PHRASES AND CLAUSES PHRASES There are five types

PHRASES AND CLAUSES

PHRASES � There are five types of phrases. They are: Appositive Phrases Participial Phrases Prepositional Phrases Infinitive Phrases Gerund Phrases � RULE: Unlike clauses, phrases lack either a subject or a verb and cannot stand on their own.

APPOSITIVES & APPOSITIVE PHRASES � Appositives are nouns or pronouns that follow and rename another noun or pronoun. � Appositive phrases are similar to appositives, only they contain more than one word.

APPOSITIVES & APPOSITIVE PHRASES � RULE: Appositives and appositive phrases must always be set apart from the rest of the sentence with commas or dashes. � RULE: Appositives and appositive phrases are not a necessary part of the sentence. The rest of the sentence still makes sense if you remove the appositives.

APPOSITIVES & APPOSITIVE PHRASES EXAMPLES My dog, Diego, loves to play. • Diego is the appositive in this sentence. • Diego renames my dog. • Diego is set apart from the rest of the sentence with commas. • The main sentence in this example is: My dog loves to play. Cash, my other dog, prefers to have his belly rubbed. • My other dog is the appositive phrase in this sentence. • My other dog renames Cash. • My other dog is set apart from the rest of the sentence with commas. • The main sentence in this example is: Cash prefers to have his belly rubbed.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES � Prepositional phrases are groups of words beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun, pronoun, or verbal. � A prepositional phrase can function in a sentence as an adjective or an adverb. � Occasionally, a prepositional phrase can function as a noun.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES � When the prepositional phrase comes between the subject and the verb, it is almost always functioning as an adjective modifying the subject. � NOTE: It is said that a sentence should not end with a preposition. This is usually true. However, in everyday language, prepositions are sometimes used to end a sentence. Always consider your audience when deciding whether or not to end a sentence with a preposition.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES EXAMPLES I want a room with a view. • With is the preposition in this sentence. • With a view is the prepositional phrase. • The prepositional phrase is being used as an adjective, describing the room. His house is on the lake. • On is the preposition in this sentence. • On the lake is the prepositional phrase. • The prepositional phrase is being used as an adverb, describing where the house is located. No one in the room could • In and for are prepositions. sit still for five minutes. • In the room is a prepositional phrase, being used as an adjective to describe no one. • For five minutes is a prepositional phrase, being used as an adverb describing how long.

GERUND PHRASES � A gerund phrase includes a gerund, modifiers, and objects. � Like a gerund, the gerund phrase can function as the subject, the direct object, or the object of the preposition. � RULE: A gerund phrase, like other noun structures, can be replaced by it or something, and the sentence will still make sense.

GERUND PHRASES EXAMPLES Writing long essays can be fun. • Writing is the gerund. • Writing long essays is the gerund phrase. • The gerund phrase is functioning as the subject in this sentence. Her favorite summer activity is playing tennis. • Playing is the gerund. • Playing tennis is the gerund phrase. • The gerund phrase is functioning as the predicate nominative. The class was excited about experimenting with plants. • Experimenting is the gerund. • Experimenting with plants is the gerund phrase (with is also a preposition). • The gerund phrase is functioning as the object of the preposition, about.

PARTICIPIAL PHRASES � A participial phrase includes a participle, modifiers, and objects. � Participial phrases can be moved in a sentence, but must be placed and punctuated carefully, in order to convey the proper meaning. � RULE: If a participial phrase comes at the beginning or end of a sentence, it must be set apart from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

PARTICIPIAL PHRASES � Normally, a participial phrase begins the sentence and is followed by the subject that it modifies. � If the subject is not placed correctly or if the participial phrase does not modify the subject, it is called a dangling participle or a dangling modifier.

PARTICIPIAL PHRASES EXAMPLES OF DANGLING MODIFIERS Oozing slowly across the floor, Marvin watched the salad dressing. Coming out of the market, the bananas fell on the pavement. She handed out brownies to the children stored in tupperware. I smelled the oysters coming down the stairs for dinner. I brushed my teeth after eating with Crest Toothpaste. Driving like a maniac, the deer was hit and killed. With his tail held high, my father led his prize poodle around the arena.

PARTICIPIAL PHRASES EXAMPLES Hanging from his drawer, Steven found his underwear. • Hanging from his drawer is the participial phrase. • The participial phrase modifies the direct object, his underwear. • The sentence contains a dangling participle, because the participial phrase immediately precedes the subject. • It sounds like Steven is the one hanging from his drawer. Dropping her suitcases, we saw Suzanne • Dropping her suitcases is the participial run toward us. phrase. • The participial phrase modifies the direct object, Suzanne. • Like the example above, this sentence contains a dangling participle.

PARTICIPIAL PHRASES EXAMPLES Running down the hall, Mackenzie bumped into the principal. • Running down the hall is the participial phrase. • The participial phrase modifies the subject, Mackenzie. • This sentence is structured correctly. Hoping to help the team win, Bobby shot the basketball. • Hoping to help the team win is the participial phrase. • The participial phrase modifies the subject, Bobby. • This sentence is structured correctly.

INFINITIVE PHRASES �An infinitive phrase includes an infinitive, modifiers, and objects. He likes to eat pepperoni pizza. • What are the components of this sentence? • What are the parts of the infinitive phrase? My dog likes to drink flavored coffee. • What are the components of this sentence? • What are the parts of the infinitive phrase?

CLAUSES �There are two types of clauses. They are: �Independent clauses �Dependent clauses �Clauses MUST have both a subject and a verb.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSES �Independent clauses are also called main clauses. �Every sentence must have at least one independent clause. �An independent clause can always stand alone. �An independent clause does not start with a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction.

DEPENDENT CLAUSES �Dependent clauses are also called subordinate clauses. �A dependent clause can never stand alone. �A dependent clause starts with a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction. �Dependent clauses can act as adverbs, adjectives, or nouns.

DEPENDENT CLAUSES USED AS ADVERBS �When a dependent clause acts as an adverb, it usually starts with a subordinating conjunction. We will eat when the bell rings. • “when the bell rings” is the dependent clause. • The clause cannot stand alone. • The clause starts with a subordinating conjunction. • The clause describes when we will eat. • “We will eat” is an independent clause, which can stand alone. After everyone arrives, we will eat the birthday cake. • What are the components of this sentence? • What are the parts of the dependent clause?

DEPENDENT CLAUSES USED AS ADJECTIVES �When a dependent clause acts as an adjective, it usually starts with a relative pronoun. She likes the boy who sits in front of her. • “who sits in front of her” is the dependent clause. • The clause cannot stand alone. • The clause starts with a relative pronoun. • The clause describes the boy. • “She likes the boy” is an independent clause, which can stand alone. The awards will go to the students who answer the most questions correctly. • What are the components of this sentence? • What are the parts of the dependent clause?

DEPENDENT CLAUSES USED AS NOUNS �When a dependent clause acts as a noun, it usually starts with a relative pronoun. I hope that the eighth graders do well in the contest. • “that the eighth graders do well in the contest” is the dependent clause. • The clause cannot stand alone. • The clause starts with a relative pronoun. • The clause describes what I hope. • “I hope” is an independent clause, which can stand alone. I think that there will be a full moon tonight. • What are the components of this sentence? • What are the parts of the dependent clause?