What is common in the following sentences:
big dog
that lovely old pub by the bridge over the river
Phrases
A phrase?
A group of words
Acts as a single unit in meaning and in
grammar.
Not built round a verb.
Without a subject.
Cannot stand alone as an independent unit.
They add richness and detail.
Used within clauses, which are used within
sentences.
How long is a phrase?
‘I’
Sometimes you will even see a single word
referred to as a phrase.
A phrase can be two words long:
big dog
Or a phrase can be much longer:
that lovely old pub by the bridge over the
river
Phrases can have many different functions
(uses) in a sentence.
As ……
subjects
objects
complements
modifiers, or
adverbials.
Noun phrases
A noun phrase has a noun as its head.
He carried the bags
She brought Mary's bags
The heavy bags are downstairs
Noun head/Chief head
The noun phrase is a string of
words that all depend or focus in
some way on a single noun (Noun
Head)
The words may be added before
or after the noun.
Anoun phrase can be a subject of
a sentence.
The red balloon soared upwards.
Anoun phrase can be an object of a
sentence.
I read that book about dinosaurs
Anoun phrase can be the
complement:
She wants to be………
She wants to be a doctor.
Anoun phrase can be in the
possessive position
my best friend’s father
Anoun phrase can be the object of a
preposition
looked over the fence
we
children
the cute baby
our new neighbour
a lovely pearl necklace
NOUN PHRASE
Consists of a pronoun or a noun with an
optional determiner or adjective
NP Pron
NP (det) + (AdjP) + N
Prepositional phrases
A prepositional phrase is a group of words
that begins with a preposition and ends with
a noun or a pronoun.
at lunchtime
behind the fridge
for an interview
in the drawer
The bridge over the river
in a house of bricks
with great care
in the morning
beside the mosque
for dinner
at the maintain
by the government
during the holiday
in the village
By the ocean
Near the window
Over the cabinet
With us
In your ear
Under your hat
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
Begins with a preposition.
PP Prep + NP
Adjectival phrases
Adjectival phrases have an adjective as their
head.
A red ball.
He is tall
Adjectival phrases either
- expand noun phrases or
- complete the verb (act as the complement)
For example:
They are really enthusiastic.
Adjectival phrase.
It is the complement of the verb are.
They are keen on football.
The adjective keen combines with the
prepositional phrase, on football. The head of
the phrase is keen, and the phrase describes
the keen-ness, so it’s an adjectival phrase.
For example:
They are keen on football.
Adjectival phrase.
the unusually tall boy
adverb + adjective
= adjectival phrase
easily accessible
extremely enchanting
beautiful
too difficult
ADJECTIVE PHRASE
Consists of an optional adverb and an
adjective.
AdjP (adv) + Adj
Adverbial Phrases
adverb as head.
He moved quickly.
He moved very quickly.
For example:
He opened it extremely easily.
extremely easily modifies opened
=Adverbial Phrases
I'll do it quite soon.
quite soon modifies do
=Adverbial Phrases
I ran so fast.
so fast modifies ran
=Adverbial Phrases
He was quite unexpectedly kind.
quite unexpectedly modifies kind (‘kind’ is an
adjective).
=Adverbial Phrases
He came very surprisingly quickly.
very surprisingly modifies quickly (‘quickly’ is
an adverb).
=Adverbial Phrases
Some phrases will act as other prepositional
phrases depending on their positions.
This is illustrated by the following examples.
She lost her head at the retro love-in.
The prepositional phrase “at the retro love-in”
describes the verb “lost.” (Answering where?).
However it functions as an adverbial phrase.
The salesperson skimmed over the product's
real cost.
The prepositional phrase “over the product's
real cost” modifies the verb “skimmed.”
However it functions as an adverbial phrase.
The boss was thrilled at their attitude.
The phrase ‘at their attitude’ is a prepositional
phrase. However it modifies the adjective
“thrilled.” Therefore it functions as an a
dverbial phrase
The rock climbers arrived late at night.
The phrase ‘at night’ is a prepositional phrase.
However it modifies the adverb “late.”
Therefore,it functions as an adverbial phrase.
early
fairly well
gracefully
ADVERB PHRASE
Consists of an optional degree adverb and an
adverb.
AdvP (deg) + Adv
