Transcript Holt Handbook Chapter 5

Holt Handbook
Chapter 5
The Phrase: Prepositional, Verbal,
and Appositive Phrases
#1-What is a Phrase?
 A phrase is a group of related words that is
used as a single part of speech and that does
not contain both a verb and its subject.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE: a message from the other members of the debate team
PARTICIPIAL PHRASE: monkeys swinging through the dense jungle
INFINITIVE PHRASE: asking to go with them on their Antarctic expedition
APPOSITIVE PHRASE: a painting by van Gogh, the famous Dutch painter
NOTE: a group of words that has both a verb and its subject is
called a clause.
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#2-The Prepositional Phrase
 A prepositional phrase includes a preposition,
a noun or pronoun called the object of the
preposition, and any modifiers of that object.
EXAMPLES: The Seine River flows through Paris. [The noun
Paris is the object of the preposition through.]
EXAMPLES: The car in front of us slid into an icy snow bank.
[The pronoun us is the object of the compound preposition
in front of. The noun snow bank is the object of the
preposition into.]
NOTE:
 Be careful not to confuse a prepositional phrase with
an infinitive. A prepositional phrase always has an
object that is a noun or a pronoun. An infinitive is a
verb form that usually begins with to.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE: When we went to
Florida, we saw the old Spanish fort in St. Augustine.
INFINITIVE: When we were in Florida, we went to
see the old Spanish fort in St. Augustine.
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#3-The Adjective Phrase
 A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun
or a pronoun is called an adjective phrase.
EXAMPLES: Wang Wei was a talented painter of
landscapes. [the prepositional phrase of landscapes
modifies the noun painter, telling what kind of painter.]
EXAMPLES: Mrs. O’Meara is the one on the left. [the
prepositional phrase on the left modifies the pronoun
one, telling which one Mrs. O’Meara is.]
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#4-The Adverb Phrase
 A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb,
an adjective, or an adverb is called an adverb
phrase.
An adverb phrase tells how, when, where, why, or to what
extent (how long, how much, or how far).
EXAMPLES: the snow fell throughout the day . [the phrase
modifies the verb fell, telling when the snow fell.]
EXAMPLES: Are you good at soccer? [the phrase modifies the
adjective good, telling how you are good.]
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#5- Verbals and Verbal Phrases
 A verbal is a word that is formed from a verb
but is used as a noun, an adjective, or an
adverb. There are three kinds of verbals: the
participle, the gerund, and the infinitive.
#6- The Participle
 A participle is a verb form that can be used as
an adjective.

Present participles end in –ing.
The smiling child waved.
 The horses trotting past were not frightened by
the crowd.
---Most past participles end in –d or –ed. Some
past participles are irregularly formed.
 The police officers searched the abandoned
warehouse.

#7 The Participial Phrase
 A participial phrase consists of a participle
and any modifiers or complements the
participle has. The entire phrase is used as
an adjective.
Seeing itself in the mirror, the duck seemed quite bewildered.
#8- The Gerund
 A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing that is
used as a noun.
SUBJECT Skiing down that slope was fun.
PREDICATE NOMINATIVE: Dad’s favorite pastime
is fishing for trout and bass.
INDIRECT OBJECT Give sailing a try.
DIRECT OBJECT We enjoyed hiking in the
Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
OBJECT OF PREPOSITION Please sweep the front
sidewalk after mowing.
The Gerund Phrase
 A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and
any modifiers or complements the gerund
has. The entire phrase is used as a noun.
Having a part-time job may interfere with your schoolwork.
The townspeople heard the loud clanging of the fire bell.
NOTE: When a noun or a pronoun comes immediately
before a gerund, use the possessive form of the noun
or pronoun.
#9 The Infinitive
 An infinitive is a verb form that can be used
as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Most
infinitives begin with to.
NOUN: To install the ceiling fan took two hours.
ADJECTIVES: The best time to visit Florida is December
through April.
ADVERBS: The gymnasts were ready to practice their
routines.
The Infinitive Phrase
 An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive
and any modifiers or complements the
infinitive has. The entire phrase may be used
as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
• An infinitive may be modified by an adjective or an adverb; it
may also have a complement.
The crowd grew quiet to hear the speaker.
Peanuts and raisins are good snacks to take on a camping trip.
#10- Appositives and Appositive
Phrases
 An appositive is a noun or a pronoun placed
beside another noun or pronoun to identify or
describe it.
NOTE: commas are generally used with appositives that
refer to proper nouns.
• An appositive phrase consists of an appositive
and its modifiers.