19.1 Phrases
Sentences are usually built with more than just a subject and a verb. Phrases play an important role in sentences by adding more information.
19.1.1 A phrase is a group of words that functions in a sentence as a single part of speech. Phrases do not contain a subject and a verb.
Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase has at least two parts, a preposition and a noun or pronoun that is the object of the preposition.
EXAMPLES near airports - around trees prep object prep object
The object of the preposition may be modified by one or more adjectives.
EXAMPLE near busy urban airports prep adj adj object
The object may also be a compound, consisting of two or more objects connected by a conjunction such as and or nor.
EXAMPLE near busy urban highways and airports prep adj adj object object
In a sentence, some prepositional phrases can act as adjectives that modify a noun or pronoun. Other prepositional phrases can act as adverbs that modify a verb, adjective, or adverb.
Using Prepositional Phrases That Act as Adjectives
A prepositional phrase that acts as an adjective in a sentence is called an adjective phrase.
An adjective phrase or adjectival phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun by telling what kind or which one.
Unlike one-word adjectives, which usually come before the nouns or pronouns they modify, adjective phrases usually come after the nouns or pronouns they modify.
ONE-WORD ADJECTIVES ADJECTIVE PHRASE
The asphalt roadway began there. The roadway with two lanes began there. The angry rancher stopped us. The rancher with the angry face stopped us.
Adjectival phrases answer the same questions as one-word adjectives do. What kind of roadway began there? Which rancher stopped us?
USE OF ADJECTIVE PHRASES Modifying a Subject The sound of the wind scared us.
Modifying a Direct Object It rattled windows in the room. When two adjectival phrases appear in a row, the second phrase may modify the object of the preposition in the first phrase or both phrases may modify the same noun or pronoun.
ADJECTIVE PHRASES IN A ROW
Modifying the Object of a Preposition The weather vane on the roof of the barn spun wildly. Modifying the Same Noun There was a smell of rain in the air.
Using Prepositional Phrases That Act as Adverbs
A prepositional phrase that acts as an adverb modifies the same parts of speech as a one-word adverb does.
19.1.3 An adverbial phrase or adverb phrase Is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. Adverbial phrases point out where, when, in what way, or to what extent.
Adverbial phrases are used in the same way as one-word adverbs, but they sometimes provide more precise details.
ONE-WORD ADVERBS ADVERB PHRASES
Bring your saddle here. Bring your saddle to the barn. The parade began early. The parade began at exactly eleven o’clock.
Adverbial phrases can modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
USE OF ADVERBIAL PHRASES Raindrops fell in heavy torrents. (Fell in what Modifying a Verb way?) The day was warm for December. (Warm in what Modifying an Adjective way?) The rain fell softly, for a heavy storm. (Softly in Modifying an Adverb what way?)
Adverbial phrases, unlike adjectival phrases, are not always located near the words they modify in a sentence.
EXAMPLE During the storm, ranchers chased the herd.
Two or more adverbial phrases can also be located in different parts of the sentence and still modify the same word.
EXAMPLE In an instant, a tornado tore through our house.