Grammar Unit 4- Identifying Types of Phrases

If a phrase begins with a preposition, what should I do?

Identify how the phrase is functioning in a sentence. If it is identifying a noun or pronoun, it is an Adjective Phrase. If it is modifying a verb, adjective, or adverb, it is an Adverb Phrase.

What is the first question to ask on the test?

Identify whether or not the phrase you are looking at is a Prepositional Phrase or not. If it is, you will be dealing with either an Adjective or an Adverb Phrase. If it is not, you will be dealing with either a Participial Phrase, a Gerund Phrase, an Infinitive Phrase, or an Appositive.

What is a Prepositional Phrase?

Includes a preposition, which is always the first word, the object of a preposition, which is always the last word and a NOUN, and any modifiers of that object. The preposition that starts off the phrase may be one, two, or three words in length.

What would Mr. Brown do?

1. Complete the Phrases Packet & Study... 2. Review these FLASHCARDS... 3. Go back to the Packet and complete the opposite questions for those concepts you feel you need additional practice on. Check answers on BB. 4. Review a list of commonly found prepositions and familiarize yourself with those "a plane CANNOT do to a cloud." Good luck! Mr. B

How can I identify phrases in a sentence?

1. Identify possible prepositions/phrases in a sentence- if you see any you are either dealing with an Adjective or an Adverb phrase. 2. Identify possible verbals or "verb forms" in a setence- these will look like verbs but will NOT be the verb of the sentence (by locating the main verb of the sentence, you will be able to rule the main verb out as a verbal). These will begin with verb forms ending in either "ing" or "ed." If you find a verbal ending in "ing" you are either dealing with a Present Participial Phrase or a Gerund Phrase. See how it is functioning in the sentence and you will be able to identify which one you have. If you find a verbal ending in "ed," you will have a Past Participial Phrase. 3. Identify "to" in a sentence. If you find any, you will either be dealing with a Prepostional Phrase or an Infinitive Phrase. If it is a prepositiion (no verb to the right), you will have either an Adjective or an Adverb phrase. If you do have a verb to the right, you will have an Infinitive Phrase. 4. Look for comma placement in the sentence. Sometimes they will set off an Appositive Phrase with one on EACH side of it. Appositive Phrases without commas are a bit tougher to find, but will act a a noun or pronoun and will NOT contain a preposition or a verbal as the first word. Not ALL Phrases set off by commas however, are automatically Appositive Phrases. You MUST double check to see how the phrase is functioning in the sentence.

Non-Verbal Phrases (Review)

1. Prepositional- adjectives or adverbs. Needs two things- a preposition and an object of the preposition. 2. Appositive- a noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to rename, identify, or describe it. Often set off by commas.

What is a Gerund Phrase?

A Gerund Phrase consists of a Gerund (a verbal/verb form being used as a NOUN- ONLY) and any complements the Gerund may have. These verbals that begin each gerund phrase will ALWAYS end in "ing." The entire phrase will be functioning as a noun in the sentence. What are some nouns you could have in a sentence? You can have a noun as the subject of a sentence, the direct object, the indirect object, and predicate nominative which is only present with a linking verb, or an object of a preposition.

What is a Participial Phrase?

A Participial Phrase consists of a participle (a verbal/verb form being used as an ADJECTIVE ONLY) and any complements the participle may have. The entire phrase will be functioning as an adjective in the sentence, modifying a noun or pronoun. The verbal will begin each participial phrase. A Present Participial Phrase will have a verbal ending in "ing" that begins it, and a Past Participial Phrase will have a verbal ending in "ed" that beings it.

What is a Participle?

A Participle is a verbal that is being used as an ADJECTIVE in a sentence. There are two kinds of Participles- Present, which ends in "ing" and Past, which ends in "ed."

What is a Verbal?

A Verbal is a "verb form" that can be used as an adjective, a noun, or an adverb in a sentence. While these words may look like verbs, they are NOT functioning as such in a sentence. There are three kinds of Verbal Phrases: Participial, Gerund, and Infinitive.

What is a Phrase?

A group of related words that is USED AS A SINGLE PART OF SPEECH and does NOT contain both a verb and its subject.

What is an Appositive Phrase?

An Appositive Phrase is a noun or pronoun and any modifiers may have placed BESIDE another noun or pronoun meant to identify or describe it. Appositive Phrases set off by commas are generally NOT needed in the sentence, but those are not set off by commas generally are required for the sentence to make sense. These essential Appositive Phrases will usually tell "which one" of two or more ideas or objects the sentence is talking about. Most appositives are located directly AFTER the noun or pronoun they are identifying or describing, HOWEVER on rare occasions they may be found just before it in a sentence.

What is an Infinitive Phrase?

An Infinitive Phrase consists of the infinitive "to" + a verb and any complements the infinitive has. The entire phrase can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb in a sentence. EVERY Infinitive Phrase will begin with "to." Treat Infinitive Phrases as you would Prepositional Phrases- extend them until you reach the object (noun) of the infinitive. Remember, how to tell the difference between an Infinitive Phrase beginning with "to" and a Prepositional Phrase beginning with "to." A Prepositional Phrase beginning with "to" will NOT have a verb behind it.

What is an Adjective Phrase?

At its base level, an Adjective Phrase is a PREPOSITIONAL phrase that is functioning as an adjective in the sentence and modifies a noun or pronoun. It answers the questions "which kind" or "which one". All Adjective Phrases will begin with a preposition. The majority of the time, Adjective Phrases will FOLLOW the noun or pronoun they modify.

What is an Adverb Phrase?

At its base level, an Adverb Phrase is a PREPOSITIONAL phrase that is functioning as an adverb in the sentence and modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It answers the questions "when," "where," "why," "how," or "to what extent." All Adverb Phrases will begin with a preposition.

Verbal Phrases (Review)

Verbals = verbs that aren't used as verbs. Verbal Phrases = verbal + modifiers. 1. Gerunds- nouns, -ing endings. 2. Participle- adjectives, -ing or -ed endings. Often set off by commas. 3. Infinitive- nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. "To" + verb.

How can I tell the difference between a Adjective Phrase and an Appositive Phrase?

While both of these phrases will identify or describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence, an Adjective Phrase will begin with a preposition and act as an adjective in the sentence. An Appositive Phrase, however, IS a noun or pronoun and will NOT begin with a preposition.

How do I tell the difference between an Adjective Phrase and a Participial Phrase?

While both phrases will be functioning as an adjective in the sentence, an Adjective Phrase will begin with a preposition, while a Participial Phrase will begin with a verbal/verb form ending in "ing" or "ed."

How can I tell the difference between a Present Participial Phrase and a Gerund Phrase?

While both phrases will begin with a verbal ending in "ing," a Present Participial Phrase will function as an adjective in the sentence, modifying a noun or pronoun. A Gerund Phrase, however, will function as a noun in the sentence and may take the form of the subject, a direct object, an indirect object, a predicate nominative, or the object of a preposition.

How do I tell the difference between a Prepositional Phrase and an Infinitive Phrase?

While some Prepositional Phrases begin with "to" and almost ALL Infinitive Phrases as well, look directly to the word next to it. If the word to the right of "to" is a verb, you are dealing with an Infinitive Phrase. If it is not, you are dealing with a Preposition Phrase.