Phrases

Level Three of Grammar Analysis What is a phrase? What are the types of phrases? Additional facts about phrases: A phrase is a group of words that does not have a subject and a predicate and that acts as a single part of speech. 1.Prepositional Phrases 2.Appositives 3.Verbals Gerunds Participles Infinitives Every phrase is a part of a clause.

Prepositional Phrases Level Three of Grammar Analysis What is a preposition? What is a prepositional phrase? Where will a preposition be in a prepositional phrase? What is the object of the preposition? Examples: A preposition is one of the parts of speech that often shows relationship but can also show direction. (Examples: to, for, from, under, beside, on, in) Prepositional phrases are modifiers. Prepositions are in the “pre-position”—the preposition comes before the rest of the phrase. The object of the preposition is the noun or objective pronoun that follows the preposition and completes the phrase. on the floor, to my mom, beside a table

AppositivesLevel Three of Grammar Analysis What is an appositive? Where does the word “appositive” come from? Other facts about appositives: Examples: An appositive is an interrupting definition. The word appositive comes from the word “appose,” which means to place side by side. Appositives act as either a noun or an adjective by restating the noun. Appositive phrases are plan A for writers. They allow you to explain something immediately instead of having to wait until the next sentence. Appositives are enclosed in commas! Bob, my gray cat, went to the door. Mrs. Dill, the world’s best English teacher, is sick today.

VerbalsLevel Three of Grammar Analysis What is a verbal? Why are verbals weird? Summary: What are the three types of verbals? A verbal is a group of words that look like verbs but are used as nouns. You must see a group of words as one word and one part of speech. The verb form is used as a noun or a modifier. When you see a “verby thingy” in a sentence, and it is not a verb, it is a verbal! 1.Gerund 2.Participle 3.Infinitive

Gerunds – A type of Verbal Phrase Level Three of Grammar Analysis What is a gerund? Examples: A gerund is an –ing verb form used as a noun Gerunds can be the subject, an object, or an object of the preposition. Anything a noun can do, a gerund can do. Clear thinking is good. S I love fishing. S DO Expanding the empire was Alexander’s dream. S DO

Participial – A type of Verbal Phrase Level Three of Grammar Analysis What is a participle? What is an introductory, participial phrase? Example: A participle is any verb form (including the –ing form) used as an adjective. An introductory, participial phrase is a participial phrase that comes at the beginning of the sentence. There are two rules for these phrases: 1.Introductory participial phrases must be set off by a comma. 2.Introductory participial phrases will always modify the subject. Grabbing the rail, Gene leaned out. (The participial phrase, grabbing the rail, modified the noun, Gene, so it is an adjective.)

Errors with Participial Phrases Level Three of Grammar Analysis What are the two errors that people make when using participle phrases? Example of a misplaced modifier: Correction: Example of a dangling modifier: Correction: 1.Misplaced Modifiers – when the noun being modified is in the sentence but not in the correct place 2.Dangling Modifiers – when the noun being modified is not in the sentence at all Chewing the bloody antelope haunch, Robert stared at the lion. (This sentence says that Robert was chewing a bloody antelope haunch. This Participle phrase is a misplaced modifier. It should modify the noun “lion” instead of the noun “Robert.”) Robert stared at the lion chewing the bloody antelope haunch. Sneezing fitfully, the sun felt warm. (This sentence says that the sun was sneezing fitfully. This participle phrase is a dangling modifier because the word that the writer is trying to modify isn’t even in the sentence. We have no idea who was sneezing fitfully.) Sneezing fitfully, I enjoyed the warm sun. X ?

Infinitives – A type of Verbal Phrase Level Three of Grammar Analysis What is an infinitive? Examples: What is a split infinitive? An infinitive is the “to” verb form used as a noun or a modifier. The book to read is Hamlet. Adj N Adj V N S The phrase “to read” is an adjective because it modifies the noun, book. To write the novel took five years. N Adj N V Adj N S DO A split infinitive is an ERROR. We do NOT split infinitives! Example: X I had to really work hard. √ I had to work really hard.

NOW FOR A SMALL WARNING…

One word can make phrases a little tricky: to

The tricky “to” prepositional infinitiveThe word “ to ” is found in BOTH prepositional and infinitive phrases

CAUTION--Don’t mix these up! tofootball stadiumto the football stadium (prepositional) toteacherto the teacher ( prepositional ) torunto run a mile tofinishto finish my homework Prepositional Phrases: Infinitive Phrases:

VERBALS Gerund-ing nounGerrings ParticipleAdjAdjiciples Infinitive“to” verbTofinitives

Phrase Practice Copy the following 5 sentences skipping 4 lines between each one. Then, complete a 3 Level Grammar Analysis of each sentence. Rollo, the shaggy dog, barked. Eating ice cream is fun. Breaking a pencil, Sam laughed. I want to write a book. He stood on the dock.

4 Level Grammar Analysis Rollo, the shaggy dog, barked. Parts of Speech Parts of a Sentence Phrases Clauses n adj adj n v S AV (intransitive) ……………… … Appositive ____________________

4 Level Grammar Analysis Eating ice cream is fun. Parts of Speech Parts of a Sentence Phrases Clauses n v adj S LV SC ……………… … Gerund ___________________

4 Level Grammar Analysis Breaking a pencil, Sam laughed. Parts of Speech Parts of a Sentence Phrases Clauses v adj n n v S AV (intransitive) ……………… … Introductory Participle ______________________

4 Level Grammar Analysis I want to write a book. Parts of Speech Parts of a Sentence Phrases Clauses pro v prep v adj n S AV DO ………….. Infinitive __________