Phrases and Sentences

Infinitive

An infinitive phrase will begin with an infinitive [to + simple form of the verb]. It will include objects and/or modifiers. To smash a spider

Complex Sentence

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence and makes a complete thought and a dependent clause can not stand alone, even though it has a subject and a verb. Because my coffee was too cold, I heated it in the microwave.

Compound Sentence

A compound sentence has two independent clauses or sentences. The independent clauses can be joined by a coordinating conjunction (such as "and," "for" and "but") or a semicolon. He ran out of money, so he had to stop playing poker.

Participial

A participle is a word 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). Eaten by mosquitoes, we wished that we had made hotel, not campsite, reservations. Eaten by mosquitoes modifies the pronoun we.

Preposition

At the minimum, a prepositional phrase will begin with a preposition and end with a noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause, the "object" of the preposition. Without excessively worrying

Gerund

Gerund and present participle phrases are easy to confuse because they both begin with an -ing word. The difference is the function that they provide in the sentence. A gerund phrase will always behave as a noun while a present participle phrase will act as an adjective. Ben's rudest habit is eating the last of the leftover pizza. Eating the last of the leftover pizza = gerund phrase, the subject complement of the linking verb is.