LEARNING ABOUT PHRASES

You’ll need to take C-Notes over this. Please get out a piece of paper and format it accordingly.

What is a

• A group of words that does NOT include a subject and a verb and cannot stand alone as a sentence.

• Example:• In the end• Over there

What is a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE?

• Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and end with the object of the preposition

• The object of the preposition is the noun that follows the preposition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF6LE4P_bEU

How to punctuate Introductory Prepositional Phrases

• Short phrases = 3 words = DOES NOT require a comma, UNLESS the reader could be confused.– Example:• Under the kitchen table the dog cowered (NO COMMA)• In basketball, uniforms are two-piece outfits.

(COMMAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO CLARIFY)

How to punctuate Introductory Prepositional Phrases

• LONG phrases = 4 or more words = MUST have a comma.– Example• Under the spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy

stands.

Infinitive Phrases

• An infinitive is the word “to” immediately followed by a verb.– Example:

• To maintain your health, you should exercise on a regular basis.

• When you see the word “to” it is sometimes an infinitive and sometimes “to” is a preposition.

• The way to tell the difference is this:– if “to” is a preposition it is followed by a noun– if “to” is an infinitive “to” is followed by a verb.

You decide…

• Infinitive or preposition?1. Do you want to run to the park with me?2. The plan is to have time to go to the mall.3. My job at the arboretum was to trim the

trees and to water the plants.

You decide… Exercise 1:Circle the prepositional phrases and underline the infinitive phrases. Place commas where they are needed for introductory prepositional and infinitive phrases. 1. To maintain your health you should exercise on a regular basis. 2. Underneath the living room couch we found three dog bones and my homework from Monday. 3. The plan to have a fire drill was cancelled because of the rain. 4. With a sigh Nelda drove away from the high school

for the last time. 5. My job at the arboretum was to trim the trees

and to water the plants.

Appositive Phrases

• Rename, or explain a noun or pronoun. They are placed immediately before or after the noun or pronoun.

• Appositive phrases can be restrictive or non-restrictive

RESTRICTIVEAppositive Phrases

• It’s needed or essential, then you DO NOT use commas around the appositive.

• Example:My sister Debbie has two grandchildren.

(I have more than one sister, so I have to say which sister has two grandchildren)

Non-RestrictiveAppositive Phrases

• It’s NOT needed or NOT essential; thenYOU MUST use commas around the appositive.

• Think of the commas as a knife, like that information can be cut out

• Example: John’s sister , Mary , has one grandchild.

(John has only one sister, so “Mary” is NOT needed and can be “cut” out)

Appositive practiceSee if you can figure out which ones need commas

and which ones don’t

1. The television show Under the Dome is my

favorite.

2. My brother Ben graduated from Baylor

University. (there are two brothers.)

3. The quarterback Tony Romo is in a commercial.

4. I chose dark green my favorite color for the

shutters.

Exercise 2: Underline the appositive or appositive phrase. Place commas where they are needed in the following sentences:

1. Tom’s wife Molly decided to go back to college for her teaching degree. 2. The television show Under the Dome is one of my favorites. 3. Harvey Coleman a famous magician is coming to town this weekend. 4. I am doing a project about anatomy the study of the structure of one’s body. 5. The chef prepared a pita a Mediterranean sandwich.

Exercise 3: Combine these sentences into one sentence with an appositive or appositive phrase. Punctuate correctly.

1. My brother graduated from Baylor University. Ben is my brother. (I have two brothers.)Baylor University is an excellent school.

2. The quarterback scrambled for a touchdown and won the game. The quarterback is Damon Timms. (only one quarterback) 3. William Shakespeare wrote many plays that are still performed and studied today.

He is a famous author. 4. I chose dark green for the shutters on the house.

Dark green is my favorite color.

Participles

• Participles look like verbs, but they are NOT verbs.• They are verbs that are functioning as ADJECTIVES because

they modify nouns and pronouns.• Participles are verbs that USUALLY end in –ing, -ed, or

sometimes -en• Participles answer the questions:• What kind? or Which one?

• Example:

Running across the gym, Joey tripped

and fell.

Find the participle or participial phrase in these sentences.The verb of each sentence is underlined

 1. Jumping to their feet, the audience clapped for five minutes after Jon’s moving speech. (2) 2. Finally finished with her chores, Barbara put away the laundered shirts. (2) 3. The student staring out the window didn’t hear the homework assignment. (1) 4. Painted in the early 1500s, the Mona Lisa is a masterpiece admired by millions. (2) 5. Tired of the inconvenience, we finally installed running water in our lake cabin this summer.

(2)

Punctuating Participial Phrases

Rule: An introductory participial phrase should be followed by a comma.

Stretching slowly , the cat woke from its nap. Rule: A participial phrase that is essential to the meaning of the sentence

should not have commas around it.

The boy waiting at the bus stop is Mark.

NOTE: There is more than one boy in the area, so the phrase is essential to understanding which boy is being referred to. Therefore, there should be no commas.

Punctuating Participial Phrases

Rule: A participial phrase that merely adds information is nonessential, so it should be set off with commas.

There is Mark , waiting at the bus stop.

NOTE: The participial phrase merely adds information about Mark, so it is nonessential. Therefore, it should be set off with commas.

Exercise 4: Underline the participles or participial phrases in these sentences. Add commas as needed.

The verb of each sentence is underlined .

1. Raising his arms in victory Jack sprinted across the finish line to the shouts of the excited

crowd. (2)

2. Damaged by an earthquake the Washington Monument was closed for repairs ordered by

a team of engineers. (2)

3. Getting down on one knee Colton proposed to a startled Jessica. (2)

4. The tiny mouse crept into a tree hollowed out by decay. (1)

5. Keeping an eye on the casserole in the oven Mom mashed the steaming potatoes. (2)

Combining Sentences to Form a Participial Phrase

Participial phrases can often be used to combine information from two sentences into one so that the writing is more sophisticated.

S H.V.

Two sentences: We were exhausted by the climb up the mountain.

We rested by the side of the trail.

To form the participial phrase, drop the subject and the helping verb,

 if there is one.

Combined: Exhausted by the climb up the mountain , we rested by the side of 

the trail.

STwo sentences: We drank coffee.

We shared stories about our lives.

To form the participial phrase, drop the subject and change the verb to the –ing form in the 1st sentence:

Combined: Drinking coffee , we shared stories about our lives. Two sentences: The tornado did not hit our area.

The tornado was forecasted earlier today.S H.V.

To form the participial phrase, drop the subject and the helping verb in the 2nd sentence.

Combined: The tornado forecasted earlier today did not hit our area.

There are no commas in the combined sentence because the participial phrase is essential to the meaning.

Combining Sentences to Form a Participial Phrase

Change the bolded sentence into a participial phrase by dropping the subject and the helping verb, if there is one. If there is no helping verb to drop, change the main verb to its –ing form.

Punctuate correctly. 1. Shelia heard strange noises outside her bedroom window.

Shelia pulled the covers over her head. 2. The car belongs to my uncle Pete.

The car is parked in front of our house.(Change this sentence.)

Combining Sentences 2 sentences into 1 sentence with a Participial Phrase- Practice

3. The doctor peered down John’s throat. (Change John’s to his.)The doctor told John to say, “Ahh.”

4. Bus #3 pulled in front of the elementary  school.Bus #3 was crowded with tired children.

(Change the second sentence. Place the participial phrase after the subject of the first sentence. Punctuate correctly.)

Combining Sentences to Form a Participial Phrase- Practice

Combining Sentences to Form a Participial Phrase- Practice

1. Rob stood on the edge of the precipice. Rob stared at the crashing waves below.

2. Maria glanced out the kitchen window.

Maria was startled to see a policeman run by. 3. The school bus driver turned down a road.

The road was filled with deep potholes.

Combining Sentences to Form a Participial Phrase- Practice

4. The tow truck driver swerved in and out of traffic. The tow truck driver headed for the accident scene.

5. Les carried his little sister in his arms.

Les escaped from the burning house. 6. The canceled bank check was carried by the tornado.

The canceled bank check landed two hundred miles away.

Combining Sentences to Form a Participial Phrase- Practice

7. Sue wore a smile on her face.Sue greeted her guests.

8. The words were worn by time and weather.

The words on the tombstone were barely readable.

9. Al chose his words carefully.

Al testified in the classroom.