Types of PhrasesTypes of Phrases

““To be or not to be,To be or not to be,

that is the question.”that is the question.”

HamletHamlet, by William , by William ShakespeareShakespeare

What is a phrase?What is a phrase?

A phrase is a group of related words A phrase is a group of related words that acts as a single part of that acts as a single part of speech. speech.

By using phrases effectively and By using phrases effectively and placing them properly, you can make placing them properly, you can make your writing clearer and more your writing clearer and more descriptive.descriptive.

““To be or not to be” is an example of To be or not to be” is an example of just one of many types of phrases. just one of many types of phrases.

Types of PhrasesTypes of Phrases

Verb PhrasesVerb Phrases Prepositional Prepositional PhrasesPhrases

Appositive Appositive PhrasesPhrases

Participial Participial PhrasesPhrases

Gerund PhrasesGerund Phrases Infinitive Infinitive PhrasesPhrases

Verb PhrasesVerb Phrases

Verb Phrases are formed when verbs Verb Phrases are formed when verbs are joined by auxiliary verbs, are joined by auxiliary verbs, also called helping verbs. also called helping verbs.

A verb phrase may be used to A verb phrase may be used to express a particular tense of a express a particular tense of a verb or to indicate that an action verb or to indicate that an action is directed at the subject. is directed at the subject. Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet mightmight never never have methave met if not if not for the party at Juliet’s house.for the party at Juliet’s house.Both Romeo and Juliet’s actions Both Romeo and Juliet’s actions are drivenare driven by by their passion for each other.their passion for each other.

Prepositional PhrasesPrepositional Phrases

A prepositional A prepositional phrase consists of phrase consists of a preposition, its a preposition, its objects, and any objects, and any modifiers of the modifiers of the object. object.

There are many There are many kinds kinds of loveof love..

Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet take their love take their love to to the extremethe extreme..

Adjective and Adverb Adjective and Adverb PhrasesPhrases

An adjective prepositional phrase An adjective prepositional phrase modifies a noun or a pronoun.modifies a noun or a pronoun.There are many kinds There are many kinds of loveof love..

Like an adverb, an adverb Like an adverb, an adverb prepositional phrase modifies a prepositional phrase modifies a verb, an adjective, or another verb, an adjective, or another adverb.adverb.Romeo and Juliet take their love Romeo and Juliet take their love to to the extremethe extreme..

Let’s Practice …Let’s Practice …

1.1. The students are The students are studying the play in studying the play in their English class.their English class.

2.2. Some are confused by Some are confused by Shakespeare’s use of Shakespeare’s use of older-style English.older-style English.

3.3. The teacher should The teacher should have given them some have given them some more guidance on more guidance on reading his poetry.reading his poetry.

4.4. Many had heard Many had heard before of the tragic before of the tragic tale.tale.

Let’s Practice …Let’s Practice …

1.1. The students The students are are studyingstudying the play the play in in their English classtheir English class..

2.2. Some Some are confusedare confused by by Shakespeare’s useShakespeare’s use of of older-style Englisholder-style English..

3.3. The teacher The teacher should should have givenhave given them some them some more guidance more guidance on on reading his poetryreading his poetry..

4.4. Many Many had heardhad heard before before of the tragic of the tragic taletale..

Why It Matters In WritingWhy It Matters In Writing

Inexperienced writers sometimes confuse readers Inexperienced writers sometimes confuse readers by putting prepositional phrases in the wrong by putting prepositional phrases in the wrong places in their sentences. Think about how places in their sentences. Think about how the placement of the prepositional phrase the placement of the prepositional phrase affects the meaning of the following sentences:affects the meaning of the following sentences:

Brockton Kennels sells retriever puppies Brockton Kennels sells retriever puppies to to loving families with vaccinations.loving families with vaccinations.

Golden retrievers are valued for their Golden retrievers are valued for their eagerness eagerness

to work by hunters.to work by hunters.

Fix These Problem Fix These Problem SentencesSentences

1.1. Sporting dogs and hounds Sporting dogs and hounds are the types of dogs for are the types of dogs for hunting with the most hunting with the most talent.talent.

2.2. The stamina of a Chesapeake The stamina of a Chesapeake Bay retriever allows it to Bay retriever allows it to swim when retrieving ducks swim when retrieving ducks for a long time.for a long time.

3.3. With its water-resistant With its water-resistant fur, a hunter is glad to fur, a hunter is glad to have a Labrador retriever have a Labrador retriever to swim out and bring back to swim out and bring back ducks.ducks.

4.4. A pointer holds up a front A pointer holds up a front leg at the scent of a quail leg at the scent of a quail with the paw pointed down.with the paw pointed down.

5.5. Irish water spaniels are Irish water spaniels are funny-looking dogs with funny-looking dogs with tufts over their faces of tufts over their faces of curly hair.curly hair.

6.6. With their noses to the With their noses to the ground, rabbits leave a ground, rabbits leave a scent that basset hounds scent that basset hounds are good at tracking.are good at tracking.

Fix These Problem Fix These Problem SentencesSentences

1.1. Sporting dogs and hounds Sporting dogs and hounds are the types of dogs with are the types of dogs with the most talent for the most talent for hunting.hunting.

2.2. The stamina of a Chesapeake The stamina of a Chesapeake Bay retriever allows it to Bay retriever allows it to swim for a long time when swim for a long time when retrieving ducks.retrieving ducks.

3.3. A hunter is glad to have a A hunter is glad to have a Labrador retriever with its Labrador retriever with its water-resistant fur to swim water-resistant fur to swim out and bring back ducks.out and bring back ducks.

4.4. A pointer holds up a front A pointer holds up a front leg with the paw pointed leg with the paw pointed down at the scent of a down at the scent of a quail.quail.

5.5. Irish water spaniels are Irish water spaniels are funny-looking dogs with funny-looking dogs with tufts of curly hair over tufts of curly hair over their faces.their faces.

6.6. Rabbits leave a scent that Rabbits leave a scent that basset hounds, with their basset hounds, with their noses to the ground, are noses to the ground, are good at tracking.good at tracking.