PHRASES

PPISMP
PENGAJIAN SOSIAL/BI/BM
SEMESTER II, 2010
 A phrase is a group of words without both a
subject and predicate. Phrases combine words
into a larger unit that can function as a sentence
element. For example, a participial phrase can
include adjectives, nouns, prepositions and
adverbs; as a single unit, however, it functions as
one big adjective modifying a noun (or noun
phrase).
NOUN PHRASE
• A noun phrase consists of a noun and all of its
modifiers, which can include other phrases.
Example :
“The crazy old lady in the park feeds the pigeons
every day.” 
VERB PHRASE
• The verb phrase can refer to the whole predicate
of a sentence (I was watching my favorite show
yesterday) or just the verb or verb group (was
watching).
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
• A prepositional phrase, which has a preposition
as its head, can function as an adjective, adverb,
or even as a noun.
Example :
“The food on the table looked delicious.”
ADJECTIVAL PHRASE
• As with adverbial phrases, adjectival phrases can
either refer to a group of adjectives (full of toys)
or any phrase (like a participial or prepositional
phrase) that acts as an adjective.
ADVERBIAL PHRASE
• The adverbial phrase also has two definitions;
some say it’s a group of adverbs (very quickly),
while others say it’s any phrase (usually a
prepositional phrase) that acts as an adverb.
TYPES
OF
SENTENCES
SIMPLE SENTENCE
• A simple sentence, also called an independent
clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it
expresses a complete thought. In the following
simple sentences, subjects are in red, and verbs are
in green.  
Examples :
A. Some students like to study in the mornings.
B. Juan and Arturo play football every afternoon.
C. Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.
COMPOUND SENTENCE
• A compound sentence contains two independent
clauses joined by a coordinator. The
coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but,
or, yet, so (FANBOYS.) Except for very short
sentences, coordinators are always preceded by a
comma. In the following compound sentences,
subjects are in red, verbs are in green, and the
coordinators and the commas that precede them
are in blue. 
Examples :

A.  I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried

to speak English. 
B.  Alejandro played football, so Maria went
shopping. 
C.  Alejandro played football, for Maria went
shopping.
COMPLEX SENTENCE
• A complex sentence has an independent clause
joined by one or more dependent clauses. A
complex sentence always has a subordinator
such as because, since, after, although, or when
or a relative pronoun such as that, who, or
which.
Examples :
A. When he handed in his homework, he forgot
to give the teacher the last page. 
B. The teacher returned the homework after she
noticed the error. 
• When a complex sentence begins with a
subordinator such as sentences A, a comma is
required at the end of the dependent clause.
When the independent clause begins the
sentence with subordinators in the middle as in
sentences B, no comma is required. If a comma
is placed before the subordinators in the
sentences, it is wrong.
Examples :
C. After they finished studying, Juan and Maria
went to the movies. 
D. Juan and Maria went to the movies after they
finished studying.
• Note that sentences C and D are the same except
sentence C begins with the dependent clause
which is followed by a comma, and sentence D
begins with the independent clause which
contains no comma.  The comma after the
dependent clause in sentence C is required, and
experienced listeners of English will often hear a
slight pause there.  In sentence D, however,
there will be no pause when the independent
clause begins the sentence. 
 That’s all from us…
Thank you for your attention.

PPISMP
PENGAJIAN SOSIAL/BI/BM
SEMESTER II, 2010