Phrases - Grade 10 | December 1st 2020

Phrases - definition and types 


A phrase is a group of words which has no finite verb in it and acts to complete the sentence for making it meaningful. 

Certain phrases serve dual purposes in a sentence, for example a prepositional phrase can function as an adjectival phrase if it were acting to describe a noun in the sentence - e.g.: My uncle dated the girl with the tattoos. "With" is a preposition that marks the beginning of a prepositional phrase, but it acts as an adjective describing "the girl".

Two (of Seven) types of Phrases

Noun Phrase - 
A noun phrase is usually assembled around a single noun and works as a subject, an object or a complement in the sentence.

Examples:
  • I like to swing the bat hard when a ball is coming my way. (An object) [ask WHAT/WHO/WHICH do "I" like]
  • Reading novels is a good habit. (A subject) [ask WHAT/WHO/WHICH is "a good habit"]
  • Do you like cars? (An object, single noun) [ask WHAT/WHO/WHICH do you like]
  • The man we met yesterday. (A subject) [ask WHAT/WHO/WHICH "man"]
Mini exercise, Underline the Noun phrase/s - 
  1. The house that Jack built.
  2. You should take something to read.
  3. They need to walk a mile before quitting.

Adjectival Phrase - 
An adjective phrase is a group of words headed by an adjective that describes a noun or a pronoun.

Examples:
  • She wore very expensive shoes. [This adjective phrase describes (or "modifies" as grammarians say) the noun "shoes." The adjective "expensive" heads the adjective phrase.]
  • The beautifully carved frames are priceless. [The adjective phrase is before the noun it modifies ("frames"). This is an attributive adjective phrase.]
  • The frames are beautifully carved and priceless. [The adjective phrase is after the noun it modifies ("The frames"). This is a predicative adjective phrase.]
Mini Exercise, Adjectival phrase/s - 
  1. She had extremely menacing eyes. [hint, ask WHAT about the subject]
  2. The man, covered with dust, trudged his way home. [hint, ask HOW about the subject]
  3. I sometimes pity people living in large cities. [hint, ask WHO about the subject]

Sources and Additional info:

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