Phrases and Clauses

Prepositions

Prepositions are the words that indicate location. Usually, prepositions show this location in the physical world. Check out the three examples below:

Split Infinitive

a construction consisting of an infinitive with an adverb or other word inserted between to and the verb, e.g., she seems to really like it.

Phrase

If the group of related words does not have a subject and verb, it's called a phrase.

Clause

If the group of related words has a subject and verb, it's called a clause. 2.Clauses come in four types: main [or independent], subordinate [or dependent], adjective [or relative], and noun. Every clause has at least a subject and a verb. Other characteristics will help you distinguish one type of clause from another.

Gerund phrase

A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing. A gerund phrase includes the gerund, plus any modifiers and complements. Gerunds and gerund phrases always function as nouns. They can act as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nominatives, or objects of a preposition in a sentence.

Participle Phrase

A participle is a verbal ending in -ing (present) or -ed, -en, -d, -t, -n, or -ne (past) that functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun. A participial phrase consists of a participle plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s)

infinitive Phrase

The infinitive is often used as a noun. Like other nouns, it may serve as a subject, an object, or a predicate noun. Subject: To succeed is his ambition. Object: I want to succeed. Complement: His ambition is to succeed. Infinitives Remember that a verbal is a form of a verb that functions as something else in a sentence. An infinitive is a verbal that can function as noun, adjective, or adverb. It is formed by using "to" + the verb. Examples of Infinitives: The infinitive can appear by itself, or it can be part of a larger infinitive phrase. Examples of infinitives: To run To walk To cook To understand To make Examples of infinitives or infinitive phrases used as nouns: 1) I like to run. (functions as a direct object) 2) I wanted to cook dinner for my parents. (functions as a direct object) 3) To fly an airplane is a dream of mine. (functions as a subject) 4) I cannot believe you knew to put out grits to attract ants! (functions as a direct object) Examples of infinitives or infinitive phrases used as adjectives: 1) The fair is the place to go. (tells us which place) 2) I have some jeans to wash. (tells us which jeans) 3) The singer to watch is Joyce. (tells us which singer) 4) The kind of flowers to plant are perennials. (tells us which flowers) Examples of infinitives or infinitive phrases used as adverbs: 1) To complete the math problem, you divide by x. (tells why to divide) 2) I bought paint to finish the picture for my mom. (tells why I bought paint) 3) To make the cookies, you must add the flour first. (tells why we add flour)

Verbal Phrases

Verbal phrases are verbals and any of the verb form's modifiers, objects, or complements. The three types of verbal phrases are participial, gerund, and infinitive phrases

Subject of the Infinitive

While the word subject in grammar normally applies to a sentence, it is possible for an infinitive to have a subject. When an infinitive or an infinitive phrase follows certain verbs, the action of the infinitive may be done by a different person or thing than the subject of the sentence. This doer of the infinitive's action follows the verb and comes before the infinitive. This is known as the subject of the infinitive. Keep in mind that when an infinitive follows a verb, sometimes the word to is dropped from the infinitive. A personal pronoun is in the objective case when it is a subject of the infinitive. Examples: We wanted Bill to go to the airport. Simon helped me to record the data. No one saw the prisoner escape. Simon helped me record the data. (In the last two examples, the word to has been dropped.)

PREPOSITIONS

about near along out of behind to by up in after onto at since between under for above off among over below toward down with into against out before through beyond until from across on around past beside towards during without

Prepositional Phrases

group of related words that acts as either an adjective or an adverb in a sentence. A prepositional phrase is made up of at least two words: a preposition (a linking word) and a noun or pronoun (called the object of the preposition)