Noun Phrases

Noun phrases are groups of words that function like a noun. Typically, they act as subjects,
objects, or prepositional objects in a sentence. While that might seem tricky to grasp, the best
way to understand these useful phrases is to see them in action. Let's take a closer look at the
foundation of these phrases and nouns, and explore the different ways noun phrases can be used.

Noun Phrase Examples

Noun phrases are simply nouns with modifiers. Just as nouns can act as subjects, objects, and
prepositional objects, so can noun phrases. Similarly, noun phrases can also work in a sentence
as adjectives, participles, infinitives, and prepositional or absolute phrases.

The modifier can come before or after the noun. If it comes before the noun it's likely to be an
article, possessive noun, possessive pronoun, adjective, or participle. Modifiers that come after
the noun include prepositional phrases, adjective clauses, participle phrases, and infinitives.

The best way to clear all that up is to explore some examples of noun phrases in action:

 The spotted puppy is up for adoption.

(Noun phrase as a subject)
 The bohemian house was brightly decorated for the holidays.
(Noun phrase as a subject)
 At the zoo, I saw a striped zebra.
(Noun phrase as an object to the verb "saw")
 I want a cute puppy for Christmas.
(Noun phrase as an object to the verb "want")
 Mary lives in an eclectic household.
(Noun phrase as a prepositional object; preposition = "in")
 Jose drives to an awful job every morning.
(Noun phrase as a prepositional object; preposition = "to")
 The car wash was out of order.
(Noun phrase with "car" acting as an adjective for the noun "wash")
 The Delta Airlines flight to New York is ready to board.
(Noun phrase with "Delta Airlines" acting as an adjective for the noun "flight")
 She kindly offered water to the gardener working in the hot sun.
(Noun phrase as a participle)
 Having been a police officer, he knew how to defend himself.
(Noun phrase as a participle)
 The ability to give to others is an important character trait.
(Noun phrase as a "to-infinitive")
 Our decision to get married was celebrated by all our friends.
(Noun phrase as a "to-infinitive")
 She crawled through the dark and musty attic.
(Noun phrase as a prepositional phrase; preposition = "through")
 He had to sit beside the horribly angry girl.
(Noun phrase as a prepositional phrase; preposition = "beside")
 Her face red with embarrassment, she took her seat beside the man she had tripped.
(Noun phrase as an absolute phrase to the subject "she")
 They walked into the sunset, their laughter carrying on the breeze.
(Noun phrase as an absolute phrase to the subject "they")

Nouns and Their Functions

Nouns name persons, places, things, or ideas. Since there are so many of them, they
can be grouped into many different categories. Some of the different types of
nouns include:
 Common nouns refer to ordinary persons, places, things, or ideas, like "car."
 Proper nouns refer to a specific persons, places, things, or ideas, like "Mercedes
Benz."
 Concrete nouns can be experienced through your senses, like "flower."
 Abstract nouns cannot be experienced through the senses, like "love."
 Countable nouns can be counted, like "cars."
 Uncountable noun and mass nouns cannot be counted, like "air."
 Collective nouns name a group of things or people, like "flock."
Nouns generally function in sentences as subjects and objects. However, they can also
modify other words by being possessive or an appositive. An example of a possessive
noun would be the "boss's car," meaning the car that belongs to the boss. An example
of an appositive noun would be "my brother, the human garbage disposal unit."
Sometimes, nouns can also act like an adjective, as in "water heater" where "water"
modifies "heater." They can also function as an adverb, as in "she went home" where
"home" indicates where she went.
Forming Fuller Ideas
No matter their form or function, noun phrases form fuller ideas. Instead of just talking
about a dog, you can add an adjective to that noun and discuss a spotted dog. Instead
of just saying they walked into the sunset, you can describe the scene with his laughter
ringing through the air. You'll find many writers like to make use of noun phrases. It
allows them to paint pictures, including a red-faced woman who found herself in an
uncomfortable position.

Given the English language's complex beauty, you may not be surprised to learn there
are other types of phrases, including verb phrases and gerund phrases.
Investigate phrase examples to learn more about building illustrative sentences that will
stick in your readers' minds forever.

Adjective Phrase
Most people know what an adjective is, but when it comes to describing an adjective
phrase, it's easy to get confused. An adjective phrase, or an adjectival phrase, is more
than a group of words with an adjective in it. It's actually a group of words that describe
a noun or pronoun in a sentence, thus functioning as an adjective.

The good news is, you don't have to be a grammar buff to understand what an adjective
phrase is or how it works. In fact, we use these phrases all the time without even
thinking. Let's take a closer look.

How Can I Identify an Adjective Phrase?

The trick to identifying an adjective phrase is to look at the first word within the group of
words. If the first word is an adverb or a preposition, there's a good chance you're
looking at an adjective phrase.
Ask yourself, what is this phrase modifying? Is it describing a noun? If it is, in fact,
modifying the noun or subject of a sentence, then you're looking at an adjective phrase.

What Does an Adjective Phrase Consist

Of?
An adjective phrase can be formed out of an intensifier and an adjective. An example
might be:
The dazzlingly beautiful woman walked down the street.
Sometimes, one adjective isn't descriptive enough. In this case, a string of adjectives
can work together as an adjective phrase to describe a noun, such as: She had the
most silky, smooth, and radiant hair I've ever seen.
In the sentence, "Monica is a sweet girl," there is one adjective, namely, sweet.
However, in the sentence, "Monica is a sweet, intelligent, beautiful girl," we see an
adjectival phrase that paints a much more in-depth picture of Monica.

What Can Adjective Phrases Do in a

Sentence?
Adjective phrases don't simply modify nouns. They can also modify pronouns. Let's look
at two examples:

 He is from Boston.
 Tom is from Boston.
Each of these sentences has an adjective phrase. In the first example, the adjective
phrase from Boston points back to the pronoun (and subject) "he." In the second
example, the adjective phrase from Boston points back to the noun (and subject)
"Tom."
It doesn't matter if the noun is a pronoun or not; the adjective phrase still functions in the
same manner. So, if you're looking for a more complex way to modify a noun - beyond a
simple adjective - try using an adjective phrase. You can either use several adjectives in
a row, begin a phrase with a preposition, or start with an adverb to modify the noun at
hand.

Examples of Adjective Phrases

Of course, the best way to understand this type of phrase is to see it in action. Let's take
a look at an example with an adjective and one with an adjective phrase:

 The beautiful house sits atop the hill.

 The house that is so beautiful sits atop the hill.

These two sentences mean the same thing. However, the former has an adjective,
while the latter has an adjectival phrase.

Here's another example:

 The angry dog barks all day long.

 The dog that seems very angry barks all day long.

Again, these two sentences mean the same thing. However, the former has an
adjective, while the latter has an adjectival phrase.

Some adjective phrases modify nouns or noun phrases. Here are a few examples:
 The very small kitten jumped at the big dog.
 The cost of the car was way too high.
 The man covered with sweat trudged his way home.
 Something in the corner was moving.
 The big bug under the blanket is coming toward me.
Other adjective phrases modify the predicate of the sentence. Here are some examples:
 Extra buttons came with the coat.
 Gremlins cause mischief inside of machines.
 We were saddened by the news of his demise.
 The brownies smell deliciously sweet.
 I was delighted he was chosen for the part.
Adjective phrases can also modify objects and will follow the word they are modifying.
Here are some examples:
 She wanted to paint her room lemony yellow.
 My new kitten makes me very happy.
 I sometimes pity people living in large cities.
 We are collecting money for children born with heart defects.
 They were proud of their team winning the championship.

Adjective Phrases Provide Greater Detail

A well-chosen adjective phrase can give a sentence more life and personality. A single
adjective alone may be all the spice you need, but if it can be built out into an adjective
phrase, you may be able to provide readers with greater detail.

Adverb Phrase Examples

An adverb phrase is simply a group of two or more words that function as an adverb in a
sentence. Just as an adverb can modify a verb, adjective or another adverb, an adverb
phrase of more than one word can further describe a verb, adverb, or adjective.

Adverb phrases typically answer the questions how, where, why or when something
was done, as you'll see in the adverb phrase examples below.

Consider the following sentences:

 I parked the car.

 I parked the car here.
 I parked the car right here.
 I parked the car right here under the bridge.

The first sentence does not contain an adverb or adverb phrase at all. The second
sentence contains the adverb "here" to describe where the car was parked. The third
sentence contains the adverb phrase "right here," which emphasizes where the car was
parked and employs a phrase instead of a single adverb.
The final sentence of the group contains a longer, more informative adverbial phrase.
Note that "right here under the bridge" is a prepositional phrase that uses the
preposition "under" and the object "bridge." In this case, the prepositional
phrase functions as an adverb in the sentence. Since it modifies the verb to describe
location, it is both a prepositional phrase and an adverbial phrase.

Adverb Phrases Show How,

Where, Why, When
A simple adverb phrase usually contains an adverb and at least one other word before
or after it, though a prepositional phrase or infinitive phrase can also act as an
adverbial.
Adverb Phrases Describing How
 Surprisingly well
 In total silence
 Often under duress
 Very carefully
 Quite easily
Adverb Phrases Describing Where
 Near the edge
 Through the looking glass
 Over the rainbow
 By the mailbox
 Around the sun
Adverb Phrases Describing Why
 To understand better
 For her happily ever after
 For pity's sake
 To make the most of it
 To end discrimination
Adverb Phrases Describing When
 As quickly as possible
 Any time
 Yesterday afternoon
 After a few minutes
 Never at midnight

Adverb Phrase in a Sentence

Adverb phrases can be used in any position in a sentence. Consider these adverb
phrase examples so you'll know what you're looking for:

 Bob nodded like a bobblehead.

 Meet me at the mall later this evening.
 Without thinking, he turned down the road.
 They must kiss before sunset to break the spell.
 She went online for more information.
 In the forest, many creatures snarl and growl.
 I will not do that, never in a million years!
 Dad spoke softly to calm her fears.
 They have a house right by the ocean.
 She slammed the door in a huff.
 We will reconvene earlier than usual.
 Truly happy, I gave him my answer.
 She took some time off for a much-needed vacation.
 At every turn, problems blocked his path.
 I saw a lot of trash beside the highway.
 He decided to join a gym to get in shape.
 The dog came in for his bath, incredibly reluctantly.
 We strolled through the gardens very slowly.
 He made his decision as quickly as possible.
 Put the flowers by the birdbath.
 Jose always arrives sooner than the other students.
 She flew the plane through the fog calmly and skillfully.
 So as not to disturb anyone, Michelle tiptoed to bed.
 The seamstress mended the hem with needle and thread.
 Sometimes I don't clean under the bed.
 He performed the tasks without care.
 Come closer to get a better look.
 Take this medication as often as needed.
 The oath was recited somewhat hesitantly.
 Mary needs to drive her new car much more carefully.
 To see the view, Harry climbed to the peak.
 The mystery books were placed next to the crime dramas.
 The line was moving frustratingly slowly.
 The parade coursed around the town square.
 She runs five miles every day.
 The children opened their presents with delight.
 This product is available in all places.
 She responded very rudely.
 You need to wash your hands better than that.
 He stood on this very spot and lied to me.

Adverb Phrases vs. Adverb Clauses

It is important to remember that a phrase is a group of words that does not contain a
subject and a verb. When you look at the adverb phrase examples above, you'll see that
"right here under the bridge" does not contain a verb, so it is just a long phrase.

An adverb clause, on the other hand, is a group of words that does contain a subject
and a verb. That group of words modifies a verb, adverb or adjective in the sentence,
just as an adverb phrase does. For example:
 I parked the car where I could easily find it later.

This adverbial has both a subject ("I") and a verb ("find"), so it is a clause. In its entirety,
it modifies the verb "parked" to describe where the car is located.

Verb Phrase Examples

A verb phrase is the portion of a sentence that contains both the verb and either a direct or
indirect object (the verb's dependents). We're going to take a look at what verb phrases are, and
then view some verb phrase examples.

Verb Phrases
Verbs are words that demonstrate an action, like sing, dance, smell, talk, and eat. They serve as a
link between the subject of the verb and information about that subject. The information is
usually descriptive.

In order to show activities that can be done, active verbs are used, while linking verbs describe
conditions.

 She smells the pizza. (active) The wet dog smells awful. (linking)
 He appears on screen as an actor. (active) Tony appears angry. (linking)

Verb phrases take the verb one step further by comprising the verb, plus the complement, object,
or adverb. Verb phrases, such as "She was walking quickly to the mall" comprise the verb
(walking) and the complement (to the mall).
To learn more about verb phrases see Verb Phrase.

Verb Phrase Examples

A verb phrase can be the predicate of the clause or sentence. A verb phrase can also be a phrase
that functions as an adverb or adjective and contains a verb and its complements, objects, or
modifiers.

Phrase Is the Predicate of the Sentence

Following are some verb phrase examples where the verb phrase is the predicate of a sentence.
In this case, the verb phrase consists of the main verb plus any auxiliary, or helping, verbs.

 She was walking quickly to the mall.

 He should wait before going swimming.
 Those girls are not trying very hard.
 Ted might eat the cake.
 You must go right now.
 You can't eat that!
 My mother is fixing us some dinner.
 Words were spoken.
 These cards may be worth hundreds of dollars!
 The teacher is writing a report.
 You have woken up everyone in the neighborhood.

Phrase Functions as an Adverb or Adjective

Some verb phrases have a single function which means it can act like an adverb or an
adjective. The phrase would include the verb and any modifiers, complements, or
objects.
o Texting on his phone, the man swerved into a ditch.
o As the cat watched, the two puppies fought over a bone.
o The small dog was reluctant to learn new things.
o When he arrives, we can try to build a fort.
o Finally, we can afford to buy a new house.
o Walking on the ice, she slipped and fell.
o Open the door to let the fresh air in.
o To make lemonade, you first need some lemons.
o It takes two people to tango.
All of these different verb phrases demonstrate how the dependents of the verb provide
important useful information for the reader about the action in the sentence. Verb
phrases help to make your text more informative and meaningful and they are essential
to clear writing.

Prepositional Phrases Examples

Prepositions are connectors. They link nouns (and pronouns) to verbs or adjectives. For
example, "Matthew walked to the farmers' market."
In addition to being connectors, prepositions can also act as information-givers when
they form prepositional phrases. An example of a prepositional phrase is, "With a
reusable tote in hand, Matthew walked to the farmer's market."
Every prepositional phrase is a series of words consisting of a preposition and its object.
In the example above, "with" is the preposition and "reusable tote" is the object. In a
prepositional phrase, the object may be a noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause. A
prepositional phrase can function as an adjective or adverb. Let's explore several
prepositional phrase examples to see them shift into each of these roles.

Commonly Used Prepositional Phrases

There are certain prepositions that we use more often than others. They pop up in our
daily speech and writing. Let's take a look at some of them in the context of
prepositional phrases:

 According to the weather forecast

 Across many deserts
 After many tries
 Amid the confusion
 Around the world
 Before we start the meeting
 Between a rock and a hard place
 By the light of the moon
 Like a beautiful swan
 Near the ocean
 Of my boss
 Off the top
 Out the door
 Through the looking glass
 Throughout the thick forest
 To the amusement park
For more, enjoy this list of common prepositions.

Prepositional Phrases as Adjectives

Adjectives modify nouns, pronouns, and other adjectives. They can be simple words
that provide more detail. For example, "The old book sounded so intriguing." However,
prepositional phrases can also act as adjectives, providing additional detail
about nouns. Take a look at the manner in which they can tell us more about the nearby
noun (indicated in italics):
 The book with the tattered cover has been read many times.
 All the passengers aboard the runaway train were frightened.
 The present inside the big box is mine.
 Our boss put out a memo regarding the new rule.
 The clues within the first few chapters will lead to the murderer.
 His is only one voice among many, but it will be heard.
 The extra blanket is in the box under the bed.
 Saul, unlike many others, will remain there.
 The car beside the red one is the one I want to buy.
 The area outside the boundary is dangerous to cross.
 All rooms below deck are for sleeping.
 Tell me the story about the dragon slayer.

Prepositional Phrases as Adverbs

While adjectives modify nouns, adverbs modify verbs and other adverbs. They, too, can
be simple words. For example, "She frantically raced for the door." Prepositional
phrases can also act as adverbs, providing additional detail about verbs (indicated in
italics). Here are some examples:
 Racing toward the finish line, Sarah realized she just might win.
 My shopping list needs to be put into my purse.
 The balloon drifted up the stairs.
 Put the fresh flowers on a high shelf.
 Our team won against all odds.
 The tiger crept over the grass.
 We will order pizza during halftime.
 I will climb up the highest mountain tomorrow.
 I love to take my truck off the road.
 The baby cried well into the night.

Powerful Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases are built upon tiny little words like "of," "at," "to," and "in." And,
yet, they take on so many roles. They provide us with more information, act as
adjectives, and stand in as adverbs.