The slides are useful for language teachers and learners.

1. Phrases
English Grammar

2. What is a phrase?
A phrase is a group (or pairing) of words in
English. A phrase can be short or long, but it
does not include the subject-verb pairing
necessary to make a clause.
Some examples of phrases include:
 after the meal (prepositional phrase)
 the nice neighbor (noun phrase)
 were waiting for the movie (verb phrase)

3. Phrases vs. Clauses:
a Hierarchy of Word Units
 A phrase is any group of words that does
not contain a subject completing an action.
 When a group of words contains a subject
doing an action (subject-verb), it becomes
a clause.

4. Purpose of phrases:
 Phrases can be added to sentences to make them
more complex.
 Concepts can begin with a single word and develop into
a compound sentence.
Example:
 meal (word)
 after the meal (phrase)
 that mom prepared (clause)
 After the meal that mom prepared I felt full. (sentence)
 After the meal that mom prepared, I felt full because I ate
too much. (complex sentence)
 After the meal that mom prepared I felt full, but my brother
was still hungry. (compound sentence)

5. Different Types of Phrase
What is a noun phrase?
Noun phrases consist of a noun and its
modifiers.
Examples:
 the nice neighbor
 a soft, comfortable bed
Noun Phrase:

6. Verb Phrase:
What is a verb phrase?
Verb phrases consist of a verb and its
modifiers.
 were waiting for the movie
 felt a prick on his arm

7. Adverbial Phrase:
What is an adverbial phrase?
Adverbial phrases are phrases that act
as adverbs. They modify verbs, adverbs,
or adjectives.
 around the block (modifying where)
 after the meal (modifying when)
 in silence (modifying how)

8. Gerund Phrase:
What is a gerund phrase?
Gerund phrases are essentially noun phrases
that begin with a gerund.
 running through the woods
 jumping like a kangaroo

9. Infinitive Phrase:
What is an infinitive phrase?
Infinitive phrases begin with a verb infinitive
and include any modifiers. Infinitive phrases
function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
 to run out of food
 to visit to the countryside

10. Appositive Phrase:
What is an appositive phrase?
An appositive is essentially a noun phrase but
one that renames another noun in the
sentence.
 The tree, a tall redwood, was beautiful.
 The curtains were made of lace, a beautiful
and delicate fabric.

11. Participle Phrase:
What is a participle phrase?
A participle phrase begins with a present (-ing)
or past (-ed) participle. A participle phrase
includes the participle and its modifiers.
Participle phrases function as adjectives.
 The girls giggling and playing in the park never
seemed to tire.
 Fatigued and dehydrated in the desert the
men traveled on.

12. Prepositional Phrase:
What is a prepositional phrase?
A prepositional phrase is a group of words
that includes a preposition and a noun. A
prepositional phrase will function as either
an adjective or an adverb.
 before church
 under the stairs

13. Absolute Phrase:
What is an absolute phrase?
An absolute phrase includes a noun and a
participle and any modifiers.
 the flag flying at half-mast
 her hair streaked with sunlight