Phrases-G5

= II. Phrases =

1. What is a //phrase//?
A. Definition: A phrase is a syntactic structure that consists of more than one word but lacks the subject-predicate organization of a clause. B. Examples:

a. **A major earthquake** hit the area last night.

b. **Listening to music** is one form of relaxation.

c. They **may have been eating** when I called.

d. **leaving behind the dog** e. **smashing into a fence**

2. What is a //gerund phrase//?
A. Definition: begins with a gerund, an **-ing word**, and might include other modifiers and/or objects

B. Examples:

a. **Eating ice cream on a windy day** can be a messy experience if you have long, untamed hair.

b. A more disastrous activity for long-haired people is **blowing giant bubble gum bubbles** with the car windows down.

c. Wild food adventures require **getting your hair cut** to a short, safe length

d. **running down the street** can be hazardous if your incredibly long hair causes you to trip.

e. **falling from the sky** is a great experience.

C. What is the difference between a //gerund phrase// and a //present participle phrase//?

i. Explanation:The difference is that a gerund phrase will always function as a noun while a present participle phrase has the job of modifying another word in the sentence.

ii. Examples:

a. (//Gerund//)The student gathered signatures for **increasing the hours** of the library

b. (//Present Participle//) I **am eating**

c. (//Gerund)//

d. (//Present Participle//)

e. (//Gerund//)

f. (//Present Participle//)

3. What is an //infinitive phrase//?
A. Definition: An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word //to// plus a verb (in its simplest "stem" form) and functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb. The term //verbal// indicates that an infinitive, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. However, the infinitive may function as a subject, direct object, subject complement, adjective, or adverb in a sentence. Although an infinitive is easy to locate because of the //to// + verb form, deciding what function it has in a sentence can sometimes be confusing.

B. Examples:

a.We intended //to leave early.//

b.I have a paper //to write before class.//

c.Phil agreed //to give me a ride//.

d.They asked //me to bring some food.//

e.Everyone wanted //Carol to be the captain of the team.//

C. How do you punctuate an //infinitive phrase//?
i. Explanation: If the infinitive is used as an adverb and is the beginning phrase in a sentence, it should be set off with a comma; otherwise, no punctuation is needed for an infinitive phrase.

ii. Examples:

a. //To buy a basket of flowers,// John had to spend his last dollar.

b. //To improve your writing//, you must consider your purpose and audience.

c. //To wait comely, is// a sign of patience.

4. What is a participial phrase?
A. Definition: includes the participle and the object of the participle or any words modified by or related to the participle.

B. Examples:

a. The car sliding out of control toward building is going to hit the window.

b. Cameron spotted his brother throwing rocks at the passing cars.

c. The astronaut chosen to ride the space shuttle to Mars is afraid of heights.

d. Running down the street, Alicia tripped and fell.

e. Penned in by other runners, Steve was unable to make a break for the finish line.

C. How do you use a participial phrase as an introductory modifier?
i. Explanation: A participial phrase is followed by a comma when used as an introductory modifier, that sets up the situation or adds additional information.

ii. Examples:

a. Working around the clock, the firefighters finally put out the last of the California brush fires.

b. Running all night, Joe finished the race against all expectations.

c. Walking very slowly, I was able to sneak up on my unsuspecting friend.

D. How do you use a participial phrase as a parenthetical element?
i. Explanation: A participial phrase that modifies the sentence and is found somewhere in the body of the sentence.

ii. Examples:

a. The stone steps, having been worn down by generations of students, needed to be replaced

b. The pond, frozen over since early December, is now safe for ice-skating.

c. The cat, lying under the warm sun, reached nirvana and was oblivious to its surrounding.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_verbals.html

http://grammar.uoregon.edu/phrases/participialP.html http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/phrases.htm http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsAPhrase.htm http://www.geocities.com/ninaleeb/engl/phrases.htm http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/wheeler/gram_clauses_n_phrases.html http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/gerundphrase.htm