Phrase

A phrase is a group of words which has a meaning

but not complete meaning. It is the part of a
sentence. In other words, phrase is the combination
different word classes. There are different types of
phrase, mainly five:
• Noun Phrase
• Verb Phrase
• Adjective Phrase
• Adverb Phrase
• Prepositional Phrase
 Noun Phrase
A group of words that does the same function as noun
in a sentence structure. In a noun phrase, noun is the
key word. It is mentioned that noun is used as a
subject and an object in a sentence. It can also be used
as a complement and an adverbial in a sentence. For
examples,

•The earthquake (S) was terrific in Nepal.

• He kicks the ball (O)
• This is a classroom (C)
•We could reach there next week (A).
 Functions of noun phrase
1. Subject
The people in the bus escaped through the emergency exit.

2. Direct object
They are testing some new equipment.

3. Indirect object
She makes Nameer happy

4. Subject complement
The performance was a test of their physical movements.
The classroom is a place of learning and teaching.
5. Object complement
Many of us consider her the best candidate.
They elected him their class representative.

6. Complement of a preposition
These books are bought for your studies.
Many approaches are explained in this book
.
7. Pre-modifier of a noun or noun phrase
A noun can also
Milk production is down this year.* modify another noun,
He suffers from back problems.* like an adjective

8. Adverbial
The term finishes next week
He will succeed that way.
Identify the function of each underlined noun phrase by writing the
appropriate abbreviation in the brackets after it:

S (subject), oC (object complement), dO (direct object), iO (indirect

object), sC (subject complement), cP (complement of preposition),
pM (pre-modifier of a noun or noun phrase),
A (adverbial)

1. Last April (), security staff (), spotted an intruder () on the White
House Lawn.
2. The war crimes Tribunal () is a model of international
jurisprudence ().
3. The actors’ Union made Peter () their spokesman ().
4. Web page layouts can be vastly improved, once you’ve learned
the basics of formatting text and images.
5. The whole Dickens () family went to stay with Mrs Roylance in
Little College Street ().
 Answers

1. A, S, dO & cP.

2. S & sC.

3. DO & oC.

4. pM & dO.

5. pM &cP.
 Answers

1. prM, sC
2. prM
3. oC
4. psM
5. prM
6. psM, sC
 Adverb phrase

Adverb phrase is a group of words that functions like an

adverb in a sentence. Adverb is the key word in an

adverb phrase.

 
 Functions of adverb phrase
• Adverbs have two main functions:
1. Modifier of an adjective or an adverb in phrase st
ructure
2. Adverbial in a sentence

• The description was remarkably accurate.(1)

• This is linguistically appropriate.(1)
• The new drug was hailed, somewhat prematurely.
(1+2)
• She speaks quite clearly. (1+2)
 Adverbial
Adverbs are commonly used as adverbials in sentence
structure:

• Fortunately, I am survived.
• Certainly, we should be grateful for the ways in which
he inadvertently challenged our beliefs, deeply and
seriously.
Prepositional phrase as adverbials
I teach English to the students of mechanical engineering
students at CUET.
To my mind, this is not a good solution.
He behaved in a silly way. (manner)
After the storm, the sky brightened.
Phrasal verb= verb+ another w.
class

Prepositional Verb= verb+ pre.

Phrasal pre. verb= verb+ another

word class + preposition
 Non Finite Verb Phrases
these are verb forms that function as nouns, ad
jectives or adverbs. Proper use of non finite ver
b phrases can add variety to your sentences an
d vigor to your writing style.

There are three types of verbal phrases:

• participle
• gerund
• infinitive
 1.Participial Phrases
• A participial phrase functions as an adjective and can take fou
r forms: present, past, perfect and passive perfect. It consists
of the participle, its modifiers and complements. The function
s of participial phrases are:
• (Present form) adjective modifier:
• Competing in the race, the athlete felt a surge of adrenaline.
• (Past form) adjective modifier:
• Bothered by her husband’s snoring, the woman kicked the p
oor man.
• (Perfect form) adjective modifier:
• Having typed the paper, the student was finally able to relax.
• (Passive Perfect form) adjective modifier:
• The police officer, having been threatened by the suspect, cal
led for assistance.
 2.Gerund Phrases
• A gerund is a verbal that always ends in –ing. I
t is used in almost every way that a noun can b
e used: subject, direct object, indirect object,
predicate nominative, object of a preposition,
appositive. The gerund phrase consists of the
gerund, its modifiers and complements
 Functions of Gerund Phrases
• Direct Object:
• My brother finished watering the lawn.
• Subject:
• Piercing her ear 100 times was a decision Ruby came to r
egret.
• Appositive:
• My favorite pastime, listening to cds, doesn’t require muc
h thought.
• Predicate Nominative: ( noun as sub complement)
• Her greatest flaw is being a perfectionist.
 3.Infinitive Phrases
• An infinitive is a verb form that usually begins with the wo
rd “to.” It can function as an adjective, noun or adverb.
• FUNCTION
• Direct Object:
• I like to scuba dive in the bathtub.
• Modifier:
• His effort to convince me to buy swampland in Louisiana
was a failure.
• Adverbial:
• He was too silly to be easily understood.
 Appositive Phrases
• An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed near
another noun or pronoun to explain or identify
it. An appositive phrase includes with the appos
itive all of the words or phrases that modify it
Xm. My uncle, a mediocre chef, is no Julia Childs,
since he often drops his cigar ashes into the foo
d he is preparing.
Xm. My favorite past time, cow tipping, often res
ults in dirty shoes
Identify whether the underlined words are passive
participles or adjectives
1. Her book has just been published in New York.
2. I was amazed at Patrick’s indifference.
3. Their arrival was certainly unexpected.
4. Her face was distorted with age.
5. Many of these projects should not have been
built at all
6. I was chiefly interested in modern novels.
7. I cannot understand why you are so depressed.
8. None of these products is manufactured in our
country.
9. Pele’s goal scoring record is still unbroken.
10. Tony was disgusted with all of us.
 Answers

1. Passive participle
2. Adjective
3. Adjective
4. Passive participle
5. Passive participle
6. Adjective
7. Adjective
8. Passive participle
9. Adjective
10.adjective
 Specify whether the underlined verbs are finite
or non-finite
1. The V-2 was a big step towards a spaceliner.
2. It could reach space.
3. But there was still a major breakthrough to be made: reaching
orbit.
4. The main obstacle to this was the amount of fuel required.
5. Most of the work from the engine was used to accelerate the V-2
to high speed.
6. To reach an object must accelerate to a speed of about 17,500
miles per hour (called satellite speed or orbital velocity) in
horizontal direction.
7. It is far easier to launch a spacecraft to reach satellite height than
satellite speed.
8. This is less than a quarter of speed needed to sustain a satellite
in orbit.
 Answers

1. Finite
2. Finite
3. Finite
4. finite; non -finite
5. Non-finite
6. Non-finite; finite
7. Finite
8. Non –finite
 Specify the adjective and adverb phrases

1. White bread was mixed with milk, oil and salt.

2. Disposing of nuclear waste is a problem that has
recently gained much attention.
3. People used to eat black bread because they were
poor.
4. In the past, authorities have not responded quickly
enough to problems at nuclear waste sites.
5. Bakers later devised tools to produce more highly
refined flour.
6. In a recent sample, 30 percent of the subscribers to
woman’s magazine said that they baked bread.
 Identify the functions of Adj. Phr.

1. The former () champion is now very ill ()

2. He has a rareviral () infection.
3. The drugs he takes make him sick ().
4. The doctor has arranged preliminary () tests for heart
surgery.
5. His general () health is good, but surgery is always
somewhat () risky.
 CLAUSE
• A group of words having a subject & a predicate o
f its own, but forming part of a sentence.

• For example: as he is ill, he can’t come.(2clauses)

dependent Independent
 Independent Dependent

CLAUSE

Principal Subordinate

CO-ORDINATE CLAUSE: of the same rank as another,

connected by co-ordinating conjunction & may be co-ordinate
with a principal/subordinate clause.
 Functional Types of clauses
Functionally, there are mainly three types of clauses:

1. Noun
clause

2. Adjective
clause

3. Adverb
clause
 1. Noun clause

• Works as noun

• Usually introduced by :
a) conjunction that: I know that he is ill.
b) interrogative pronoun: I shall inquire who did it.
c) interrogative adverb: I know why he did it.
 Functions of noun clause
• Subject :
That he is ill is known to all.
When he will come is uncertain.
• Object :
I know when he will come.
• Object of a preposition:
I know nothing of what he will do.
• Complement:
This is what we expected.
Exercise: Substitute noun phrases for noun cl
auses

• I know why he was angry.

• We have heard that he has died.

• He admitted that he had seen me.

Noun clause Noun phrase
• I know why he was angr • I know the reason of his
y. being angry.

• We have heard that he • We have heard of his de

has died. ath.

• He admitted that he ha • He admitted having see

d seen me. n me.
Exercise: Substitute noun clauses for noun ph
rases

• I have heard of his failure.

• I do not believe his statement.

Noun phrase Noun clause
• I have heard of his fai • I have heard that he
lure. has failed.

• I do not believe his st • I do not believe what

atement. he says.
 2. Adjective clause
• Works as adjective
• Usually introduced by:
a) Relative pronouns: who, which, that, as
b) Relative adverbs: when, where, how, why, as
Examples
• This is the boy who did it.
• This is the reason why he failed. Look at the
antecedents of

• I know the time when he comes. these clauses.

Diff between noun clause & adj. clause

• Note that WH words are used by both. So, the

y will be
1. Noun clause when WH words are interrogativ
e pronouns/adverbs introducing dependent q
uestions.(Tell me who did it)
2. Adj. clause when they are relative pronouns/
adverbs qualifying their antecedents.(I know
the boy who did it)
Noun clause Adj. clause
• Tell me when he will co • Tell me the time when h
me. e will come.

• I know how he did it. • I know the way how he

did it.
 3. Adverb clause
• Can be introduced by any subordinating conjunctions e
xcept ‘that’ in apposition.

1. Time : Wait until I come.

2. Place : Stay where you are.
3. Reason : As he is ill, he can not come.
4. Purpose : Walk slowly lest you should fail.
5. Result : I am so tired that I can not walk.
6. Condition :if I succeed, I shall help you.
7. Concession : Though he is poor, he is honest.
8. Comparison : He is not so tall as his brother.
Noun Clause
I expected to get a prize.(phrase)
I expected that I shall get a prize.
No one knows who he is.
Adjective clause
The umbrella with a broken handle is mine.(phrase)
The umbrella which has a broken handle is mine.
I letter brought money which was badly needed.

Adverb clause
They rested at sun set.(phrase)
They rested when evening came.
They went where living was cheaper.
Take a lamp because the night is dark.
 Important point
• The nature of a clause depends on the work do
ne by it, not upon its wording. The same clause
may be a noun or an adj. or an adv. Clause in di
fferent sentences.

• I know where he lives-N C, obj of know.

• I know the place where he lives-Adj. C, qualifyi
ng place.
• I shall go where he lives-Adv. C, qualifying shall
go.
 Identify the clause in the following sentences

1. We obeyed the order the teacher gave us.

1. A friend who helps you in time of need is a true friend.
3. As soon as he heard the newshe wrote me.
2. I have not been well since I return from England.
3. She denied that she had written the letter
4. The doctor has given me medicine which I must take.
5. The house where the accident occurred is nearby.
6. The Romans built in such a way that their walls are still standing.
9. What he said was true.
7. My belief is that he will not come
 Types of subordinate clause

Functionally, subordinate clauses can be of three types:

Nominal clause
It has a range of functions similar to that for noun phrase.

Modifier clause
Modifier clauses function as modifiers in phrases . One common
kind of modifier is the relative clause, which modifies a noun.

Adverbial clause
It functions as adverbial element in sentence or clause structure.
 Functions of subordinate clause
Nominal clause
.

(subject)
That you have come pleases me.
(object)
He replied that he would come.
 Continued…

Nominal relative clause

It is introduced by a nominal relative pronoun. Whereas relative
clause post-modify nouns, nominative relative clauses have the
same functions as noun phrases.

He gave his children what they wanted (sC)

He suggested the students that they wanted in need of time (oC).
Pay careful attention to what I am going to say (Complement of
preposition).
I do not understand how it all happened (adverbial).
 Modifier clause

Relative clause
The books that are consulted for lecture preparing can be useful for
the students as well.
The methods which are used in research are innovative in nature.

Reduced relative clause

I was engaged in a researchinvolving in many activities (‘that
involved…’).
Researchers found no evidence to suggest that education policy
could function innovatively. (‘That would suggest that…’)
 Continued…

Comparative clause
She is a better doctor than I am.
He spoke more rashly than he used to do
He did the right job as I expected.

Adverbial
When prime minister visits a place, everything becomes neat and clean.
Reflecting on the past three years, she wondered whether she could
have made better choices.
Identify the function of each of the underlined clauses by putting the
appropriate abbreviation in the brackets that follow:

Nominal clause (N), Nominal relative clause (NR), Relative clause (R), Reduced
relative clause (RR), Comparative clause (C) and adverbial (A).

1. It is not surprising that myth should be a prominent element in

the rhetoric of persuasion ( ).

2. The ancient discipline of rhetoric was indented to prepare the

beginner for tasks that involved speaking in public ( ).

3. The classical view of how to present a case in argument ( )

involved a structure of sequence elements.

4. In myths and parables what we are asked to talk literally ( ) is

accompanied by one or more possible levels of interpretation.
 Continued …

5. Creative writers are frequently blind to their own intentions and

to the nature of what they are doing ( ).

6. A view expressed by some modern critics is that creative writers

are no more the complete masters ( ) of what they do than are any
other writers ( ).

7. The study of rhetoric is complex because new conventions of

performances for particular purposes are being generated all the
time ( ).

8. Stylish propriety was formalized by the Roman rhetoricians, who

distinguished the three levels of the Grand, the Middle, and the
plain style ( ).
 Modern grammar: Non-finite & verbless clause
1. Progressive (or –ing participle clause)
• Maybe seeing their mother and father in such a pain was
having a bad effect on little girls.
• Just thinking about the final round put him in a combative mood.
• Having finished the work she went home.

2. Perfective (or –ed participle clause)

• Convinced that it was genuine, they decided to find local hosts.
• Dressed in street clothes, the patients strolled in the garden.
• Given the objectives of this research, this article demonstrates the
literacy percentage in Bangladesh.
 Continued…

Infinitive clause
• with to
They wanted to pay their meal
To survive is to dig into the pit of your own resources over and over
again.
• without to
We helped unload the car.
 Clauses continued
Verbless Clauses
•Though fearful of the road conditions, they decided to go by car.
•Weary and almost out of money, we drove into a petrol station off
the motorway.

1. Dressed in street cloths, (V +A)

1.a. They were dressed in street cloths, (S + V + A).
2. upload the car (V + dO).
2.a. We upload the car (S + V + dO).
3. Fearful of the road condition, (sC).
3.a. They were fearful of the road condition, (S + V + sC).
 Clause analysis in a sentence

Whenever he heard the question, the old man who lived in

that house answered that the earth is flat.

1. The old man … answered (principal clause)

2. Whenever he heard the question (adverb clause of time,
modifying answered in1.)
3. Who lived in the house (adjective clause, qualifying man in 1 )
4. That the earth is flat (Noun clause, object of answered in 1)
I think that he destroyed the letter which you sent there.

1. I think…(principal clause)
2. That he destroy the letter (Noun clause, object of think in 1)
3. Which you sent there( adjective Clause, subordinate to 2,
qualifying letter)

He replied that he worked whenever he liked.

1. He replied…(principal clause)
2. That he worked (Noun clause, object of replied in 1)
3. Whenever he liked (adverb clause of time, subordinate to 2,
modifying worked)
Thank you so much