gerunds, participles may occur as one word,
or they may be part of a participial phrase.
Participles
Present participles
The running water provided a picturesque
view.
The clown was able to stop the raging bull
from attacking the rider.
Past participles
The crushed bug was an unpleasant sight.
He was able to repair the broken lock.
Participles
Present participial phrases
The car stopping at the light was hit by the truck.
The bull came running towards the rodeo clown.
Past participial phrases
James, amused by the crowd’s response,
continued to perform magic tricks.
Shaken from his near-death experience, John was
unable to speak.
Participles
Pronoun replacement test: If you can replace
the noun and the following present or past
participle/phrase with a single pronoun then
the attached words are participles/phrases.
EX: The reporters covering the accident
interviewed the chief of police.
They interviewed the chief of police.
Infinitives
Infinitives are verbals that are made up of the word to and
a verb. Infinitives may function as nouns, adjectives or
adverbs.
When infinitives function as adjectives and adverbs, they
are usually found preceding nouns and pronouns in
sentences.
When they function as nouns, they are used as subjects,
direct objects and objects of prepositions.
Infinitives
Infinitives (to + verb) should not be confused
with prepositional phrases (to + noun or
pronoun).
Infinitives may occur as to + one verb, or they
may be part of an infinitive phrase.
Infinitives
Infinitives functioning as nouns
To love is the greatest achievement.
Infinitives functioning as adjectives
Harry’s is a place to get good ice cream.
Infinitives functioning as adverbs
The students must pass the GHSGT test to
graduate.
Infinitives
Infinitive phrase functioning as noun:
Ranee wanted to arrive at her destination.
Infinitive phrase functioning as adjective:
The Smiths were the first family in our
neighborhood to adopt a child.
Infinitive
Test to determine if an infinitive is functioning as
an adverb: “If an infinitive or infinitive phrase
can be moved to the beginning of the sentence,
then that infinitive or infinitive phrase modifies
the verb.”
You must study hard to get good grades.
To get good grades, you must study hard.
Note: This test, explained by Mark Lester in Grammar and Usage in the Classroom.
Find the Infinitive Phrase in each sentence and
determine if it is acting as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
1. To be objective in my decision is hard.
2. Does Joan have enough change to make a phone
call?
3. Always try to proofread your paper before you
turn it in.
4. Ellen is able to swim six lengths of the pool.
5. The Harlow twins came to play with my little
brother.
Misplaced Modifiers
One morning, I saw an elephant in my pajamas.
Groucho Marx
Misplaced Modifiers
Anthony screamed at the barking dog in his
underwear.
Dangling Modifier
While smoking a pipe, my cat curled up next to
me.