Phrases

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.

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]

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.

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.

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.]