Kindsofphrases,andhowtheyworkinsentences

Definition:Aphraseisagroupofwordsthatfunctionsasasinglepartofspeech,
andlackseitherasubject,apredicate,orboth.[Aphraseisdifferentfromaclause
becauseaclausehasbothasubjectandapredicate.]
Verbphrasesfunctionasverbs
Averbphraseconsistsofthemainverbinasentenceandoneormore"helping"or"auxiliary"
verbs.Commonhelpingverbsincludeis,are,was,were,has,had,been,could,would,should.
Examplesinsentences(verbphrasesareincapitalletters):
KimWOULDHAVELIKEDtogotothemuseum.
AREyouCOMINGhomesoon?
HeCOULDHAVEORDEREDchocolate.
ThekittenWASSHIVERINGANDCRYING.
ThebandHADBEENPLAYINGfornearlyanhour.
Verbalphrases(moreabouttheseinfourthquarter)mayfunctionasnouns,adjectives,
oradverbs,butNOTverbs.
Averbalphraseconsistsofaverbalanditsmodifiers.Averbalisawordthatyouwould
usuallythinkofasaverb,butthatisnotbeingusedastheverbinthesentence.
Therearethreekinds:gerunds,infinitivesandparticiples.
Examplesinsentences(verbalphrasesareCAPITALIZED):
Gerunds(alwaysfunctionasnouns&endining):
PLAYINGINTHEFOUNTAINgothimintrouble.
IparticularlylikeSKIINGONASUNNYDAY.
GOINGHOMELATEwasnotanoption.
Infinitives(beginwith"to"mayfunctionasnouns,adjectivesoradverbs):
TOGOKITEBOARDINGsoundslikealotoffun.
HewantedTOBUYHERADIAMONDRING.
YourplansTOIMPROVETHETOWNsoundgreat.
DrivecarefullyTOHELPGETUSHOMESAFELY.
Participles(alwaysfunctionasadjectivesusuallyendiningored):
Thepicture,DRAWNFROMHISEXPERIENCESINARIZONA,wasbeautiful.(There'sonethat
doesn'tendiningored.)
DRIVINGHOMEFROMWORK,Isawaspectacularsunset.
Thecarwasquietbecausethebaby,TIREDOUTFROMHISLONGDAY,fellasleep.
HesawanelkCOMINGOUTOFTHETREES.
Prepositionalphrases[moreabouttheseinthelessononprepositionalphrases]may
functionasnouns,adjectivesoradverbs.
Aprepositionalphraseisagroupofwordsstartingwithaprepositionandendingwithanoun.
Prepositionalphrasesaremostoftenusedasadverbsoradjectives.
Examplesinsentences(prepositionalphrasesareINCAPITALLETTERS):
WearegoingstraighthomeAFTERSCHOOL.
INTHEMORININGI'llcheckONHOWMUCHitwouldcost.
ThecarWITHTHESUNROOFistheoneIwant.
GetmetheshoesFROMTHECLOSET.
Appositivephrases:
Aappositivephraserenamesthenoun(orpronoun)thatcomesrightbeforeit,and
consistsofanounorpronounanditsmodifiers.Itfunctionsasanoun.Anappositive
phraseisusualllysetoffbycommas.
Examplesinsentences(appositivephrasesareINCAPITALLETTERS):
Tonightwe'regoingtothePanorama,THEWORLD'SOLDESTDRIVEIN.
Tonightwe'regoingtotheworld'soldestdrivein,THEPANORAMA.

Theradioannouncer,ASERIOUSWACKO,wasstilltalkingabouttheunderwearfestival.
Matthew,HISTWINBROTHER,isevensmarter.
Absolutephrases:
Anabsolutephraseconsistsofanounandaparticiple(alongwithanyobjector
modifiers),soitlooksalmostlikeaclause,butitdoesn'thaveatrueverb.It
normallyfunctionsasanadjectivedescribingthenearestnoun.Anabsolutephraseis
usuallysetoffbycommas.
Examplesinsentences(absolutephrasesareINCAPITALLETTERS):
Theband,THEDRUMMERGOINGCRAZYINTHEBACKGROUND,finishedthefirstset.
FRONTENDBASHEDINBYTHEINITIALIMPACT,thetruckspuntwiceandrolledintoaditch.
Elsawassingingalullabytothebaby,HISEYESALREADYCLOSINGINSLEEP.