Phrases: Introduction

Introduction

Here, we start the construction of your writing with the phrase, one of the key building blocks of the sentence. There are several different kinds of phrases, including prepositional phrases (with the subcategories adjectival phrases and adverbial phrases), appositives, and verbals. In this section, you learn them all. First, I teach you the individual parts of each different phrase and then ease you into the phrases themselves.

Phrases of the Moon

A phrase is a group of words that functions in a sentence as a single part of speech. A phrase does not have a subject or a verb. As you write, you use phrases to …

• Add detail by describing.
• Make your meaning more precise.
• Fold in additional information.

The following table shows the different types of phrases.

Different Types of Phrases

Type of Phrase	Definition	Example
Prepositional	Begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun	… by the lake
Adjectival	Prepositional phrase that funtions as an adjective	She has a fish with red gills.
Adverbial	Prepositional phrase that functions as an adverb.	We cheered with loud voices.
Appositive	Noun or pronoun that renames another noun or pronoun.	Lou, a Viking, enjoys plunder.
Verbal	A verb form used as another part of speech.	(See the following three entries.)
Participle	Verbal phrase that functions as an adjective.	Eating slowly, the child was finally quiet.
Gerund	Verbal phrase that functions as a noun	Partying hearty requires great endurance.
Infinitive	Verbal phrase that functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb.	To sleep late on Sunday is a real treat.