1. All about
Phrases

2. PHRASES Types of Phrases Noun Phrase Verb Phrase Gerund Phrase
Infinitive Phrase
Participial Phrase
Prepositional Phrase
Absolute Phrase
Appositive

3. PHRASES Noun Phrase Verb Phrase Basic Phrases Gerund Phrase
Infinitive Phrase
Participial Phrase
Prepositional Phrase
Absolute Phrase
Appositive

4. PHRASES Gerund Phrase Infinitive Phrase Participial Phrase
Verbal Phrases
Noun Phrase
Verb Phrase
Gerund Phrase
Infinitive Phrase
Participial Phrase
Prepositional Phrase
Absolute Phrase
Appositive

5. PHRASES a noun with modifiers includes articles and other adjectives
Noun Phrases
a noun with modifiers
includes articles and other adjectives

6. PHRASES
Noun Phrase Examples
water
a new book
incredibly good fortune

7. PHRASES a verb includes auxiliary (helping) verbs and adverbs
Verb Phrases
a verb
includes auxiliary (helping) verbs and adverbs

8. PHRASES go could have gone might have very quickly went
Verb Phrase Examples go
could have gone
might have very quickly went

9. Verbals

10. These phrases act as nouns or modifiers
There are three
verbal phrases
These phrases act as nouns or modifiers

11. Gerund Phrase
Participial phrase
Infinitive Phrase

12. VERBAL PHRASES use the "~ing" form of a verb act as nouns
Gerund Phrases
use the "~ing" form of a verb
act as nouns
can be replaced by pronouns
can appear in the subject or direct-object positions in a sentence

13. VERBAL PHRASES Studying English is easy.
Gerund Phrases
Studying English is easy.
However, you may not enjoy understanding English.
It is easy.
However, you may not enjoy it.

14. VERBAL PHRASES act as modifiers can modify subjects or whole sentences
Participial Phrases
act as modifiers
can modify subjects or whole sentences
may appear in present ("~ing") or past ("~ed") form
can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence
are set off from the main clause by commas

15. VERBAL PHRASES
Participial Phrases
Pulling hard on his leash, Ponta eagerly started his walk.
Confused by the loud sounds, Ponta started barking.

16. VERBAL PHRASES Frightened by the loud sounds, Ponta started barking.
Participial Phrases
Frightened by the loud sounds, Ponta started barking.
Ponta, frightened by the loud sounds, started barking.
Ponta started barking, frightened by the loud sounds.

17. VERBAL PHRASES
Participial Phrases
Participial Phrases can also modify predicates and objects, and do not use commas in that case:
He was able to open the door using his key. (modifies predicate)
He bought a necklace made of gold. (modifies object)

18. and participial phrases are commonly mistaken for each other
Gerund phrases
and participial phrases
are commonly mistaken
for each other
because both use
the -ing form of the verb.

19. “I am excited!”
“I am exciting!”

20. Gerund vs. Participial Phrases
VERBAL PHRASES
Gerund vs. Participial Phrases
Gerund Phrases:
act as nouns
appear in a noun position
can be replaced with pronouns
Participial Phrases:
act as modifiers
can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence
are usually separated from the main sentence by commas

21. VERBAL PHRASES
Infinitive Phrases

22. VERBAL PHRASES use "to" + the base form of the verb
Infinitive Phrases
use "to" + the base form of the verb
can act either as a noun or as a modifier

23. VERBAL PHRASES George wants to pass the test tomorrow. (noun)
Infinitive Phrases
George wants to pass the test tomorrow. (noun)
His plan to cheat is a bad idea, however. (modifier)

24. prepositional PHRASES
modify based upon time, place, cause, and manner.
are made up of a preposition and a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase
These nouns are called objects of the preposition
Prepositions are often unique and used differently, case by case; they require a great amount of study and practice and cannot be understood with a simple rule, or used creatively as you like.

25. prepositional PHRASES
You must be careful to place the prepositional phrase close to the words it modifies so you can avoid confusion:
We will talk about the problem of cheating in my office. x
In my office, we will talk about the problem of cheating.  o
We will talk in my office about the problem of cheating. o

26. Appositive PHRASES
a double noun phrase which clarifies or adds extra information about the noun
can be essential or non-essential
essential appositives use no comma
non-essential appositives use commas

27. Appositive PHRASES My brother, Tito, moved back to America last year.
I went to see Spielberg's new movie Lincoln last night.
I told my brother Tito that I will be visiting for Christmas.
I told my brother, Tito, that I will be visiting for Christmas.

28. Absolute PHRASES
a noun phrase followed by either a prepositional phrase or a participial phrase
act as modifiers
usually are separated by commas
often describe something which clarifies a situation or sets an emotional tone

29. Absolute PHRASES Billy left for the candy store.
Ten dollars in his pocket, Billy left for the candy store.
Marsha waited by the front door.
Marsha waited by the front door, her suitcase packed and ready.
Bruce spoke to the girl sitting next to him.
His wedding ring in his pocket, Bruce spoke to the girl sitting next to him.