phrase two or more words that function together as a group.

Examples: dead tired; the silly old

wom an; would have been repaired; in the country.

A phrase is a word or group o f words that functions as a unit within the sentence.

noun phrase a group of words (e.g. article + adjective + noun) which acts as the subject, object or
com plem ent in a clause. Example: the last bus.

verb phrase a verbal structure that has more than one part. Example: would have been forgotten.

adverbial clause a clause which functions as an adverbial. Examples: On Sundays I usually get up
when I wake up; I'll phone you i f l have time.

adjective clause another name for relative clause

relative clause\adjectival clause a clause which modifies a noun, usually introduced by a relative
pronoun like who or which. Example: I like people who like me. See also identifying relative clause,
non-identifying relative clause,

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES Before going on to sentence patterns, let’s take a quick look at the
prepositional phrase, a two-part structure consisting of a preposition followed by an object, which
is usually a noun phrase. P

subordinate clause a clause which functions as part of another clause, for example as subject,
object or adverbial in the m ain clause of a sentence. Examples: I thought that you understood; W
hat I need is a drink; I’ll follow you wherever you go. See also clause, main clause,

main clause, subordinate clause Some sentences consist of a m ain clause and one or more
subordinate clauses. A subordinate clause acts like a part of the m ain clause (e.g. like a subject, or
an object, or an adverbial). Examples: Where she is doesn't matter (the subordinate clause Where
she is is the subject of the m ain clause); I told you that I d id n ’t care (the subordinate clause that
I didn’t care is the direct object in the m ain clause); You'll fin d friends wherever you go (the
subordinate clause wherever you go acts like an adverb in the main clause: compare You'll fin d
friends anywhere).

Noun Substitutes In addition to nouns and pronouns, other constructions can work as subjects.
These are words, phrases, or clauses that perform the same job as a noun. (A phrase is any series
of two or more words that is less than a clause. A phrase might have a subject-type word or a
word from the verb category, but not both.) Let’s look at a few examples of the main types of
noun substitutes. In each case, a phrase does the same job a one-word noun could do.
1. Infinitive Verb Phrases An infinitive verb phrase is any verb preceded by the word to. Examples
are to walk, to sing, to dream. Look at this sentence: To decide is to take a risk. Here, the verb
phrase to decide works like a noun and acts as the subject of the sentence. You can make a rough
equivalent of this sentence by using a conventional noun as the subject: A decision is always a risk.

2. Gerund Phrases A gerund is a verb that ends in -ing and works as a noun. A gerund phrase is
simply a gerund plus other words attached to it. Here’s an example: Planning an overseas trip
takes a tremendous effort. You can see that the subject here is roughly equivalent to the noun
subject in the sentence: A plan for an overseas trip takes a tremendous effort to create.

3. Prepositional Phrases Most prepositions are direction or relationship words such as at, behind,
inside, and toward. A prepositional phrase is a preposition plus the noun or pronoun that follows
it. Prepositional phrases can also work as subjects: Before breakfast is a good time for a walk.
Under the boardwalk was the place to be.