PHRASES

A phrase, which usually serves as a part of speech, is a group of related words that does not contain a
subject and a predicate. Phrases may be classified as to use and form.
USES OF PHRASES
1. A noun phrase is used in a sentence as subject or object.
Making a lot of money is his goal in life. (The italicized phrase is the subject of is.)
He likes making a lot of money. (Here the italicized phrase is the object of likes.)

2. Adjective (adjectival) phrase is used in a sentence as a single adjective would be:

The boys in this dormitory are noisy and thoughtless. (The phrase modifies the noun boys.)

3. An adverb (adverbial) phrase is used in a sentence to modify a verb, adjective, or adverb.

We spent our vacation on a farm. (The phrase modifies the verb spent, it answers the question
“where?”

FORMS OF PHRASES
1. A prepositional phrase is one beginning with a preposition; it may be used as an adjective or adverb
and (rarely) as a noun:
The book on the desk is mine. (Adjective; which book?)
He strode into the room. (Adverb: strode where?)
Without smiling was his way of showing irritation. (noun: subject of was)

2. A participial phrase takes its name from the participle.

Racing like mad, we barely caught the bus. Having run the last mile, we caught the bus.

3. A gerundial phrase takes its name from the gerund it contains.

Playing at Forest Hills was his highest aim in sports.
The crowd enjoyed her expert twirling of a baton.

4. An infinitive phrase takes its name from the infinitive it contains.

To make friends is a worthwhile undertaking.

5. An absolute phrase is one that is not directly attached to any other word in a sentence.
John left quickly, his objection now being a matter of record.
CLAUSES

A clause is a group of words having a subject and predicate. Some clauses are independent (main,
principal); others are dependent (subordinate).

Independent Clauses - An independent clause is one that makes a complete grammatical statement and
can stand alone. It may appear within a sentence or as a sentence itself.

Examples: A doctor’s firmest diagnosis often is only an educated guess.

Although a cynic would say so, a doctor’s firmest diagnosis often is only an educated guess.

DEPENDENT CLAUSES – A dependent clause is one that is incapable of standing alone, one that depends
for its meaning upon the remainder of the sentence in which it appears. Dependent (subordinate)
clauses function as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.

NOUN CLAUSE

What you said is not true. (subject of is; equivalent to “your remark”.
I do not believe that you are my friend. (object of believe)
Your suggestion that you are really lazy surprises me. (in apposition with suggestion) This clause can
also be considered adjectival, since it identifies and explains the word suggestion.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

Girls who have hair they consider their fortune may have eyes that really draw interest. (The italicized
clause modifies girls.)
The players think he is a coach who should be taken with a grain of salt. (The clause modifies coach)

ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

How can I look up a word when I don’t know how to spell it? (the clause modifies the verb look up.)
You can read more rapidly than I can. (the clause modifies the adverb rapidly.)
Steak is usually more expensive than fish is. (the clause modifies the adjective expensive.)

EXERCISES

I. Identify the A. FORM and B. USE or FUNCTION of the underlined phrases in the given sentences.

1. They spent their summer vacation in Batangas.

2. Reference books on the shelves are open to all students.
3. Having finished my homework, I kept my things one by one.
4. To engage in art is a good hobby.
5. I always want to hear strumming of a guitar.
6. Spending too much time watching television strains our eyes.
7. Running around the corner, I saw a box of Christmas gifts.
8. That woman smiling at the window is Ben’s elder sister.
9. They celebrate the fiesta with so much fun.
10. Raising his complaint, Henry stood up and left the conference room.
11. His ambition is to become a professional magician.
12. Climbing the steepest hill is a challenge to every mountaineer.
13. I like to see the rainbow in the sunset.
14. At the backyard, the children play merrily.
15. Speaking before a big crowd is not a simple task.