CHAPTER 2: PHRASES
Aims of Chapter 2
• Students can identify what a phrase is.
• Students can identify forms of different types of
phrases.
• Students can identify functions of different types
of phrases.
What is a phrase?
I. Definition
• A phrase is a group of two or more words
occupying the same slot as a single word.
• The head of a phrase is the word in the
phrase that defines what sort of phrase it is.
A very silly mistake (NP)
the head
II. Types of phrases
1. Noun Phrase
2. Adjective Phrase
3. Adverb Phrase
4. Prepositional Phrase
5. Verb Phrase
EX
Group work
• Definition and key features of a noun
phrase
• Functions of a noun phrase
• Definition and key features of an adjective
phrase
• Functions of an adjective phrase
• Distinction between an adjective phrase
and an adjectival phrase
1. Noun Phrase (NP)
• A NP is any phrase that has a noun as its head and that can occupy
the same slot as a single noun or pronoun in a larger phrase or in a
sentence.
Big dogs frighten me.
She gave him a great big kiss.
• The head of a NP is the noun being described or referred to in the
phrase.
Her older sister
A great big kiss
• Sometimes a pronoun can be the head of a NP
They both knew the truth.
FUNCTIONS OF NOUN PHRASES
• Subject
The boy near the window is her son.
• Direct Object
He loves the girl next door.
• Indirect Object
He offered the girl next door a bouquet of flowers.
• Object or complement of a preposition
He went out with the girl next door last night.
FUNCTIONS OF NOUN PHRASES
• Subject Complement
Laura is a gorgeous lady.
• Object Complement
Paul calls her his expected sweetheart.
• Adverbial
I’ll see you tomorrow night.
It’s a lot worse than I expected.
2. Adjective Phrase
2.1. Adjective Phrase (AP)
• An AP is any phrase that has an adjective as its
head and that can occupy the same position as a
single adjective in a NP or fill the same slot as a
single adjective in a sentence.
Her behavior was absolutely unbelievable.
head
It was a very happy marriage.
head
2. Adjective Phrase
2.2. Functions of AP
• as adjectival modifier (modifying NOUNs )
A very exciting proposal
• as Subject-complement
Her proposal was very exciting.
• as Object-complement
You’ve made us very proud.
2. Adjective Phrase
2.3. Adjective Phrase vs Adjectival Phrase
• An adjective phrase is a phrase that has an
adjective as its head.
I was absolutely amazed at what I saw.
• An adjectival phrase is any phrase that can
function like an adjective.
We had a five-minute delay at the airport.
I must have reliable, up-to-date information.
Work in groups of five or six to make:
• sentences with noun phrases functioning as subject, direct
object, indirect object, subject complement, object
complement, complement of a preposition, adverbial
• sentences with adjective phrases functioning as adjectival
modifier, subject complement, object complement
Note: All of the sentences should be about challenges
students face at university, environmental pollution, or
disadvantages of social media.
Work in pairs to make:
• sentences with noun phrases functioning as indirect object
and object complement.
• sentences with adjective phrases functioning as adjectival
modifier, subject complement, object complement.
Note: All of the sentences should be about challenges
students face at university, environmental pollution, or
disadvantages of social media.
Group work
• Definition and key features of an adverb phrase
• Functions of an adverb phrase
• Distinction between an adverb phrase and an
adverbial phrase
• Definition and key features of a prepositional
phrase
• Functions of a prepositional phrase
• Definition and key features of a verb phrase
• Functions of a verb phrase
3. Adverb Phrase
3.1. Adverb Phrase (Adv P)
• An adverb phrase is a group of words that has an
adverb as its head.
She got out of bed very slowly.
• The head of an adverb phrase is the adverb that
carries the main meaning of the phrase.
very slowly, fast enough, more quickly
3. Adverb Phrase
3.2. Functions of an adverb phrase
• as adverbial
I so often feel that no-one is listening to me.
Quite frankly, I don’t want to know your reasons.
She might agree. Then again, she might not.
3. Adverb Phrase
3.3. Adverb Phrase vs Adverbial Phrase
• An adverb phrase is a group of words that has an
adverb as its head.
He runs very fast.
• An adverbial phrase is any phrase that can function
as an adverbial in a sentence.
I’ll visit Susan tomorrow morning. (NP as adverbial)
School starts again on Tuesday.(PP as adverbial)
4. Prepositional Phrase (PP)
• A pp is a phrase that consists of a preposition
followed by, for example, a noun, a pronoun, a noun
phrase or an adverb.
We saw her in town the other day.
Is she really going out with that guy?
• The head of a PP is the prep it begins with.
In silence On the bed To my room
• The rest of the PP is called the object or complement of
the prep.
4. Prepositional Phrase (PP)
Functions of Prepositional phrases
• as adverbial
The cat was on the table.
To my surprise, there was no-one there.
On the one hand, he’d like the job that pays more. On the
other hand, he enjoys the current job.
• as Subject-complement
Your work is of great value.
• as Object-complement
We considered the information of little importance.
4. Prepositional Phrase (PP)
Functions of Prepositional phrases
• as adjectival modifier (modify a Noun)
Who is that man with red hair?
We need an in-depth survey of the state of the roads.
• as complement of an adjective, adverb, or a verb
I am afraid of dogs.
She quickly moved away from the wall.
Tom insisted on a vote.
5. Verb Phrase (VP)
• A VP is a group of two or more words that can function in a
sentence in the same way as a single verb.
We have been looking for you everywhere.
Anna should have known what to do.
• The head of a VP is the main verb or lexical verb in that phrase,
the word that carries the main meaning of the phrase.
I have been reading some very interesting books.
• The other words in a VP are Aux verbs or helping verbs.
5. Verb Phrase (VP)
Functions of a VP
• VP as (part of) the predicate of a sentence.
The small boy is sleeping.
The boy is playing chess with his friends in
the class.
Phrasal verbs
• A phrasal verb is an expression that consists
of a lexical verb plus an adverb or a
preposition or both.
Everybody please stand up. (v+adv)
This calls for immediate action. (V+P)
I get along with her very well. (V+Adv+p)
EXERCISES
I. Identify the form of the underlined phrases
in each of the following sentences.
1. The fair takes place every year. (Noun Phrase)
2. They walked very carefully across the floor. (PP)
3. Despite the heavy rain, we decided to go for a walk
in the park to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery.
(Prepositional Phrase)
4. People with rude manners upset me. (Noun Phrase)
5. A three-year-old boy excitedly ran through the park.
(Noun Phrase)
I. Identify the form of the underlined phrases
in each of the following sentences.
6. She was taller than her classmates. (Noun Phrase)
7. After the football match, the kids went home. (PP)
8. They are going to escape in the morning. (PP)
9. You should have made a better preparation for the
exam. (Verb Phrase)
10. Mom said the cost of a car is way too high. (Adj P)
II. Identify the function of the underlined
phrases in each of the following sentences.
1. The fair takes place every year. (Adverbial)
2. They walked very carefully across the floor.
(Adverbial)
3. My mother has always wanted to live in a cabin by the
lake. (adjectival modifier)
4. People with rude manners upset me. (Subject)
5. A three-year-old boy excitedly ran through the park.
(adjectival modifier)
II. Identify the function of the underlined
phrases in each of the following sentences.
6. She was taller than her classmates. (Subject Complement)
7. After the football match, the kids went home. (Adverbial)
8. They are going to escape in the morning. (Adverbial)
9. You should have made a better preparation for the exam.
(Direct Object)
10. Mom said the cost of a car is way too high.
(Subject Complement)
II. Identify the function of the underlined
phrases in each of the following sentences.
11. The officer asked him several questions. (Direct Object)
12. Our visit made the host happy. (Object Complement)
13. She said that she can make him a better person.
(Object Complement)
14. Do not consider yourself above others.
(Object Complement)
15. Every child in his family likes bedtime stories.
(adjectival modifier)
III. Make sentences with different types of
phrases and then identify forms and functions
of the phrases in your sentences.
Thank you!