The Phrase

1. The Phrase Mrs. Hurd John S. Battle High School

2. The Participle A participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective. Present participles end in –ing The screaming fans spurred the team to victory. Part participles usually end in –d or –ed. Other past participles are formed irregularly. This restaurant specialty is grilled salmon (grilled modifies the noun salmon) The lake appears frozen. (frozen modifies the noun lake)

3. The Participle Phrase A participle phrase is used as an adjective and consists of a participle and any complements or modifiers the participle has. We just saw Carlos playing soccer in the park. The participle phrase (modifies Carlos) = present participle - playing Direct object – soccer Prepositional phrase – in the park The crew of the space shuttle launched on Friday will repair the satellite The participle phrase (modifies space shuttle) past participle - launched Prepositional phrase – on Friday

4. The Gerund A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing that is used as a noun. Like other nouns, gerunds are used as subjects, predicate nominatives, direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions. Writing requires patience. (subject) My hobby is writing. (predicate nominative) I enjoy writing. (direct object)

5. The Infinitive An infinitive is a verb form that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Most infinitives begin with to. NOUN: Would you like to dance? (to dance is the direct object of the verb would like) ADJECTIVE: This is a good place to camp. (to camp modifies the noun place) ADVERB: The performers were eager to rehearse (to rehearse modifies the adjective eager)

6. The Appositive An appositive is a noun or a pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to identify or describe it. My best friend, Toshiro, is teaching me to play the ukulele. (Toshiro identifies the noun friend) The person in charge of the workshop is the librarian, Ms. Epstein. (Ms. Epstein identifies the noun librarian)

7. The Appositive Phrase An appositive phrase consists of an appositive and any modifiers it has. Dad is making baklava, our family’s favorite dessert. (Dessert is an appositive identifying baklava. Our, family’s, and favorite modify the appositive).

8. Appositives and appositive phrases An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to identify or describe it. An appositive phrase consists of an appositive and any modifiers it has. The Greek author Homer is best known for his epic poems. I have read Homer’s Iliad, an epic poem about the Trojan War.

9. Clauses and Phrases A clause is a word group that contains a verb and its subject and that is used as a sentence or as part of a sentence. Although every clause contains a subject and a verb, not every clause expresses a complete thought. Clauses that express a complete thought are called independent clauses. Clauses that do not are called subordinate clauses. Many people will attend the banquet (independent clause) Because many people attended the banquet (subordinate clauses)

10. Clauses and Phrases (cont.) Do not mistake a phrase for a clause. A phrase does not contain both a verb and a subject. Phrase: before the banquet (no verb) Clause: before the banquet began (subject = banquet began = verb) Phrase: to decorate the banquet hall today (no subject) Clause: we need to decorate the banquet hall today (subject = we; verb= need)

11. Relative Pronouns An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun. An adjective clause is often introduce by a relative pronoun, which relates the clause to the word or words the clause modifies. Aunt Salma, who has worked hard all her life, is someone for whom I have great respect. Uncle Diego, whose recipes should be published, makes the best paella that I have ever eaten.