Hierarchy of Word Units Phrase Clause Simple sentence Complex sentence Compound sentence Compound-complex sentence

Words We’re all very familiar with single words at this point of our academic careers, I hope! Onto the next slide…

Phrase A group of words that stand together as a single unit Usually part of a clause or sentence Does NOT contain a subject and a verb Does NOT express a complete thought

Examples of Phrases believing in Santa Claus my mother saddened by the news in a department store

How Words and Phrases Function in a Sentence Sometimes a word or phrase appears to be a verb when, in fact, it’s something else. It’s important to look at the function that a word or phrase plays in a sentence before determining its part of speech.

3 Types of Phrases participial phrases gerund phrases prepositional phrases

A Participial Phrase Is a Verb Form That… Acts like an adjective in a sentence Describes nouns/pronouns in the sentence Ends with –ing, –ed, -en

Examples of Participial Phrases Shivering, the couple ran out of the building. The sobbing child held his injured knee. Stir the beaten eggs into the batter. Injured during the soccer match, Marco had to leave the field. Identify the noun each participial is describing in each sentence.

Find the participial words and phrases. Leaping into the air, the dancer thrilled the audience. Smiling, I opened my birthday present. I shook the wrapped gift before opening it. I refused to eat the burned potatoes.

Find the participial words and phrases. Leaping into the air, the dancer thrilled the audience. Smiling, I opened my birthday present. I shook the wrapped gift before opening it. I refused to eat the burned potatoes.

Prepositional Phrases Begin with a preposition End with an object of the preposition Show the relationship between two things or objects

Examples of Prepositional Phrases under the bridge behind the sofa next to the bookcase in front of me to Matthew from my grandmom for Jessie

Frequently-Used Prepositions

Gerund Phrases Different from participial phrases! Act as NOUNS, not as adjectives End with -ing

Examples of Gerund Phrases Biting one’s nails is a bad habit. (What THING is a bad habit?) Bernie hates eating liver and onions. (What does Bernie hate?) Studying nightly is a good idea. (What’s a good idea?)

Clauses Contain a subject and a verb Express a complete thought Can be dependent or independent

Independent Clauses Also called MAIN clauses Can stand on their own Are complete sentences Ex.– John threw the ball.

Dependent Clauses Also called subordinate clauses CANNOT stand on their own Are fragments that begin with SUBORDINATORS

Examples of Dependent Clauses When John threw the ball If John throws the ball Because John threw the ball Until John throws the ball

Frequently-Used Subordinators

Clauses Can Act Like Adverbs, Adjectives, and Nouns Sometimes a clause can serve as (or function as) an adverb by telling how Joe walked, to what extent he walked, where he walked, or when he walked. Or a clause can describe a noun and act like an adjective. A clause might even function as a noun in a sentence.

Dependent clauses can act like ADVERBS. Called ADVERB CLAUSES Tell how someone does something Tell to what extent Tell where Tell when Tell why

Examples of Adverb Clauses Tom scrubbed until his arms ached. Dana cooked eggs because she could easily chew them. Our dog barked once he heard Dad’s car pull into the garage. Hide the gifts wherever the children won’t look for them.

Dependent clauses can act like ADJECTIVES. Called ADJECTIVE CLAUSES Provide a description Begin with relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, that, which or with relative adverbs: when, where, why

Dependent clauses can act like ADJECTIVES. They tell: What kind How many Which one

Examples of ADJECTIVE CLAUSES Broccoli, which people often leave uneaten, is very nutritious. The vegetables that kids won’t eat are often the most healthy. Never go to a doctor whose plants have died. Grandpa remembers the old days when there was no television. What’s being described in each sentence?

Noun Clauses Are Dependent Clauses That… Act as nouns Begin with words like how, that, what, whatever, when, whether, which, whichever, who, whomever, why Can act as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, objects of the preposition, or predicate nominatives

Examples of Noun Clauses Whoever thought of this is a genius. (subject) On weekends, we can do whatever we want. (direct object) Choose a gift for whomever you want. (object of the preposition) The focus of the report is how students learn best. (predicate nominative for linking verb is) Always give whichever audience you perform for a great show. (indirect object)