Phrases: Introduction, Prepositional Phrases, and Appositive Phrases Mrs. Hamilton Summer 2008
What is a Phrase? • A phrase is a group of words that go together, but do not make a complete sentence. • Phrases act as a single part of speech in a sentence.
Prepositional Phrases • A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun. • The noun or pronoun at the end of the prepositional phrase is called the object of the preposition.
Prepositional Phrases • Prepositional phrases may consist simply of a preposition and its object. • Prepositional phrases may have modifiers between the preposition and its object (particularly adjectives).
Compound Objects of Prepositions • You can have compound objects of the preposition (more than one object joined by a coordinating conjunction. • FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
More on Prepositional Phrases • It is possible to have consecutive (more than one) prepositional phrase. • This is different from a compound o.p. because compound o.ps share the preposition and are joined by the coordinating conjunction.
Adjective Phrases • Prepositional phrases that function as adjectives are called adjective phrases. • Adjective phrases modify nouns or pronouns. • Adjectives can answer “what kind?”, “which one?”, “how many?”, or “how much?” or “whose”?
Adjective Phrases • Adjective phrases always follow the word they modify.
Examples of Adjective Phrases • The girl with the hat is my cousin. • The students from CHS know Mrs. Eller. • The book on the cart is my favorite.
Adverb Phrases • Prepositional phrases that act as adverbs by modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. • “To what degree or extent?” • “Where? • “When?” • “How?”
Examples of Adverb Phrases • We ran over the hill. • At midnight I went downstairs. • She skates very well for a beginner.
Appositives • An appositive is a noun or pronoun that typically follows another noun or pronoun to further identify it or explain it. >Tom Glavine, a Cy Young Award winner, pitched well. >My brother Todd is a Georgia Tech graduate.
Appositives Phrases • An appositive phrase is made up of the appositive and its modifers. >Mr. Smith, a teacher at Lincoln High School, won the lottery yesterday. >Ms. Hamilton, our teacher, assigned us a quiz yesterday.
Commas and Appositive Phrases/Appositives • Use commas to set off any appositive or appositive phrase that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. >Ethan’s friend Julie works at the store. (essential) >Eric, Ethan’s twin brother , does not have money today.