Phrases
A phrase is a group of related words that does not have a subject verb combination and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
| Types of phrases | Function | Examples |
| Noun phrase | as a noun | All these books are mine. |
| Verb phrase | as a verb | We have fixed the roof. |
| Adjective phrase | as an adjective | She is a very good cook. |
| Adverb phrase | as an adverb | She drives very carefully. |
| Prepositional phrase | as an adjective | The vase on the table tipped over. |
| Prepositional phrase | as an adverb | We left before sunrise. |
noun phrase
A noun phrase is a noun and a word or words that modify it, which together function as a noun.
- The tall girl is a teacher.
- My new car is uses less fuel.
- All these books are mine.
- The train was late.
- Two cars skidded off the icy road.
verb phrase
A verb phrase is a combination of a main verb and a helping verb, and the main verb always comes last.
- I am eating my lunch. [am = helping verb, eating = main verb]
- You can go home. [can = helping verb, go = main verb]
- He will come soon. [will = helping verb, come = main verb]
- We have fixed the roof. [have = helping verb, fixed = main verb]
Sometimes a verb phrase has one main verb and two or three helping verbs.
- I have been working all day. [working = main verb]
- You should have come early. [come = main verb]
- She might have been waiting in the restaurant. [waiting = main verb]
adjective phrase
An adjective phrase is a group of words that describes a noun or pronoun in a sentence. It functions as an adjective.
- The food was very delicious.
- That was too expensive.
- She lives in a really beautiful apartment.
The only difference between an adjective and an adjective phrase is the number of words we use.
adjectives
- She is a good cook.
- The rent was cheap.
- The exam was difficult.
adjective phrases
- She is a very good cook.
- The rent was surprisingly cheap.
- The exam was incredibly difficult.
adverb phrase
An adverb phrase is a group of words that functions as an adverb in a sentence.
Adverbs
- She drives carefully.
- Put it there.
- I got up late.
Adverb phrases
- She drives very carefully.
- Put it on the table.
- I got up at nine o’clock.
prepositional phrase
A prepositional phrase is a group of words consisting of a preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object. And it functions as an adjective or adverb.
A prepositional phrase that describes a noun or pronoun functions as an adjective.
- The boy across the street is my brother. [It describes the noun boy.]
- The vase on the table tipped over. [It describes the noun vase.]
- Something in the dark is moving. [It describes the pronoun something.]
A prepositional phrase that describes a verb, adjective, or adverb functions as an adverb.
- We left before sunrise. [It describes the verb left.]
- The boy is quite tall for his age. [It describes the adjective tall.]
- We arrived late at night. [It describes the adverb late.]
