Learning about Phrases

A phrase is a group of words that does NOT include a subject and a verb and CANNOT stand alone as a sentence.

Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition

and end with the object of the preposition.

Common prepositions:

about above according to across after against

ahead of along among around as of because of

before behind below beneath beside between

beyond by by means of despite down during except

for from in in addition to in back of

in place of instead of into like near next to of

off on onto opposite out out of outside over

past prior to since through throughout till to

toward under underneath until up upon with

within without

An adjectival phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun by telling what kind or which one.

Examples: Which library? the library across the road

What kind of book? a book of poetry

An adverbial phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a

verb, adjective, or an adverb by pointing out where, why, when,

in what way, or to what extent.

Examples: Where? The yarn rolled across the floor.

We are going to Nita’s house.

Why? I was worried by the weather report.

When? The bus will reach Miami before noon.

In what way? He walked with a limp.

Punctuating Introductory Prepositional PhrasesRule: If an introductory prepositional phrase is short

(3 words or fewer), do not place a comma after it, unless it

could be confusing to the reader.

Examples: In the morning we will run three miles.

After fifth period there will be a pep rally.

Rule: If an introductory prepositional phrase is long

(4 words or more), place a comma at the end of the phrase.

Examples: According to the roll , this class has 47 students.

Against my father’s advice , I decided to attend

Texas A&M.

2 phrases: At the end of a long day , everyone was ready to go home.

Infinitive Phrases

An infinitive phrase generally appears with the word to in

front of it and a verb directly after the word to.

An infinitive = to + a verb

Examples: Anne’s family likes to eat later in the day .

To understand history requires reading and studying.

She didn’t want to leave Chicago .

To calm herself down , Susan drank a cup of hot tea.

These are prepositional phrases, not infinitive phrases:

to the car to school to the teacher to her

Worksheet Exercise #1 with Prepositional and Infinitive Phrases

Exercise 1: Circle the prepositional phrases and underline the infinitive phrases. Place commas where they are needed for introductory prepositional and infinitive phrases.

1. To maintain your health you should exercise on a regular basis.

2. Underneath the living room couch we found three dog bones and

my homework from Monday.

3. The plan to have a fire drill was cancelled because of the rain.

4. With a sigh Nelda drove away from the high school

for the last time.

5. My job at the arboretum was to trim the trees

and to water the plants.

Appositive Phrases

An appositive phrase identifies, renames, or explains a noun or pronoun.

In other words, an appositive tellswho a person is or what a thing is.

Appositive phrases usually come immediately before or after the word that they identify, rename, or explain.

Examples: Mr. Wilson , my next-door neighbor , donated three paintings to the local

museum.

My sister Debbie has two grandchildren.(I have more than one sister)

The tragedy Romeo and Juliet is typically studied by freshmen.

John’s sister , Mary , has one grandchild.(John has only one sister.)

Jane’s husband , Don , is an engineer.(Jane has only one husband)

The school committee , a group of students

and parents , planned the spring dance.

Miss Strangeworth , the main character ,seems to live a gracious life.

Punctuating Appositive Phrases

Rule: If the appositive phrase could be omitted from the

sentence without altering the basic meaning of the sentence, it

is nonessential (nonrestrictive), and commas should be

placed around the phrase.

Rule: If the appositive phrase is essential (restrictive) to the

meaning of the sentence, do not set the phrase off with

commas.

In other words, if you don’t need the information in the

appositive, you do need commas. If you do need the

information in the appositive, you don’t need commas.

Worksheet Exercise #2

Exercise 2: Underline the appositive or appositive phrase. Place commas where they are needed in the following sentences:

1. Tom’s wife Molly decided to go back to college for her teaching degree.

2. The television show Under the Dome is one of my favorites.

3. Harvey Coleman a famous magician is coming to town this weekend.

4. I am doing a project about anatomy the study of the structure of one’s body.

5. The chef prepared a pita a Mediterranean sandwich.

Worksheet Exercise #3

Exercise 3: Combine these sentences into one sentence with an appositive or appositive phrase. Punctuate correctly.

1. My brother graduated from Baylor University.

Ben is my brother. (I have two brothers.)

Baylor University is an excellent school.

2. The quarterback scrambled for a touchdown and won the game.

The quarterback is Damon Timms. (only one quarterback)

3. William Shakespeare wrote many plays that are still performed

and studied today.

He is a famous author.

4. I chose dark green for the shutters on the house.

Dark green is my favorite color.

Participial Phrases

A participle LOOKS like a verb, but it is NOT a verb.

A participle is an ADJECTIVE used to modify a noun or pronoun.

Participles answer the question What kind? or Which one?

Examples: Which tiles? Replace the shattered tiles.

What kind of child? Delighted, the child laughed at the clown.

A participial phrase includes the participle and any modifiers or complements.

Examples: Traveling quickly, we arrived on time.

Avoiding delays, we arrived on time.

The rabbit hopping along the fence is my pet.

The dress designed by Ellen won an award.

Downtown Dallas has a park built over a highway.

Practice Recognizing Participial Phrases

Find the participle or participial phrase in these sentences.The verb of each sentence is highlighted in yellow.

1. Jumping to their feet, the audience clapped for five minutes

after Jon’s moving speech. (2)

2. Finally finished with her chores, Barbara put away the

laundered shirts. (2)

3. The student staring out the window didn’t hear the homework

assignment. (1)

4. Painted in the early 1500s, the Mona Lisa is a masterpiece

admired by millions. (2)

5. Tired of the inconvenience, we finally installed running water

in our lake cabin this summer. (2)

Punctuating Participial PhrasesRule: An introductory participial phrase should be followed by a comma.

Stretching slowly , the cat woke from its nap.

Rule: A participial phrase that is essential to the meaning of the sentence should not have commas around it.

The boy waiting at the bus stop is Mark.

NOTE: There is more than one boy in the area, so the phrase is essential to understanding which boy is being

referred to. Therefore, there should be no commas.

Rule: A participial phrase that merely adds information is nonessential, so it should be set off with commas.

There is Mark , waiting at the bus stop.

NOTE: The participial phrase merely adds information about Mark, so it is nonessential. Therefore, it should be

set off with commas.

Worksheet Exercise #4

Exercise 4: Underline the participles or participial phrases in these sentences. Add commas as needed.

The verb of each sentence is highlighted in yellow.

1. Raising his arms in victory Jack sprinted across the finish line to

the shouts of the excited crowd. (2)

2. Damaged by an earthquake the Washington Monument was closed

for repairs ordered by a team of engineers. (2)

3. Getting down on one knee Colton proposed to a startled Jessica. (2)

4. The tiny mouse crept into a tree hollowed out by decay. (1)

5. Keeping an eye on the casserole in the oven Mom mashed the

steaming potatoes. (2)

Combining Sentences to Form a Participial Phrase

Participial phrases can often be used to combine information from two sentences into one so that the writing is more sophisticated.

S H.V.

Two sentences: We were exhausted by the climb up the mountain.

We rested by the side of the trail.

To form the participial phrase, drop the subject and the helping verb, if there is one.

Combined: Exhausted by the climb up the mountain , we rested by the side of the trail.

Two sentences: We drank coffee.

We shared stories about our lives.

To form the participial phrase, drop the subject and change the verb to the –ing form in the 1st sentence:

Combined: Drinking coffee , we shared stories about our lives.

Two sentences: The tornado did not hit our area.

The tornado was forecasted earlier today.S H.V.

To form the participial phrase, drop the subject and the helping verb in the 2nd sentence.

Combined: The tornado forecasted earlier today did not hit our area.

There are no commas in the combined sentence because the participial phrase is essential to the meaning.

PracticeCombining Sentences to Form

a Participial Phrase

Practice: Combine the two sentences into one sentence with a participial phrase.

Change the yellow highlighted sentence into a participial phrase by dropping the subject and the helping verb, if there is one.

If there is no helping verb to drop, change the main verb to its –ing form.

Punctuate correctly.

1. Shelia heard strange noises outside her bedroom window.

Shelia pulled the covers over her head.

2. The car belongs to my uncle Pete.

The car is parked in front of our house. (Change this sentence.)

3. The doctor peered down John’s throat. (Change John’s to his.)

The doctor told John to say, “Ahh.”

4. Bus #3 pulled in front of the elementary school.

Bus #3 was crowded with tired children.

(Change the second sentence. Place the participial phrase after the

subject of the first sentence. Punctuate correctly.)

Worksheet Exercise #5

Exercise 5: Combine the two sentences into one sentence containing a participial phrase. Punctuate as needed.

1. Rob stood on the edge of the precipice.

Rob stared at the crashing waves below.

2. Maria glanced out the kitchen window.

Maria was startled to see a policeman run by.

3. The school bus driver turned down a road.

The road was filled with deep potholes.

4. The tow truck driver swerved in and out of traffic.

The tow truck driver headed for the accident scene.

5. Les carried his little sister in his arms.

Les escaped from the burning house.

6. The canceled bank check was carried by the tornado.

The canceled bank check landed two hundred miles away.

7. Sue wore a smile on her face.

Sue greeted her guests.

8. The words were worn by time and weather.

The words on the tombstone were barely readable.

9. Al chose his words carefully.

Al testified in the classroom.

Answers to Worksheet Exercise #5

1. Standing on the edge of the precipice, Rob stared at the crashing waves below.

2. Glancing out the kitchen window, Maria was startled to see a policeman run by.

3. The school bus driver turned down a road filled with deep potholes.

4. Swerving in and out of traffic, the tow truck driver headed for the accident scene.

5. Carrying his little sister in his arms, Les escaped from the burning house.

6. Carried by the tornado, the canceled bank check landed two hundred miles away.

7. Wearing a smile on her face, Sue greeted her guests.

8. Worn by time and weather, the words on the tombstone were barely readable.

9. Choosing his words carefully, Al testified in the courtroom.