Phrases

Phrases are a group of words functioning as a single unit in the structure of a sentence but lack the subject-predicate organization of a clause. In simple terms – Phrases are a group of words which usually form a part of a sentence. Phrases serve as building blocks of sentences on a larger scale rather than being parts of speech. We often use these group of words while writing and when in conversation. It is William Shakespeare who is considered to have coined the Phrases. He contributed more Phrases than any other individual in English Language. Most of his Popular Phrases are still used in daily lives. Most of the Phrases were his own creation but he would resort to stealing a good line occasionally. Some of the Common English Phrases were actually popularised by him rather than being coined by him. Phrases are a part of our everyday life conversation. Some are more common than others, while others are used only in certain situations.

Some of the Common Phrases of William Shakespeare:

A Phrase has the following properties:

1. It is a group of words.
2. It does not have a Subject and Predicate.
3. It does not have a Finite Verb (e.g. write, break, work, run, stop etc.)
4. It may contain a Non-Finite Verb such as a Participle, a Gerund or an Infinitive.
5. It does not convey a definite meaning. It only conveys a partial meaning..
6. It cannot stand alone. It is a part of a larger sentence.

There are different types of Phrases

1. Adjective or Adjectival Phrase - When a Phrase does the work of an Adjective, it is known as Adjective Phrase. In other words Adjective Phrase is an Adjective in the form of a Phrase. If read minutely, this type of Phrase serves to describe a noun in a sentence, thus functioning as an adjective.

Example 1

Sentence 1 - The judge was a healthy man.
Sentence 2 - The judge was a man of good health.

In sentence 1, the adjective healthy says what sort of man the judge was.

In sentence 2, the group of words ‘of good health’ also says the same thing. It qualifies the noun man as an adjective does. It therefore does the work of an adjective and is called an Adjective Phrase.

Example 2

The Shopkeeper was a greedy man. - Here the adjective greedy modifies the noun man.
The Shopkeeper was a man with a greedy heart. - Here the adjective phrase ‘with a greedy heart’ modifies the noun man.

Example 3

He is from Chandigarh and Harish is from Chandigarh both have an Adjective Phrase, namely, “from Chandigarh.”

Identifying an Adjective Phrase / Properties of an Adjective Phrase

A) The first and foremost thing to do is to look at the First Word of the group of words. If the First Word is an adverb or preposition, it is most likely to be an Adjective Phrase. While reading the sentence, one should question himself as to what is the phrase modifying? Is it describing the noun? If the group of words does in fact modify the noun or subject of the sentence, then the phrase is in fact an Adjective Phrase.

B) An Adjective Phrase can be formed out of either an intensifier and/or alternatively, more than one adjective in a row. In the first case, an example might be “very beautiful” in the sentence, “The very beautiful woman walked down the street.”

C) A string of adjectives can come together as an adjective phrase in order to describe a noun.

Example, “Manpreet is a beautiful girl,” there is one adjective, namely, beautiful. However, in the sentence, “Manpreet is a beautiful, nice, intelligent, and kind girl,” an Adjective Phrase is employed in order to come together and describe Manpreet.

D) Adjective Phrases can also modify pronouns.

2. Verb Phrase or Phrasal Verb - The Verb Phrase is, simply a Phrase formed by one or more verbs and any number of objects, modifiers, complements, particles, infinitive markers, and auxiliaries.

Example 1 - I have been asking for a raise for ten years - Verb Phrases may consist of adjacent words.

Example 2 - Despite being a businessman, he has never actually succeeded in earning much money. - Verb Phrases may have other words that interrupt them.

Example 3 - I've just been working on this, and the problem is in the cable - Verb Phrases may contain a contraction.

Identifying a Verb Phrase / Properties of a Verb Phrase

A) A Verb Phrase consists of a verb, its direct and/or indirect objects, and any adverb, adverb phrases, or adverb clauses which happen to modify it.

B) The predicate of a clause or sentence is always a Verb Phrase.

C) Verb Phrases function as single-word verbs, to express action or to link subject and complement.

D) Its function is to provide information about the subject of the sentence.

3. Adverb or Adverbial Phrase – Adverb Phrase is a group of words that modifies the meaning of an adverb. Words before the adverb are ‘premodifers’ and after ‘postmodifers’. Premodifiers and postmodifiers are those words which limit, restrict, characterize, or otherwise focus meaning. Adverbial phrases can, in turn, modify another adverb or an adjective.

Example 1

He spoke politely - Here the adverb politely says something about the manner in which he spoke.
He spoke in a polite manner - Here the adverb phrase ‘in a polite manner’ also says how he spoke. Thus we see that an Adverb Phrase modifies a verb just like an adverb does.

Example 2

Jai ran quickly - In this sentence, the adverb ‘quickly’ gives another detail about the verb ‘ran’.

Example 3

Jai ran with great speed - In this sentence, the same meaning has been conveyed by using ‘a group of words’-‘with great speed’.

In this same manner, the meaning of an adverb can be conveyed by using different a group of words.

Identifying an Adverb Phrase / Properties of a Adverb Phrase

A) A Prepositional Phrase can also be an Adverb Phrase, functioning as an adverb.
Example: She bought some fruits when she went to the corner store. In this sentence, the Prepositional Phrase "to the corner store" acts as an adverb modifying the verb "went."

B) Adverb Phrase can also contain infinitive form of a verb.
Example: I'm saving my money to buy a home. In this sentence, “to buy a home” is an Adverb Phrase. The rest of the sentence does not specify “how much money”.

C) An adverb phrase can also modify an adjective.

4. Noun Phrase – A Noun Phrase is either a single noun or pronoun or a group of words containing a noun or a pronoun that function together as the subject or object of a verb.

Example 1

Jai was late – Here, Jai is the Noun Phrase functioning as the subject of the verb.

Example 2

The people that I saw coming in the building at eight o'clock have just left – Here, The people that I saw coming in the building at eight o’clock, is a lengthy Noun Phrase, but it functions as the subject of the main verb 'have just left'.

Identifying an Noun Phrase / Properties of a Noun Phrase

A) Like a noun, a noun phrase can act as a subject, as the object of a verb or verbal, as a subject or object complement, or as the object of a preposition.

Examples:

Subject - Small children often insist that they can do it by themselves.
Object of a verb - To run fast and long is Eugene's goal.
Object of a preposition - The arctic explorers were caught unawares by the spring breakup.
Subject complement – Einstein is the name of the scientist not the mathematician
Object complement - I consider Jacky my favorite dog.

B) A Noun Phrase can include other phrases like Prepositional Phrase.

Example:

The kind old man in the street feeds the dogs every day – Here “in the street” is a Prepositional Phrase including the Noun Phrase.

Types of Noun Phrases

a) Appositive Phrase - An appositive is a Noun Phrase that follows and/or renames the noun or pronoun before it. The appositive can be a short or long combination of words.

Examples: Text in Bold is Appositive Phrase

The monkey, a langur, is climbing over the garden wall.
She works with Dr. Harish, an award-winning writer.

b) Gerund Phrase – A Gerund Phrase is a Phrase which begins with a Gerund (an ing word), and might include other modifiers and/or objects. Gerund Phrases always function as nouns.

Examples: The Highlighted or text in Bold is Gerund Phrase.

Eating fruits without washing them will make you sick.
I am not prepared to authorise climbing the cliffs in the dark.

c) Infinitive Phrase - An Infinitive Phrase is Phrase formed from an Infinitive and other related words. An infinitive is the word "to" followed by a verb. This type of phrase functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

Examples: The Highlighted or text in Bold is Infinitive Phrase.

He helped to build the roof.
Let me show you the best way to paint the door.
The officer returned to help the inspectors.

5. Prepositional Phrase – A Prepositional Phrase is a Phrase which consists of a preposition and an object of a preposition. The 'object' of the preposition is the one with which a Prepositional Phrase ends.

Examples: The Highlighted or text in Bold is Prepositional Phrase.

I will follow the voices in my head.
Almost half of Africa's population suffers from water-related diseases.
The bed sheets in the bedroom need changing.

Identifying an Prepositional Phrase / Properties of an Prepositional Phrase

A) A Prepositional Phrase will function as an adjective or adverb. As an adjective, the Prepositional Phrase will answer a question like Which one?

Example: The tape on the shelf is burned from a fire. Which tape? The one on the shelf.

B) Most of the Prepositional Phrase end with a noun or pronoun, however, some also end with a gerund or a clause.

Examples :