Phrases

What is a phrase?A phrase is 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.

• Preposition: a word that shows the relationship of a noun or a pronoun, called the object of the preposition, to another word

• Prepositional phrase: includes a preposition, the object of the preposition, and any modifiers.

• Example: A koala is a marsupial, a mammal with an external abdominal pouch.

• To me a koala looks like a cuddly teddy bear.

• An analogy: this is a group of dogs

How can we divide these dogs into two groups?

• By breed … that would be more than two• By appearance…we probably won’t agree on

which are “best” looking…• How about function?– House pets– Protectors

House Pets Protectors

So, they are all dogs, but now we have them split into two functions.

Likewise prepositional phrases can be categorized into two functions

• Adjective phrases – describe or modify nouns or pronouns

• Adverb phrases – describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

• Remember: Adjectives modify (or describe) nouns or pronouns; therefore an adjective phrase is a phrase that contains a preposition and an object of the preposition AND modifies a noun or pronoun.

• Example: We ordered a dish of salsa and a

basket of tortilla chips.

Adverb phrases• Remember: Adverbs modify (describe) verbs,

adjectives or other adverbs; therefore, an adverb phrase contains a preposition and an object of preposition and modifies a verb, adjective or adverb.

• Example: The mole burrowed under the lawn.

• Althea Gibson was graceful on the tennis court.

• The child speaks quite clearly for a two-year-old.

Read each sentences carefully and decide is it an adjective phrase or an adverb phrase.

• Roman roads were one reason for Caesar’s military successes.

• The book on the top shelf is the one you want.

Adjective phrase

• Roman roads were one reason for Caesar’s military successes.

• The book on the top shelf is the one you want.

• The group hiked toward thesummit.

• The little girl hid under the table.

Adverb phrase

The group hiked toward thesummit.

The little girl hid under the table.

On a sheet of paper make three columns (like this); read each sentence carefully

1. No one in the class has seen the movie yet.2. After the storm, the town grew quiet.3. He glanced out the window.4. The picture of their candidate in today’s

newspaper is not all flattering.5. This summer we’re going by car to Kansas6. The coconut palms in the park near the bay

were planted a long time ago.

There may be more than one phrase in the same sentence.