A group of words that may take the place of a part of speech is called a phrase. A phrase is a group of connected words, not containing a subject and a predicate. In other words, a phrase does not have a subject and verb. (If a group of words had a subject and a verb, it would be a clause.) Phrases can function in the sentence like nouns, adverbs, or adjectives.

7 Types of Phrases

 

Seven common types of phrases are: noun, gerund, infinitive, appositive, participial, prepositional, and absolute.

NOUN PHRASE

A phrase used as a noun is called a noun-phrase. A noun is a person place or thing, and when you add a modifier, you have a noun phrase.

 

A noun phrase can be part of the subject, the object, or a prepositional object.

 

TIP* A noun phrase can be replaced by a pronoun.

 

The Father of Waters is the Mississippi River.

 

SUBJECT: The Father of Waters is used as a noun, since it names something and can be replaced with the pronoun “it”.

 

It is the Mississippi River. (In this example the noun phrase is the subject of the sentence.)

 

My neighbor down the street baked me a pie. (SUBJECT)

 

OBJECT: Jazmin baked a chocolate cake. (A chocolate cake is the object of the verb baked and is a noun phrase.)

 

Marco replaced the worn-out furniture. (OBJECT of the verb replaced)

 

Prepositional phrase: The purse on the table belongs to my aunt. (SUBJECT w/ a preposition and includes the prepositional phrase on the table.)

 

Mikey kissed the girl with blue eyes. OBJECT w/ a preposition

 

VERB PHRASE, or VERBALS

 

A verb-phrase is a group of words that is used as a verb. A verb phrase contains both the verb and either a direct or indirect object (the verb’s dependents).

 

Verb phrases may include the verb, plus the complement, object, or adverb.

 

Verb phrases, such as “He is running toward the bus.” comprise the verb running and the complement toward the bus.

 

He is running quickly toward the bus. (Interrupted by an adverb)

 

He is running quickly toward the bus that is heading southbound.

 

VERBALS: The main types of verbals are participial, gerund, and infinitive phrases.

 

GERUND

A gerund is a verb form that functions as a noun. A gerund is easy to spot because it is a verb ending in -ing. Gerunds can be subjects, objects, or subject complements in sentences. Remember that to test any noun or part of speech functioning as a noun, we should be able to replace it with a pronoun.

 

Skiing is my favorite sport. (It is my favorite sport.)

 

INFINITIVE

An infinitive is the most common form of the verb. Infinitives can be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. An infinitive will almost always begin with “to” also known as the sign of the infinitive.

 

To love unconditionally is a selfless thing.

You need to study for your finals if you want to get good grades.

 

PARTICIPIAL

A participial is a phrase that looks like a verb, but actually functions as an adjective; it modifies a noun in the same sentence.

 

Wagging her tail, my puppy greets me at the door. (adjective)

 

Sitting in the junk drawer, my glasses were pushed to the back.

 

Be careful not to confuse the participial phrase for the gerund phrase.

 

Wagging her tail is my puppy’s way of showing affection. (Gerund phrase –substitute it with IT)

 

APPOSITIVE PHRASE

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase (appositive phrase) that gives another name to the noun right next to it. An appositive phrase usually follows the word it explains or identifies

 

My puppy, a Maltese and Havanese mix, is gentle and smart.

 

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

A prepositional phrase is a modifying phrase consisting of a preposition and its object. It can act as an adjective or as an adverb.

 

Josie is inside the store. (verb complement)

Josie is the girl with the blue eyes. (adjective)

I will give you a call in the morning. (adverb).

ABSOLUTE PHRASE

An absolute phrase is a phrase that modifies the independent clause, but it is not connected to the sentence by a conjunction. It is set off with a comma only, and it could be removed from the sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence.

 

His feet sore, he continued his hike.

 

The baby ate the applesauce with pleasure, cooing and gurgling as she took each spoonful.

 

TO SUMMARIZE:

 

A phrase is a group of connected words THAT DO NOT CONTAIN A subject and a predicate. In other words, a phrase does not have a subject and verb. Phrases can function in the sentence like nouns, adverbs, or adjectives.

 

Seven common types of phrases are: noun, gerund, infinitive, appositive, participial, prepositional, and absolute.