A Taste of PHRASE

A Powerpoint Presentation on Grammar and Composition (an aid to Language Learning)

Prepared By: RUTH M. NARAG-MAGUDDAYAO NARAGInstructor

A PHRASE
Is a group of related words, without either a subject or a predicate.

PHRASES
In General Classification of Phrases Uses of Phrases Position of Phrases

Classification of Phrases
As to function As to form As to Essentiality

Classification of Phrases
As to function
As a noun
(noun phrase)
The well-dressed young woman glanced at the mirror.

 A prepositional phrase used as an adjective

(adjective prepositional phrase) The book on the top shelf needs to go back to the library tomorrow.
The well-dressed young woman glanced at the mirror.

As a verb (phrasal verb)

 A prepositional phrase used as an adverb
(adverb prepositional phase) After dinner, we all went to the movie.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
That acts as an adjective: A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun & pronoun by telling what kind or which one .

ADJECTIVES
A beautiful French painting was hung in the palace. Mary took a boxed lunch.

ADJECTIVE PHRASES
A French painting of great beauty was hung in the palace. Mary took lunch in a box.

Note: Adjective phrases usually modify nouns functioning as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects or predicate nominatives. 1.The mansion across the road has been abandoned. 2.Lets take a picture of the Eiffel Tower . 3.They gave the students on the bus a tour. 4.France is a country with many charms.

A sentence may often have a series of two or more adjective phrases. This may modify phrases. the object of the preceding phrase. phrase.

We bought tickets for the trip to Paris.

The painting of the palace in the museum is old.

Exercise 1 Identifying Phrases

Write each sentence underlining the adjective phrase or phrases in each. Then draw an arrow each. from each phrase to the word it modifies. modifies.

1. France is the second-largest country in Europe. 2. The capital city of the Philippines is Manila. 3. Lyon, Toulouse and Marseille are three other major cities in France. 4. The nickname of Singapore is Lion City. 5. The country borders two major bodies of water: the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

Quiz No.2
Write each sentence underlining the adjective phrase or phrases in each. Then draw an arrow from each phrase to the word it modifies.

1.The Pyrenees Mountains along the southern border separate France and Spain. 2.One border country to the east of France is Switzerland. 3.North of France is the tiny principality of Luxembourg. 4.France controls a group of islands in the Pacific. 5.A rough estimate of the countrys population is sixty million.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
That acts as an adverb: A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adj.,or adv. By pointing out where, when, in what way, or to what extent.

ADverbs
She ran swiftly. They were happy there.

ADverb PHRASES
She ran with speed. (in what way?) They were happy at the French cafe. (where?)

Note: Adverbial phrases dont usually modify the nearest word it modifies. It answers the question Where?,When?,In what way?,or To extent? 1.The runner dashed past spectators. Modifying a verb 2.The Loire Valley is rich in historical buildings. Modifying an adj. 3.The french exchange student arrived late for class. Modifying an adv.

Like adj. phrases, two or more adverb phrases may modify the same word.

In the afternoon, we walked to Notre Dame.

An alpine village vanished during the avalanche.

During the avalanche, an alpine village vanished.

Exercise 2 Identifying Phrases

Write each sentence underlining the adverb phrase or phrases in each. Then draw an arrow from each each. phrase to the word it modifies. modifies.

1.Frances geography is marked by various natural formations. 2.Several large rivers cut across the country. 3.Without a doubt, the Seine River is the most important French River. 4.It flows through Paris and empties into English Channel. 5.The Rhone, Loire and Rhine rivers are also important to France.

Quiz No.3
Write each sentence underlining the adverb phrase or phrases in each. Then draw an arrow from each each. phrase to the word it modifies. modifies.

1. Two impressive mountain ranges exist within French territory. 2. The French Alps rise majestically near Frances southwestern boundary. 3. Europes second-highest peak is located within this mountain range. 4. Cable cars carry skiers high up the mountain. 5. The Pyrenees Mountains stretch along the Spanish border.

Appositives and Appositive Phrases

The term appositive comes from the Latin verb meaning to put near or next to. An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed next to another noun or pronoun to identify, rename, or explain it. Ex. Some French villagers, the old-timers, prefer to travel the dirt roads. (unrestrictive not essential) Her greatest attribute, charm, was not enough. (unrestrictive not essential) The artist Monet was a great French painter. (restrictive essential)

Exercise No. 3
1.Ernest Hemingway, a famous author, wrote in a terse style. (as a subject) 2.The chef prepared escargots, a snail dish.(w/D.O.) 3.I brought my brother, a boy of six, a souvenir from the Louvre.(w/an I.O) 4.I chose the color purple, an unusual color for a house.(w/an Objective Complement) 5.My favorite food was cassoulet, a hearty stew.(w/a Predicate Nominative) 6.Store the onions in the cellar, a cool, dry place. (w/the object of preposition)

Appositives and Apositive phrases may also be compound. Armand, both his schoolmate and

his confidant, was always welcome in the house. TWO SENTENCES:Marseille is located on the Mediterranean Sea. The city is an important French seaport. COMBINED:Marseille, an important French seaport, is located on the Mediterranean Sea.

Quiz No.4
Combine each pair of sentences by turning one of them into an appositive phrase 1.France s educational system is one of Europe s best. It is subsidized by the government. 2.Children are required to attend school until they reach early adulthood. That is generally sixteen years of age. 3.Ecoles educate children six through ten years old. Ecoles are French primary schools. 4.Lycees are attended by the students between the ages of eleven and eighteen. Lycees are French secondary schools. 5.Jean-Luc attends a religious school, as do nearly one fifth of the students in France. Jean-Luc is a tenth grader.

Cont. Quiz No.4

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Classification of Phrases As to form

Verb phrase Verbal phrase Prepositional phrase Participial phrase Infinitive phrase Gerundial phrase Absolute phrase Elliptical phrase Parenthetical phrase Introductory phrase

Classification of Phrases
1. Verb Phrase consists of a verb and the words that help the verb along. e.g. to be (is,are, was,were,am,be,being,been), has,do can,may,shall, and will. 2. Verbal Phrase consists of verbals plus other modifying words. Verbals are the participial, infinitive, and gerundial. 3. Prepositional Phrase phrase that begins with a preposition and shows the rel. Of a noun and pronoun to the rest of a sentence. Consists of a preposition, an object (noun or pronoun) and its modifiers. 4. Participial Phrase introduced by a participle or an adverbial modifier combined w/a participle (a verb ending in ing or ed that serves as an adjective. Studying hard, he soon finished the course. 5. Infinitive Phrase formed by an infinitive (the word to followed by a verb)and its related words. It may serve as an adjective, adverb or noun.

Classification of Phrases
6. Gerundial phrase formed by a verb ending in ing (gerund) and its related words. It functions as a noun. Note: The difference bet.a Participial phrase and a Gerundial phrase is that the former emphasizes the doer, while the latter emphasizes the activity. 7. Absolute phrase this phrase has nothing grammatically to do w/the rest of the sentence. It conveys only as an aside comment. He entered the judges chamber, hat in hand, to beg for clemency. 8. Elliptical phrase refers to words that are missing but understood from the sentence. They follow the words as and than. A comma is sometimes used to show the words missing. 9. Parenthetical phrase used to qualify or explain a statement. It interrupts the main thought w/o adding essential info. Pedro, I understand, grew up in the Philippines. 10. Introductory phrase a phrase used to introduce the sentence. It may prepositional, infinitive, or participial phrase.

Classification of Phrases
As to Essentiality
Maybe classified into restrictive or nonrestrictive.
Example:
Baguio City, which is the summer capital of the Philippines, has an elevation of 5,500 feet above sea level. (non-restrictive) People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
(restrictive)

Note: Restrictive phrases identify a person or thing. They cannot be omitted without beclouding or changing the meaning of the sentence.. They are parentheticals and are not enclosed between commas.

Uses of Phrases
Phrases may serve as a noun, adjective, or adverb. A noun phrase is used as subject or object
I learned what he had done in school

An adjectival phrase is one that modifies a noun or pronoun

Her tastefully furnished house is insured.
An adverbial phrase modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It may function as a single adverb. He waited for a long time.

Position of Phrases
Always place a modifying phrase as close as possible to what it describes. WRONG:
The guard admitted the visitor with misgivings. (Who has the misgivings?)

CORRECT:
With misgivings, the guard admitted the visitor.

Remarks : This presentation is a part and parcel of the ways to learning the English Language. Interaction among students with the teacher as facilitator is still the best learning strategy. All additional examples, exercises, seatworks, quizzes and other means to enhance learning are illustrated/ shown on board, hand-outs, and other instructional materials.

References:
Painless Grammar by Rebecca Elliott, PhD Fundamentals of English Grammar by Isagani Cruz The McGraw Hill Handbook of English Grammar and Usage by Lester Beason Be your own English Teacher! Grammar Review by
Learning for Empowerment and Development (LEAD Inc.)

Writing and Grammar Communication in Action by

Prentice Hall