Phrases A PHRASE is a group of words

Phrases

A PHRASE is a group of words that work together in a sentence but is MISSING a subject, a predicate, or both. Reminder: -a VERB phrase is a main verb and all its helping verbs. -a PREPOSITIONAL phrase is a preposition followed by the object of a preposition and any of its modifiers Circle the main verb and underline the entire verb phrase in the following sentences. 1. She was walking quickly to the mall. 2. He should wait before going swimming. 3. Those students are not trying very hard. 4. My mother is fixing us some dinner. 5. Why are these only phrases and not clauses? (Hint: What is missing? ) Circle the preposition and underline the entire prepositional phrase in the following sentences. 6. According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow. 7. I have always wanted to live near the ocean. 8. The book with the tattered cover has been read many times. 9. Tell me about last night. 10. Why are these only phrases and not clauses? (Hint: What is missing? )

An INFINITIVE phrase is an infinitive verb and its modifiers (like direct objects or adverbs). Infinitives in English always start with “to” + a verb. Circle the infinitive verb in the following sentences. 1. The doctor gave me something to take for my stomachache. 2. I am not ready to go to the park yet. (Careful! This is a tricky question). 3. Some of the words on the test were hard to define. 4. Holly had a really heavy backpack to carry. Circle the infinitive verb and underline the entire infinitive phrase in the following sentences. 5. We needed to delay the game because of the weather. 6. Does #5 contain a DO, and adverb, or both? 7. Ben refused to watch the scary movie. 8. Does #7 contain a DO, and adverb, or both? 9. I need to run quickly to catch my bus on time. 10. Does #9 contain a DO, and adverb, or both?

There are other types of phrases other than the three we have learned. However, the rule still applies – a phrase is MISSING a subject, predicate, or both. Some of these sentences have different types of phrases in them. Are the following underlined words PHRASES or CLAUSES? Write P or C above the underlined words. 1. Overshoes were once called arctics since they were used in cold climates. 2. The house fly has five eyes located on the upper part of its head. 3. When the sun is close to the horizon, it looks larger. 4. The king issued a proclamation against shooting bears in the region. 5. The growth of a tree splits the bark vertically, producing ridges. 6. While red lights repel birds, white lights attract them. 7. The poet Aeschylus was reportedly killed by a tortoise falling on his head. 8. A full moon appears larger as it emerges from behind clouds. 9. A computer needs to be fixed now. 10. I get worried when other people are sick.

Are the following underlined words PHRASES or CLAUSES? Write P or C above the underlined words. 1. In the far western Pacific, just north of the equator, lies a newly formed nation of islands. 2. Actually, people have lived on the Micronesian Islands for a long time. 3. Basalt temples on the island of Pohnpei show that there was a civilized society there as far back as 1300 A. D. 4. Administered by Europeans and Americans for about 150 years, the islands have only recently received their independence. 5. Spaniards claimed the islands in the 1500’s, although they did not interfere with the islanders until the late 1800 s. 6. In 1899, Germany bought the islands to harvest the coconut oil there.