Transcript prepositional phrase - The Syracuse City School District

Let’s Here Some Praise for
da’ Phrase!
The Five Different Types of
Phrases
Ok, I think I can identify a phrase, but
exactly is it?
 -A phrase is a group of words not
containing a verb and its subject. A
phrase is used as a single part of
speech.

We will explore the fabulous and exciting
world of five different types of phrases:
 *prepositional phrases
 *participial phrases
 *gerund phrases
 *infinitive phrases
 *appositive phrases

-Let’s start with the most familiar
terminology shall we?

-PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
 --A prepositional phrase is a group of
words beginning with a preposition and
ending with a noun or pronoun.
 In the dark room
over the river


Through the woods

--The noun or pronoun that concludes the
prepositional phrase is the object of the
preposition that begins the phrase.

--Prepositional phrases are usually used as
modifiers—as adjectives or adverbs
(function over form thing!). Occasionally,
a prepositional phrase is used as a noun.
Before I am old would be a good time for
Orlando Bloom to fall in love with me.
 Thank God I fell on top of the fat guy! He
padded my fall!
 The object of my affection is my boyfriend
of five years.

THE ADJECTIVE PHRASE!!
Don’t we know this one already?
 -Yes!!
 -An adjective phrase is a prepositional
phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun.


The pain in my head is unbearable.
THE ADVERB PHRASE!!
-We know this one too!
 -An adverb phrase is a prepositional
phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective,
or another adverb. (Here we keep the
original definition of adverb)

She bathes with great care. (How she
bathes)
 The student was not true to his word.
 He flung the booger far across the room.

VERBAL PHRASES

-These are less common than the
prepositional phrase, but still useful. There
are three kinds: participial phrases,
gerund phrases, and infinitive phrases.
-Why do you think these are called verbal
phrases?
 -They are called verbals because the most
important word in them is a verbal.

Ok. What the heck is a verbal?
 -A verbal is formed from a verb; they
express action, have modifiers, and can be
followed by comlements. HOWEVER,
verbals do not function as verbs in a
sentence. They function as nouns,
adjectives, or adverbs.

THE PARTICIPIAL AND
PARTICIPIAL PHRASE
A participial is a verb form that can be
used as an adjective.
 A rapidly developing storm was brewing in
the waters off Florida, ready to hit at any
time.
 -Two kinds of participles:

Present and past: Present participles
end in –ing, past participles may end in –
ed, -d, -t, -en, or –n.


participles may not be used as verbs by
themselves. A participial may, however, be
used with a helping verb to form a verb
phrase. When participles are used in verb
phrases, they are considered part of the
verb and are not considered adjectives.

A participial phrase is a phrase containing
a participial and any complements or
modifiers it may have.

Running through the store, the child
tripped and fell onto the egg display.
The kid swimming in the pool peed.
 -The participial usually introduces the
phrase and the entire phrase acts as an
adjective to modify a noun or pronoun.


Past participial:

The deer spotted with white patches
walked across the meadow.

Soaked with water, Mary vowed never to
ride Splash Mountain again in the cold
weather.
Gerund Phrase
A gerund is a word that looks like it should
be a verb ending in –ing, but it is
functioning as a noun.
 A gerund phrase begins with a gerund and
includes any modifiers that go with it, just
like a prepositional phrase would have.

Examples
I like traveling.
 Walking at night can be very dangerous.
 You can pass this test by studying hard.
 Sitting in an airplane seat can cause your
legs to cramp.
 My favorite thing to do is playing with my
daughter.

Participial vs. Gerund phrases

How do you tell the difference between a
present participial phrase and a gerund
phrase if they both are a “verb” ending in
–ing?

Participial phrases are adjectives, gerund
phrases are nouns…use the “it” or
“something” test if in doubt to see if it is a
noun.
Infinitive and Infinitive Phrase

An infinitive is a verb form that is usually
preceded by the word “to” and can be
used as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

An infinitive verb is “to + verb”—to sing,
to dance, to go, to shop, etc…
Infinitive Phrase as Noun
I want to go home.
 To travel is to live.
 Our goal is to win the game.
 To leave the party early would be very
rude.

Infinitive Phrase as Adjective

This is not the way to solve the problem.

Destination Truth is my favorite show to
watch.
Infinitive Phrase as Adverb

We came to take you away.

We go to the cabin to ski.

We went to the club to sing in the contest.
Infinitive Phrase vs. Prepositional
Phrase

Be careful! “to + verb”= infinitive, “to +
noun”= prepositional

I promise to go home later to tape that
show for you.

Will you come to the house with me?
Appositive Phrase

This is easy.

An appositive is a noun or pronoun set
beside another noun or pronoun to explain
or identify it. It is usually (but not always)
set off by commas.
Examples

My cousin Ted has been married four
times before the age of 30.

My cat, the most beautiful thing in the
world, is my best friend.

Alaska, a beautiful state, is so serene.
The end!