WEEK 3 -- Phrases

WEEK 3 – PHRASES

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

Prepositional Phrases:  These phrases are either adjectives or adverbs depending upon how they are used.  A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun.

            Examples:

· At the high school, Mr. Thompson taught history.  (adverbial modifying taught)

· The gym at the high school is sold out for the big game.  (adjectival modifying gym)

· In 1892, James Corbett became the heavy weight champion of boxing.  (first phrase is and adverb; second phrase is an adjective)

            Same phrase used two different ways:

· Ann found in her drink a fly.  (adverb phrase modifying found)

· The fly in her drink bothered Ann.  (adj. phrase modifying bee)

· From the shore, Randy caught fifteen catfish.  (adverb modifying caught)

· Greg visited his friend from the shore of Lake Superior.  (adj. modifying friend)

PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

Participial Phrases:  These phrases function as adjectives and contain a present or past participle.  Participles all tend to end in “’ing” (present participle), “-ed,” “-d,” “-en,” “-n,” or “-t” with a few exceptions like “swum” and “hung.”  Participial phrases are made up of a participle along with an object or modifier or both.  These adjective phrases are usually placed as near as possible to the words they modify.  Participles are the third and fourth principle parts of verbs.

            Examples:

· Fortified against an attack, Macbeth’s army almost deserted their leader.

· Singing “Aida” in the shower, Gary annoyed his roommates. 

· Marching in the parade, Patrick showed his Irish pride.

· Dedicated to the health of the poor, Mother Theresa helped others.

· Thrashing the shore with great force, the storm pounded the rocky coast of Maine.

GERUND PHRASES

Gerund Phrases:  Like any noun, a gerund phrase can function as a subject, direct object, indirecto object, object of the preposition, or predicate nominative.  The gerund phrase is made up of the present participle (“-ing”) and can contain an object and/or a modifier (and sometimes many modifiers).  The gerund is a verbal noun.

            Examples:

            Gerund phrase as a subject:

· Making the varsity team is a challenging endeavor.

· Selling boats demands product knowledge.

Gerund phrase as a direct object:

· My father once considered swimming the English Channel.

· The rookie catchers practiced protecting the plate.

Gerund phrase as an indirect object:

· If students give learning grammar a fair chance, their writing will improve.

· My brother once gave swinging a golf club his undivided attention.

Gerund phrase as an Object of the Preposition:

· Local authorities tried to control mosquitoes by spraying insecticide.

· Carrie got first prize by memorizing the most poetry.

Gerund phrase as a Predicate Nominative:

· Kathy’s hobby was collecting unusual bottles.

· Robyn’s greatest accomplishment is singing in the opera.

· Hank’s strength in hockey was slashing from the left.

APPOSITIVES AND APPOSITIVE PHRASES

Appositive:  An appositive is always a noun.  Usually it follows immediately after a noun, is sometimes set off by commas, and renames or emphasizes the noun it follows.  Appositives are the words or phrases that explain or add information to the noun it follows.  Appositives never contain verbs.

            Examples: 

· Barron’s, a publisher of books, boasts of the finest employees.

· The Northfield Historical Society, a local organization, gives tours at the museum.

One word “name” appositives usually do not need commas, but there is a caution here.  If there are more of the group, then no commas are needed.  In the example below, if there are more brothers or sisters, you would not use commas to set apart the appositive.  No commas means restrictive; restrictive means that if you take that element out of the sentence, the sentence changes its meaning.  The element is essential and therefore no commas.  Putting commas around an appositive tells the readers that this part of the sentence is not absolutely necessary or needed, but it does add to the information of the sentence.

Example:

· My brother Mark lives in France but works in Switzerland.

For the sake of variety, the appositive might appear before the noun.

            Examples:

· The owner of the gallery, Kevin Hanson, won a grant to fund a new art show.

· The most outstanding writing teacher, Mrs. Prichard, teaches three classes at CHAT.

RESTRICTIVE/ NONRESTRICTIVE

When you have nonrestrictive (nonessential) elements in a sentence, set them off with commas.  You must decide if the information is essential or not.  If the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence, you have a restrictive phrase or clause, and you do not use commas.

            Examples:

· The little boy who was wearing the blue sweater is lost. (this phrase contains important details)

· The little boy, who didn’t seem to like his lunch, is lost.  (this phrase doesn’t add essential information to the main idea of the sentence)

The use of “that” implies a restrictive (essential) phrase or clause, so no commas are needed.

            Examples:

· People who live near Gus are lucky because he shares from his garden. (restrictive, no commas)

· Cindy, who is my favorite cousin, is a good writer.  (nonrestrictive, use commas)

· Grandma, wearing her bonnet and Grandpa’s coveralls, should not spend too much time weeding the garden.  (nonrestrictive, use commas)

· People who like the beach are hard to find.  (restrictive, no commas)

· Restrooms that are dirty ought to be illegal.  (restrictive, no commas)

· The garden, which was beautiful, contained many varieties of tomatoes.  (nonrestrictive, use commas)

INFINITIVE PHRASES

Infinitive Phrases:  Infinitive phrases can be used as three parts of speech:  noun, adjective, or adverb.  An infinitive phrase will begin with an infinitive (to + simple for of the verb).  It may include direct objects and/or modifiers

            Examples:

· To finish her shift without spilling was Michelle’s only goal.  (functions as a noun)

· Connor hopes to win the approval of his coach by showing up early for practice. (functions as a noun)

· The best way to survive Mrs. Prichard’s class is counting backwards from 100 until class is over. (functions as an adjective)

· Calvin, an aspiring doctor, is taking British Literature to give himself a well-rounded education. (functions as an adverb – “why”)

When an infinitive phrase introduces a sentence and is followed by the main clause, separate the sections with a comma.