[toc] [index]
words in sentences function not only individually but also in groups. The most common word group is the phrase. A phrase may be used as a noun, adjective, adverb, or verb.
Prepositional Phrases function as adjectives or adverbs. (See prepositions.)
The fibula of the left leg is broken. [Adjective.]
As she turned, her mask fell to the floor. [Adverb.]
My brother David works nights. [David identifies brother.]
The Wolves' Den, a hangout for college intellectuals, caught fire. [A hangout for college intellectuals describes Wolves' Den.]
Usually an appositive follows the word it refers to, but it may also precede the word. (See comma.)
A thrilling love story, John and Marcha's romance would make a wonderful film. [A thrilling love story describes romance.]
infinitive phrase includes the infinitive as well as its complements or modifiers.
His favorite pastime is to dance. [Noun: predicate nominative.]
I have three choices to offer you. [Adjective: modifies choices.]
He seems eager to gain knowledge. [Adverb: modifies eager.]
Present participles end in -ing (running, laughing, flying). Past participles usually end in -ed (flopped, jumped, dangled), but a few end in -en (beaten), and some change entirely (begun, swum, brought). (See note on gerunds.)
Tired, the runner slumped to the ground. [Past participle modifies runner.]
The developing crisis kept the president awake. [Present participle modifies crisis.]
Participial phrases consist of a participle and its complements or modifiers.\
The cat howling throught the night belongs to Jim.
Excited over winning, the goalie tossed his stick in the air.
Beaten by lady luck, the gambler quit the game.
A gerund is the present participle of a verb - formed by adding -ing to the infinitive - and used as a noun.
Dreaming leads to creation. [Gerund as subject.]
A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and its complements or modifiers. Like the gerund, the gerund phrase is used as a noun.
I love dancing until dawn. [Gerund phrase as a direct object.]
Flying to Rome os costly. [Gerund phrase as subject.]
NOTE: Since both gerunds and present participles end in -ing, they are sometimes confused. You can avoid confusing them by determining their function in a sentence. Gerunds function as nouns. Present participles, when not serving as part of the predicate, function as adjectives.
Running keeps me fit for tennis. [Running is the subject of the sentence; therefore, it is a gerund.]
The water running in the kitchen is a nuisance. [Running modifies water; therefore, it is a participle.]
An absolute phrase differs from other phrases because it does not modify a particular word but instead modifies an entire sentence.
The palm tree swayed, its slick leaves shimmering with light.