SYNTAX
01- 13 – 2024 (OC)
NOUN PHRASE
-A noun phrase is a group of two or more
words headed by a noun that includes
modifiers. In these examples of noun phrases,
the noun is shaded. All the other words are
modifiers.
the dog
(In this example, "the" is a
modifier.)
a cat
(Here, "a" is a modifier.)
a group of them
("A" and "of them" are modifiers.)
the man with her
("The" and "with her" are modifiers.)
13 KINDS OF MODIFIERS
1. Article – THE boy
2. Possesive - my, is, their
3. Demonstrative - this, that, those
4. Genetive - has a aposthrophe s
5. Ordinals - first, second, third, fourth …
6. Cardinals - one, two, three, four, five …
7. Noun - I have seen UNP students (UNP is the modifier)
8. Adjective - beautiful etc.
9. Compound - acting like a noun, ex. not-so-beautiful lady
10. Quantifier - some, few, all, several, many …
11. W/H Determiner - the modifier is the w/h determiner, ex. who
12. -ED Participle
13. -ING Participle
FUNCTIONS OF A NOUN
- Like any noun, a noun phrase can function as a subject, an direct object, indirect object,
appositive, objective compliment, object of the prerpositon, object of the infinitive, subjective
comliment and object of the gerund.
SYNTAX
01- 13 – 2024 (OC)
1. SUBJECT - if the subject is the doer of the action
2. DIRECT OBJECT - If its answer the question what after the verb or who
3. INDIRECT OBJECT - It answers the question- for whom and to whom
4. APPOSITIVE - comes before the subject enclosed by a coma
ex. Ms. Martinez, the secretary, presented their report to the members
S A DO IO
5. OBJECTIVE COMPLIMENT - it compliments the direct object
Ex. The class elected the man, the president.
S DO OC
The people call FPJ the King.
6. OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION – has a preposition
Ex. The boy baked a cake inside the kitchen for the orphans.
S DO OP ID
7. OBJECT OF THE INFINITIVE – ex. to earn high grades
8. SUBJECTIVE COMPLIMENT – it comes after a linking verb (is, are, was, were)
9. OBJECT OF THE GERUND
VERB PHRASE
-A verb phrase consists of any auxiliary verbs and main verb.
Examples:
I painted the fence.
(The verb phrase is a single main verb.)
I was painting the fence.
(The verb phrase is the auxiliary verb "was" and a main verb in the form of a present
participle.)
I had painted the fence.
(The verb phrase is the auxiliary verb "had" and a main verb in the form of a past participle.)
I might have painted the fence.
(The verb phrase is the modal auxiliary verb "might," the auxiliary verb "have," and a main
verb in the form of a past participle.)
SYNTAX
01- 13 – 2024 (OC)
I should have been painting the fence when the lightning struck.
(The verb phrase is the modal auxiliary verb "should," the auxiliary verbs "have" and "been,"
and a main verb in the form of a present participle.)
FUNCTION OF A VERB
1. TRANSITIVE VERB – there is a direct
object and it answers the question what.
Ex. They will be dancing Tinikling tonight.
TV
2. INTRANSITIVE VERB - there is no
direct object because there is no or it doesn’t
the question what.
Ex. They will be dancing. (What are they
going to dance?)
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
A prepositional phrase is a phrase that includes:
a preposition
the object of the preposition/ noun
any modifiers
Here is an example of a prepositional phrase
(shaded):
The witch sat on her broom.
("On her broom" is a prepositional phrase. "On" is the preposition, "broom" is the object of
the preposition, and "her" is a modifier.)
INFINITIVE
- to+ verb+ modifier+noun
SYNTAX
01- 13 – 2024 (OC)
GERUND PHRASE
-A gerund phrase is composed of a verb + -ing + modifier + noun/ noun phrase.
Ex. Selling imported fruits.
Verb Modifier Noun
PARTICIPIAL PHRASE
A participial phrase is a group of words consisting of a participle of a verb and the
modifier and noun that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s)
of the action or state expressed in the participle, such as:
Removing his coat, Jack rushed to the river.
The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying Jack.
Removing (participle)
his coat (direct object of action expressed in participle)
