1. Prepositional, Appositive, Participial, Gerund, and Infinitive Phrases

2. Prepositional Phrases
Phrase – a group of words that acts in a sentence as a single part of speech
Prepositional phrase – a group of words that begins with a preposition and usually ends with a noun or pronoun, called the object of the preposition

3. Functions of Prepositional Phrases
Adjective Prepositional Phrase – modifies a noun or a pronoun
Example – The boy on the corner owns the blue car.
Adverb Prepositional Phrase – modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb
Example – The bus always stops at the corner.
Example – This job will be easy for Bill.

4. Appositives/Appositive Phrases
Appositive – a noun or a pronoun that is placed next to another noun or pronoun to identify or give additional information about it
Appositive phrase – an appositive plus any words that modify the appositive

5. Examples of Appositives
My friend Chris sings in the choir.
Appositive = Chris
Jill, the director of the choir, won an award.
Appositive = the director of the choir

7. Verbals and Verbal Phrases
Verbal = a verb form that functions in a sentence as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb
Verbal phrase – a verbal plus any complements and modifiers
3 types of verbals
Participles
Gerunds
Infinitives

8. Participles and Participial Phrases
Participle – a verb form that can function as an adjective
Present participles – always end in –ing
Past participles – typically end in –ed
May end in other forms as well

9. Participles as Adjectives Vs. Participles in Verb Phrases
Participle as Adjective
The marching band will win the contest this year.
Participle in Verb Phrase
The band will be marching in the parade.

10. Participial Phrases
Participial phrases – contains a participle plus any complements and modifiers
Function as adjectives
Example – Marching down the street, the band played the fight song.
Example – The dog, tired from his game of chase, finally fell asleep in the yard.
**Take note of the commas

12. Gerunds and Gerund Phrases
A verb form that ends in –ing and is used in the same way a noun is used
Gerund phrase – a gerund plus any complements and modifiers

13. Examples of Gerunds/Gerund Phrases
The dog’s barking kept me awake all night.
What is the gerund? What is its function?
Gerund = barking (acts as noun as subject)
At the time, the press questioned both NASA’s engineering and its handling of the shuttle program.
Gerund = engineering/ handling (acts as nouns as direct objects)

14. Participle vs. Gerund
Both present participles and gerunds end in –ing. How can you tell the difference?
Walking, rather than running, is much better for recovering athletes.
Gerunds?
walking/ running
Participles?
recovering

15. Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases
A verb form that is usually preceded by the word to and is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb
To + verb = infinitive
To + noun or pronoun = prepositional phrase
Infinitive phrase – contains an infinitive plus any complements and modifiers

16. Examples of Infinitives/ Infinitive Phrases
To work in outer space is not easy.
What is the infinitive? What is its function?
Infinitive = to work (acts as a noun as subject)
Astronauts have many procedures to learn.
Infinitive = to learn (acts as an adjective)
We were happy to win the game.
Infinitive = to win (acts as an adverb)

17. Infinitive Clause
If infinitive has its own subject, then the infinitive is part of a clause rather than part of a phrase.
Subject of infinitive clause follows the main verb of the sentence and comes right before the infinitive.
Infinitive clauses may only follow an action verb.

18. Examples of Infinitive Clauses
The teacher wanted the student to read the book.
Infinitive Clause = the student to read the book
The student = subject
Infinitive = to read
Entire infinitive clause functions as direct object.

19. Please take note!
Sometimes the word to is dropped before the infinitive
Example – Let me [to] get your advice.
Not necessary to use the word to
Creates awkwardness in speech or writing

21. Absolute Phrases
A noun or pronoun that is modified by a participle or a participial phrase
Has no grammatical relation to the rest of the sentence
Does not belong to the complete subject or complete predicate
Stands “absolutely” on its own

22. Examples of Absolute Phrases
The point guard pressed on up the floor, his strength gone.
Absolute?
= his strength gone
Our money having been spent, we left the mall with our purchases.
= our money having been spent

23. Let’s Review! Prepositional phrases function as what?
Adjectives or adverbs
Appositives describe what?
Nouns
Participles function as what?
Adjectives
Gerunds function as what?
Infinitives function as what?
Nouns, adjectives, or adverbs

24. Keep Reviewing! Appositives begin with what?
Noun or pronoun
Participles end with what?
-ing for present/ -ed or irregular form for past
Gerunds end with what?
-ing
Infinitives are formed how?
to + verb
Absolutes are formed how?
Noun or pronoun + participle/ participial phrase