Kinds of phrase II

5.The participial phrase

A participial phrase is made up of the participle (verb and adjective combined) and words that modify (change) the participle or completes its meaning.(Both present participles and past past participles can be used in participial phrases.)

• Telling me about the price of the TV,the shopkeeper gave me the voucher (receipt).
  The students listened to the lecture prepared after great research.
  Delighted at the beauty of the song,we jumped in out seats.

Note on the present participle and past participle
(a)A present participle ending in "ing" is used with the verb "to be" to form continuous tenses such as playing-they are playing.The "ing" is also used an adjective:in the playing field.
(b)A past participle is verb that ends in "ed," "en," etc. and is used with the verb "have" to form perfect tense as "she has gone," "they have fallen."

6.The infinitive phrase

1. An infinitive phrase is made up of the infinitive (which often starts with "to" and functions as a noun,an adjective or an adverb),its complements (words which complete its meaning) and any modifiers (words that give additional information about it).
2. It can occur in the active voice without "to" when we use "bid,hear,make,need,dare,see,let,etc."

• He bid them write (told them to write) their homework.(modern tense forms:bid-bid-bid)
  Passive:They were bid to write their homework.(All active forms are not amenable to passive.)
  How did you dare come in?You need not worry.

7.The verb phrase

A verb phrase is one or more helping verbs and a main verb together.

• are sleeping,had met,will have left

A verb phrase is made up of a main verb and one or more helping verb (auxiliary) verbs coming before it.Helping verbs are all the forms of "be" like,is,has,had,will,shall,should,may,must,might,etc.

• will come,may go,are trying,is raining,were moving,will be attacking,have been sleeping,will have been done,etc.

8.The gerund phrase

1. The gerund is a verb form,which ends in -ing.It is verb and noun combined.
• playing,swimming,touring,thinking,laughing,eating,drinking,sweeping,writing
  Visiting new places is his hobby.I like composing new tunes.
  (A participle is part verb and part adjective,decorated house,educated person)
2. Further,gerunds,like nouns,are used as subjects,predicate nominatives or predicate adjectives,direct objects or objects of prepositions.
• Riding is enjoyable.(subject)
  Her job is cooking.(predicate nominative-qualifying the subject-subject complement)
  Sheila is fond of joking.(object to the preposition "of")
3. Gerunds work as nouns,so adjectives and adjective phrases can qualify (tell about) them.

• The spectators watched the strange jumping of the athletes.(adj. phrase)
  Of the best order was their singing.(adj. phrase)

Definition of the gerund phrase

A gerund phrase is made up of a gerund and its complements (a word or phrase that describes it) and modifiers (words which give extra information about it).
• A most horrible thundering,incomparable with any heard earlier,sent us into the cave.

Kinds of phrases I

Phrase
A phrase is a combination of words that makes some sense,but not complete sense.

• at the airport;in the hall,in the dead of night;at her beck and call;the whirlpool of circumstances.

Kinds of phrases with exercises

1. The noun phrase
A noun phrase is a group of words which does the work of a noun or pronoun. A simple test for locating a noun phrase is to place "it, "him" or other pronouns in place of the groups of words functioning like a phrase.
• They want to visit Europe.
• Here "to visit Europe" does the work of a noun or pronoun.We could have said: They want this or it...
Provide meaningful noun phrases:

Examples What they want is difficult to give them. They hope= They hope to visit America some day. ... is not known to them= What to do with their money is not known to them. Did they try?Did they try reading in the dark?

Exercise She likes ... Our friends say they play ... ... is all incorrect. The great powers want ... ...is not clear to us.

2. The adjective phrase
An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that qualifies or tells about a noun or pronoun.(or) An adjective phrase is a group of words which does the work of an adjective.
• It is an important matter.(important-adj.)
• It is a matter of importance.(of importance-adj.phrase.)
  A foolish act-an act of foolishness.
  The highest building-the building of the greatest height.
Provide meaningful adjective phrases:

Examples The Chinese people are peace-loving= The people of China are peace-loving. Have you ever seen such a greedy animal?= Have you ever seen an animal of such greed? She heard a scholarly lecture. = She heard a lecture of great scholarship (learning). The lonely boy was crying. = The boy without any companion was crying. Had they replaced the illegible words? =Had they replaced the words that could not be read?

Exercise Wealthy people often do not take enough exercise. They have not seen all the Pakistani cities. Have you met the red-haired children? Do the people like the brave deeds of the soldiers? The beautiful dancer won the hearts of the spectators. We will face their inimical (unfriendly) plans and terrorist acts wisely and bravely. Note.We cannot replace all adjectives with adjective phrases.

3. The adverb phrase
A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb,an adjective or an adverb is an adverb phrase.An adverb phrase does the work of an adverb and tells how,when,where or to what extent.
• You did it well.(adv.)You did it in a good way.(adv. phrase)
  They went there.(adv.)They went to that place.(adv. phrase)
Provide meaningful adverb phrases:

Examples They played happily. = They played in happiness. She works carefully. = She works with care. The students arrived there in time. = The students arrived at the place in time. They played very cheerfully. = They played in all cheerfulness.

Exercise She went there ...(in a great hurry or by bus,etc.) Did they speak to you...? Never behave towards your elders... Do not cry... We did not play... The population of Pakistan is increasing...

4. The prepositional phrase
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship of a noun or pronoun with another word.In,on,at,towards,under,over,beside are some of the most common prepositions.An object always follows a preposition.Note how different prepositions in the same sentence change its meaning. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun.

It works as a noun It works as an adjective It works as an adverb

The pictures she wants are with the librarian.[with(prep.),the librarian(n.phr.)] The building of the college is quite beautiful. She spoke in a sweet voice.

Note the prepositional phrases in italics in the following sentences:
• She lives in a small room.The train was moving fast at that time.Please walk across the road.

Kinds of clauses

1. The noun clause
It is a group of words with a subject and a predicate which does the work of a noun or pronoun. But when it does not have a subject and a predicate it is a noun phrase:
• She decided to play badminton.(noun phrase)
  She decided (that) she would play badminton.(noun clause)
• Both the sentences could have been:She decided this.So the phrase or the clause replaces "this."
The noun clause can be used: i.As the object to a verb as in the last example.Further:
• They understand/verb (that) they have made mistakes/noun clause(object) ("That" may or may may not be used here.)
• They understand this or that or them.The clause "they have made mistakes" replaces the pronoun, and so functions as a noun clause.
• Who says I am a fool?
ii.As the subject to a verb:
• What he tells us now is importent.
iii.As the object to a preposition:
• Your books ae in the room where you were sitting.(object to "in")
  We have been saved by what he has done.(object to "by")
  On how she speaks in the interview depends her selection.(object to "on")
iv.Side by side with a noun when the noun clause is an explanation of the noun:
• Their idea that our business will fail is foolish.
  The story that tells of their travels through Africa has surprised us.
• "That" is used to connect the clause in italics with the noun before it.
v.As the complement to a verb.(See "complement" explained earlier):
• My idea was that she would not help me.They will be what they have never been.

Exercise

Pich out the noun clauses: The teacher can tell why you have failed. That the sun gives us the heat we need is a geographical fact. Very few people can study all that they desire to learn in their life. How acn you understand what we have written here? She rejected whatever I had suggested.

Provide noun clauses: She knows... Can you tell...? ... is true. Do not cry over... What you have told me is... Who can tell...?

2. The adjective clause
An adjective clause is a group of words,which has a subject a nd a predicate and which functions as an adjective.An adjective clause qualifies or tells about a noun or pronoun.It is generally introduced by relative pronouns- that,which,whom, etc.It should be placed close to the word or words it tells about. But when it does not have a subject and a predicate,it is an adjective phrase:
• The people arriving late at the meeting could not hear the speech.
• The adjective phrase "arriving late at the meeting" describes the noun "people"-it is a phrase without a subject and a predicate.
• The people,who arrived late at the meeting,could not hear the speech.
• The adjective clause "who arrived lat at the meeting" describes the noun "people"-it is a clause because it has the subject "who" and the predicate "arrived late at the meeting."
Other examples:
• I met a doctor with two clinics.(Adjective phrase)
  I met a doctor who had two clinics.(Adjective clause)
  They can tell about the time when the train departs.(Adjective clause)
  They can tell about the time of its departure.(Adjective phrase)

Exercise

Pick out the adjective clauses: The students who work hard succeed. The leaders who are liked by others should rule the country. Where is the shirt which I had bought last weak? Please give me the table that has ten drawers. The houses which are newly white-washed are all for sale.

Provide adjective clauses: That is the school... You should learn the subject... What is the difficulty...? The car.. has broken down. Where are the books...?

3. The adverb clause
It is a groups of words with a subject and a predicate which does the work for an adverb.Thus,it describes a verb,adjective or adverb in another clause.
• They play after finishing their work.
• Here adverb phrase, "after finishing their work" describes the main clause,"They play," "play" being a "verb."Clearly it does not have a subject and a predicate.
• They play after they finish their work.
• Here "after they finish their work" is an adverb clause, as it has a subject (they) and a clause (finished their work).It qualifies "the verb "play."
• He is hardworking,so he succeeds.
• Here "so he succeeds" is the adverb clause qualifying the adjective "hardworking."
• They work well when they get a lot of facilities.
• Adverb clause decribing the main clause with the adverb "well."
• When the people have more money,prices rise.
• Adverb clause, "prices rise," describing another clause.

Exercise

Pick out the adverb clauses: The students protested when the fines were announced. He will come if you call him. They have failed the exam because they did not work hard. We earn money so that we may live comfortably. The teachers teach well so long as the students obey them.

Provide adverb clauses: Play the game... They spoke so fast... If you read your lessons well,... People hate him... They never do...