Phrases

A phrase is a sequence of grammatically related words without a subject and a verb. There are several types of phrases:

Noun Phrase: The young child walked ahead.
Verb Phrase: The parents had been worrying about where their child had gone.
Prepositional Phrase: By 3:00 am on Black Friday, the lines into the mall reached across the street.
Gerund Phrase: Playing in the yard is never a chore, but picking up sticks is.
Infinitive Phrase: Were she willing to go to the mall, I would have gone as well.
Participial Phrase: Tourists walking along the trail see statues of famous soldiers.
Appositive Phrase: She met Jack, her boyfriend, at the mall.
Absolute Phrase: The football game over, the boys slapped high fives.

Phrases can be used as nouns or modifiers. Gerund phrases are always used as nouns; infinitive phrases are often used as nouns; prepositional phrases occasionally are nouns. An appositive phrase identifies or explains the meaning of a noun it relates to. Prepositional phrases often function as adjectives or adverbs. Infinitive phrases are used as adjectives or adverbs, and participial phrases are used as adjectives.

Try It!

Identify each phrase in the following sentences. Then, determine the type of phrase and its function.

1. Destroying many crops, storms flooded the South.
2. Jane used my closet for storing her party dresses.
3. Taking criticism from others is painful but useful.
4. My parents bought a portable DVD player, small and expensive.

Answers:

1. destroying many crops: Participial phrase
2. storing her party dresses: Participial phrase
3. taking criticism from others: Gerund phrase
4. small and expensive: Appositive phrase