Using Phrases

Phrases can clarify- or the opposite

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Function
One key idea is that a phrase can function as a part of speech. Phrases can function as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.
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 A phrase is a group of related words that does not have a subject or predicate. A clause is a complete thought which includes both a subject & predicate.
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Definitions

Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase can function either as an adjective or an adverb. Prepositional phrases have a preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object.
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 Prepositions help us to understand the relationship between things. About, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, as, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, but, by, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like, near, of, off, out, outside, over, past, since, through, throughout, to, toward, under, underneath, until, unto, up, upon, with, within, without.
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Prepositions

Prepositional Phrases
Prepositions always introduce a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase always ends in a noun or pronoun called the object of the preposition (remember that a preposition indicates a relationship between things so it needs a noun or pronoun at the other end of the relationship). If the object has modifiers, they are also part of the prepositional phrase.
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Prepositional Phrase as Adjective Phrase

An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. Usually they answer the question which one? or what kind?. Then comes a fit of shivers. Of shivers tells us what kind of fit.
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Prepositional Phrase as Adverb Phrase

An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. Usually they answer questions about when, where, why, how, or to what extent. Mac shivered in a frozen sleeping bag. In a frozen sleeping bag modifies the verb shivered.
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Appositive Phrases
An appositive is a noun or pronoun that renames or identifies another noun or pronoun in the sentence. Fossey was a primatologist, a scientist who studies such animals as gorillas and chimpanzees.

The appositive phrase renames primatologist. This is nonessential or nonrestrictive, because it is not necessary to make the sentence clear. Nonessential appositives are set off by a comma or commas.

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Verbal Phrases
A verbal is a verb form that acts as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. A verbal phrase consists of a verbal and its modifiers and complements.

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Verbal Phrases
There are three types of verbal phrases: participles, gerunds, and infinitives.

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Verbal Phrases: Participles

Participles are verb forms that function as adjectives. A participial phrase consists of a participle plus any modifiers and complements. A participle may be past or present tense.
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Verbal Phrases: Participles

Participial phrase: adjective Circling the moon, the astronauts broadcast their message.

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Verbal Phrases: Participles

Participial phrase: adjective Televised live, this telecast amazed viewers.

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Verbal Phrases: Participles

Participial phrase: adjective Do not confuse participles with verbs. Participles are verb forms, but they act as adjectives in the sentence.

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Verbal Phrases: Participles & Absolute Phrases

Beware of the dangling participle! An absolute phrase consists of a participle and the noun or pronoun that it modifies. An absolute phrase has no grammatical connection to the rest of the sentence. Apollo 8 having orbited the moon ten times, the astronauts headed back to earth. How would we fix this?
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Verbal Phrases: Gerund Phrases

A gerund is a verb form that ends in ing and acts as a noun. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and it modifiers and complements.
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Verbal Phrases: Gerund Phrases

A gerund is a verb form that ends in ing and acts as a noun. Sightseeing is a real adventure.

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Verbal Phrases: Gerund Phrases

Using gerunds can help make your writing more vivid and lively. It is also a way to avoid using passive construction (creating dull prose). I like traveling. The gerund makes the actual experience more vivid. I like to travel. The prepositional phrase is weaker.
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Verbal Phrases: Infinitive Phrases

An infinitive is a verb form usually beginning with the word to that can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus modifiers and complements. Douglas Adams and Mark Cowardine journeyed the world to glimpse exotic, endangered creatures. Infinitive as adverb.
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Verbal Phrases: Infinitive Phrases

An infinitive is a verb form usually beginning with the word to that can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus modifiers and complements. Besides planning their trips, Cowardines job was to teach Adams about the animals. Infinitive as predicate nominative.
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Verbal Phrases: Infinitive Phrases

An infinitive is a verb form usually beginning with the word to that can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus modifiers and complements. Adams had the job of being the one to write down what they saw. Infinitive as adjective.
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Verbal Phrases: Infinitive Phrases

An infinitive is a verb form usually beginning with the word to that can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus modifiers and complements.

To + verb = infinitive phrase To + noun = prepositional phrase

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Allen Iverson
How quickly can these tomatoes be shipped to stores?

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 Voters elected Harry Truman, Roosevelts successor, to a full term as president. Nonessential Appositive Phrase
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Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson
The servicemen assigned to duty on that vessel remember the ship with pride.

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