All words are interrelated and are grouped together to form phrases. This means that although a phrase consists of multiple words, all the words work together to perform one function in a sentence. There are many types of phrases, but we will look at four basic ones: 1. noun phrase, 2. verb phrase, 3. prepositional phrase, and 4. infinitive phrase.
Noun Phrases
A Noun Phrase has the noun as a head word together with related articles and adjectives. All words in a noun phrase work together to form a subject, object of the verb (follows a verb), or subject complement (follows a linking verb), object of a preposition (follows a preposition), or participial phrase.
- The noun phrases in the following sentence are in bold “His choice had been to stay in the deep dark water far out beyond all snares.” (Hemingway)
The noun phrase “his choice” functions as the subject of the sentence. The noun phrase “the deep dark water” functions as the object of the preposition “in” and forms a prepositional phrase. The noun phrase “all snares” is an object of the preposition “beyond” and forms a prepositional phrase. Notice the head noun in each noun phrase!
Prepositional Phrases
A Prepositional Phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun/pronoun. All words in a prepositional phrase work together as one part of speech, usually adjective or adverb because the whole phrase answers a single question of an adjective or an adverb.
- Two prepositional phrases in the following sentence are in bold “His choice had been to stay in the deep dark water far out beyond all snares.” (Hemingway)
The following combinations are frequently used in sentences with prepositional phrases:
- preposition + noun/pronoun, e.g. at home, with them, etc.
- preposition + article + noun, e.g. on the road, to the bank, etc.
- preposition + article + adjective + noun, e.g. in a new book, before a long story, etc.
For clarity, when a noun phrase is an object of a preposition (follows a preposition), we will call it a prepositional phrase.
The prepositional phrase “in the deep dark water” functions as an adverb that describes the infinitive “to stay” – unleashed where? – in the deep dark water. The prepositional phrase “beyond all snares” functions as an adverb that describes the adverb “far out” – far out where? – beyond all snares.
Verb Phrases
A Verb Phrase consists of a main verb (action or linking) and all helping verbs. All verbs together form one verb phrase that functions as ONE VERB in a sentence.
Helping Verb + Main Verb = Verb Phrase
can + read = can read
is + reading = is reading
has + been + reading = has been reading
could + have + been + reading = could have been reading
does + not + read = does read (“not” is an adverb and is not a part of the verb phrase)
Sometimes, verbs in a verb phrase can be separated by other words.
Sentence: He does not read in English.
Verb Phrase: does read (“not” is an adverb and is not a part of the verb phrase)
Sentence: He doesn’t usually read in English.
Verb Phrase: does read (“not” and “usually” are adverbs and are not a part of the verb phrase)
Sentence: Does he read in English?
Verb Phrase: does read (“he” is a subject and is not a part of the verb phrase)
- The verb phrase in the following sentence is in bold “His choice had been to stay in the deep dark water far out beyond all snares.” The verb phrase is formed by a helping verb “had” and an action verb “been.” (Hemingway)
Infinitive Phrases
An Infinitive Phrase is formed by a particle “to” and a verb (to + verb). Even though it has a verb in it, an infinitive phrase does not function as a verb. It functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
- The infinitive phrases in the following sentence is in bold “His choice had been to stay in the deep dark water far out beyond all snares.” (Hemingway)