Phrases Flashcards
Rework this sentence so that it doesn’t end with a prepositional phrase:
Jill passed the beaker to me.
Jill passed me the beaker.
Identify all the prepositional phrases in the following sentence:
From the back seat, Vera instructed her daughter to take the exit on the left and stay behind the yellow Jeep.
From the back seat, on the left, and -behind the yellow Jeep- are prepositional phrases.
What kind of phrase is the boldface portion?
The general -dressed in gray- is Robert E. Lee.
An adjective phrase.
What kind of phrase is the boldface portion?
That song is empty -of meaning-.
An adverb phrase.
Find all the prepositional phrases in the following sentence:
Under the tree behind the fence, there is a box that contains something quite interesting.
The prepositional phrases are: -Under the tree- and -behind the fence-
Is the boldface phrase an adjective phrase?
The baby slept -with her thumb in her mouth.
No. This is an adverb phrase.
What type of phrase is boldface below?
-In the dark-, the mice sneak toward the cookie jar.
-In the dark- is a prepositional phrase.
What type of phrase is boldface below?
-Wearing only shorts-, the prince strode into the black tie ball.
An adjective phrase.
What type of phrase is boldface below?
We watched the bird -flapping its wings.-
A gerund phrase.
What is a phrase?
A phrase is a group of related words that lacks either a subject or a verb.
T/F; Phrases never have subjects.
False. A phrase can have a subject if it doesn’t have a verb. (If it has both, it is a clause.)
T/F: A phrase can be a complete sentence.
False: A phrase lacks either a verb or a subject.
Can a phrase ever act as a subject?
Yes. A phrase acting as a subject is called a noun phrase.
T/F: Sentence is synonymous with phrase.
False. Sentence is synonymous with independent clause. A phrase always lacks either a subject or a verb-the two essential components of a sentence.
What is a gerund phrase?
A gerund phrase is a phrase that operates as a subject and contains a gerund (a verb ending with -ing)
-Washing the dishes- is a gerund phrase.
What is a prepositional phrase?
It is a phrase containing a preposition (under, on, for, with) a noun and often adjectives that modify it. Prepositional phrases often describe where or when something is happening.
What famous song from the Wizard of Oz contains a prepositional phrase in its title?
“Somewhere over the Rainbow” (Over the Rainbow is the prepositional phrase)
Can prepositions end sentences?
Technically no but many good writers break this rule.
What is an adjective phrase?
An Adjective phrase is a phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun.
What is an adverb phrase?
An adverb phrase is a phrase that begins with a preposition and acts as an adverb.
What is a noun phrase?
A noun phrase is a phrase that acts as a subject.
What is a gerund phrase?
A gerund phrase is a noun phrase containing a gerund
what is a participle phrase?
A participle phrase is a phrase that contains a present participle (an -ing ending verb) or a past participle (an -ed ending verb ) and acts as an adjective. If participle phrases begin sentences, they typically are set off by a comma. If they are in the middle of a sentence, they are set off by two commas.
Is the following a phrase?
While he was carving his initials into the desk
No. This is a dependent clause.
What type of phrase is boldface below?
-Reading without good light- can hurt your eyes.
This is a gerund phrase.
What type of phrase is boldface below?
_Having changed hands millions of times-, the dollar bill was dirty and crinkled.
This is a participle phrase.
