Phrases

(i) More than one word: A phrase is a group of words. A single word isn't considered a phrase. Read the following examples:

• Birds fly. [The subject of the sentence is "Birds" and it is only one word. So, it is not a phrase.]
• Many beautiful birds fly. [The subject of the sentence is "Many beautiful birds" and it is more than one word. So, "Many beautiful birds" is a phrase.]

(ii) No subject and verb: Unlike a clause or sentence, a phrase doesn't have both a subject and a verb.

(iii) Grammatical unit: It functions like a single part of speech [noun, adjective, or adverb].

Remember!

A phrase does not contain a subject and a verb (predicate) working together, so it does not express a complete thought on its own. Instead, a phrase functions as a component of a sentence and typically consists two or more words.

1. Noun Phrase: A noun phrase is a group of words that functions as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. Here are some examples of noun phrases:

• The red car looks gorgeous.
• I like sweet potatoes. 

2. Prepositional Phrase: Preposition follows an object. The preposition along with its object is called a prepositional phrase.

• In fact, whales behave like human beings. 
  
• We can learn a lot from the whale.
• Some whales sing beautifully for twenty hours at a stretch.

3. Verb Phrase: A verb phrase is a group of words containing one main verb and one or more auxiliary verbs.

Verb Phrase = Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb

• You may go now.
  
• I have done the work.
• The train is moving fast enough.
• It has been raining since morning. 

4. Infinitive Phrase: An infinitive phrase is formed of an infinitive and its object or complement.

Infinitive Phrase = To Infinitive + Object / Complement / Adverbial

• I am going there to visit my friend. 
  
• I am glad to work with you. 
• I want to see you here.
• I am glad to know your success. 

5. Participle Phrase: A participle phrase is formed of a participle and its object or complement.

Participle Phrase = Present Participle / Past Participle + Object / Complement / Adverbial

• I have a boat made of wood. 
  
• Loudly knocking at the door, he demanded admission.
• Near the forest, police found a sick old man lying on his back and crying piteously for help. 
• The book bought from College Street is lost. 

6. Gerund Phrase: A gerund phrase formed of a gerund and its object or complement.

Gerund Phrase = Gerund + Object / Complement / Adverbial

• Qualifying in the admission test is not easy.
  
• She loves watching television.
• They enjoy catching sea fish.
• Walking in the morning is good for health. 

7. Adjective Phrase: An adjective phrase is a group of words that modifies a noun or pronoun. Compare the following sentences carefully and read the explanation below.

• The bird is very little.
  
• She looks extremely lovely.
• There is no hard and fast rule in film making.
• The book bought from College Street is lost.   
• The man walking along the road is my teacher. 
  
• The passenger injured in the accident has died. 
• The girl in green is my cousin. 
• The cat on the mat is fat. 

8. Adverbial Phrase: An adverbial phrase is a group of words that does the work of an adverb. Adverbial phrases answer the questions 'when?' 'where?' 'why?' and 'how?'. "When", "where?", "Why?" and "How?" are adverb questions. We can identify adverbs with the help of these questions.

• He came last Sunday. [Answers the question "when"] 
  
• I was born in February. [Answers the question "when"]
• Dad works in New York. [Answers the question "where"]
• The sun rises in the east. [Answers the question "where"]
• They were speaking very loudly. [Answers the question "how"]
• She cried like a child. [Answers the question "how"]
• The man is crying for help. [Answers the question "why"]
• She is absent because of illness. [Answers the question "why"]

9. Conjunctional Phrase: A conjunctional phrase joins words, phrases, or clauses. 

• David as well as Christine has come.
  
• Come as soon as you can.
• He talks as if he were a fool. 
• The man is not only poor but also lazy.  

10. Interjectional Phrase: An interjectional phrase does the work of an interjection.

• For God's sake! Hold your tongue.
  
• My goodness! What have you done?

11. Appositive Phrase: An appositive phrase is a noun phrase that is placed after another noun or noun phrase where the second noun phrase identifies or renames the first one. 

• Mr. James, our new captain, is an active boy. 
  
• Alice, my sister, is a smart girl. 

12. Absolute Phrase: An absolute phrase (nominative absolute) is made up of a noun and a participle phrase. Absolute phrase modifies the whole clause or whole sentence.

• The marriage ceremony being over, the guests went away.
  
• The sun having set, we returned home. 

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