Phrases




Phrases :


A group of words may take the place of a part of speech.

Examples :

The Father of Waters is the Mississippi.

A girl with blue eyes stood at the window.

You are looking well.

THE FATHER OF WATERS is used as a noun, since it names something.

WITH BLUE EYES takes the place of an adjective (blue-eyed) and modifies GIRL.

AT THE WINDOW indicates, as an adverb might, where the girl stood and modifies STOOD.

A group of connected words, not containing a subject and a predicate, is called a phrase.

A phrase is often equivalent to a part of speech.

A phrase used as a noun is called a noun-phrase.

A phrase used as a verb is called a verb-phrase.

A phrase used as an adjective is called an adjective phrase.

A phrase used as an adverb is called an adverbial phrase.

In the examples above…

THE FATHER OF WATERS is a noun-phrase.

WITH BLUE EYES is an adjective phrase.

AT THE WINDOW is an adverbial phrase.

ARE LOOKING is a verb-phrase.

Many adjective and adverbial phrases consist of a preposition and its object with or without other words.

Your umbrella is in the corner.

He has a heart of oak.

A cup with a broken handle stood on the shelf.

My house of cards fell to the floor in a heap.

Adjective or adverbial phrases consisting of a preposition and its object, with or without other words, may be called PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES.


Phrases :







Grammar Index


Phrases To HOME PAGE





Related Links : Phrases