Phrases-D5

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 * 1. What is a //phrase//?**


 * A. Definition:** A sequence of words intended to have meaning


 * B. Examples:**

a. [|Rule of thumb]

b. [|As good as gold]

c. [|Saved by the bell]

d. [|Now is the winter of our discontent]

e. [|A cock and bull story]


 * 2. What is a gerund phrase?**


 * A. Definition** : includes a present participle ( a verb ending in -ing) plus any complements and modifiers; always acts as a noun


 * B. Examples:**

a. //Flying above the lake// at this time of night seems a little dangerous

b. Bill decided that //scrambling over the pile// of debris was not safe.

c. Andrew continues his crusade to prevent the university from //limiting free speech//.

d. Ethan avoided //doing his homework// because the Ducks were playing the Cougars.

e. The student gathered signatures for //increasing the hours// of the library.


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


 * i. Explanation:** //Gerund phrases// act as nouns and frequently are associated with modifiers and complements, they function as units and can do anything that a noun can do, whereas //participile phrases// are combined with complements and modifiers and become part of important phrasal structures, and always act as adjectives.


 * ii. Examples:**

a. //(gerund)//: //Cramming for tests// is not a good strategy. [gerund=subject]

b. //Present participle):// The stone steps, //having been worn down by generations of students//, needs to be replaced. [modifies "steps"]

c. //(gerund):// John enjoyed //swimming in the lake// after dark. [gerund=object]

d. //(present participle):// //Working around the clock//, the firefighters finally put out the last of the Califrnia brush fires. [modifies "firefighters"]

e. //(gerund):// I'm really not interested in //studying biochemistry// for the rest of my life. [gerund phrase as the object of the preposition in]

f. //(present participle):// The pond, //frozen over since early December//, is now safe for ice-skating. [modifies "pond"]


 * 3. What is an //infinitive phrase//?**


 * A. Definition**: An infinitive phrase will begin with an infinitive [**//to//** + simple form of the verb] and include objects and/or modifiers. Here are some examples:


 * B. Examples:**

a. //To smash a spider//

b. //To kick the ball past the dazed goalie//

c. //To lick the grease from his shiny fingers despite the disapproving glances of his girlfriend Gloria//

d. //To finish her shift without spilling another pizza into a customer's lap//

e. //To win the approval of her mother//


 * C. How do you punctuate an //infinitive phrase//?**


 * i. Explanation:** When an infinitive phrase introduces a main clause, separate the two sentence components with a comma. When an infinitive phrase breaks the flow of a main clause, use a comma both before and after the interrupter. When an infinitive phrase concludes a main clause, you need no punctuation to connect the two sentence components.


 * ii. Examples:**

a. //To avoid burning another bag of popcorn,// Brendan pressed his nose against the microwave door, sniffing suspiciously every five seconds.

b. Those Nike basketball shoes//, to be perfectly honest,// do not complement the suit you are planning to wear to the interview.

c. Janice and her friends went to the mall //to flirt with the cute guys who hang out at the food court//.


 * 4. What is a participial phrase?**


 * A. Definition:** A participial phrase is a group of words consisting of a participle and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the participle

a**. Removing his coat, Jack rushed to the river
 * B. Examples:
 * b.** Delores noticed her cousin walking along the shoreline.
 * c.** Children introduced to music early develop strong intellectual skills.
 * d**. Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the importance of exercise.
 * e**. Smiling, she held her friend’s hand.

a**. Running toward third base, he suddenly realized how stupid he looked
 * C. How do you use a participial phrase as an introductory modifier?**
 * i. Explanation**: You use a participial phrase as an introductory modifier when you insert a comma into the middle of the sentence.
 * ii. Examples:
 * b**. Smiling, she held her friend’s hand
 * c**. Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the importance of exercise.

i. Explanation:** By "parenthetical element," we mean a part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the essential meaning of that sentence.
 * D. How do you use a participial phrase as a parenthetical element?
 * ii. Examples:**
 * a**. The Founders Bridge, which spans the Connecticut River, is falling down.
 * b.** The London Bridge, which is the bridge in London, is falling down
 * c.** He used Smite Rank Two, which is the most powerful move in the entire game, to defeat his foe.

http://www.grammar.uoregon.edu/phrases/ http://www.grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/phrases.htm#gerund http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/infinitivephrase.htm http://www.dictionary.com http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_verbals.html http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm#4
 * Bibliography:**