21.3 Identifying Phrases

Instructors Note: Keep in mind that a phrase is missing a subject or a verb, or both.

Make sure you understand how the following types of phrases function in sentences.

1. Prepositional phrases function as adjectives or adverbs. (Reminder: The subject of a sentence is never found in a prepositional phrase.)

2. Although infinitive phrases always include an infinitive (to + base verb--to hit, to run, to read, to find, etc.) and have a sense of action, they do not function as verbs within sentences. They can, however, function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

3. There are two kinds of participial phrases--present or past. Present participial phrases always include a present participle (base verb + -ing). Examples: swimming, partying, racing, relieving, working, etc. Past participial phrases always include a past participle (base verb + -d/-ed/-n/-t. Examples: work/worked, throw/thrown, fish/fished, hinge/hinged, judge/judged, etc. (Important note: There are many irregular past participles in English: go/gone, bite/bitten, catch/caught, do/done, feel/felt, lay/laid, lead/led, ride/ridden, ring/rung, run/run, sing/sung, sleep/slept, swim/swum, write/written.)

4. A gerund phrase always includes a present participle (-ing word). Gerund phrases function as nouns in sentences. It is important that you understand the difference between gerund phrases and present participial phrases, both of which include a present participle (-ing word). Additional explanations are on pages 527 and 528.

5. Make sure that you understand the construction of absolute phrases. Our textbook is weak on this point, so use this online resource (English Grammar 101). The most important thing to remember about an absolute phrase is that the be verb is missing. Example #1: The sun shining in her face, Maria knew she could face the day with confidence. Note that was is the be verb that is missing in this absolute phrase: The sun [was] shining in her face. Example #2: Peter and Cynthia appeared to be inappropriately relaxed, their faces planted downward on their desks. Notice that were is the missing be verb: their faces [were] planted downward on their desks.

Directions: Under each sentence, type the kind of phrase that is underlined. Do not be confused when you find several phrases within a word group.

1. Perched on Jasmines shoulder, the cockatiel always felt secure.

2. Jumping out of a plane is not Ethans idea of a relaxing weekend.

3. To find better jobs, many adults long out of school are returning.

4. The new Corvette, redlining at 7,000 rpm, smoked down the interstate.

5. Aging power plants in the United States continue to emit toxic pollutants, increasing asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

6. Robert Downey Jr., an actor with a history of substance abuse, plays recovering alcoholic Tony Stark in Iron Man.

7. On a trip from Chicago to Denver, Joanne was stranded in airports for 36 hours.

8. Online advertising, mostly obnoxious spam and pop-up windows, continues to flood into our homes.

9. Having clear goals in life helps people to succeed.

10. Stepping quietly into the room, his pipe glowing dimly, Holmes surveyed the scene of the murder.