SENTENCE BUILDING BLOCKS: PHRASES

Noun Phrase

A phrase that acts as a noun in a sentence (it can be a subject, object, or complement). It is built around a single noun or pronoun.

10 Examples:

1. The tall, athletic boy won the race. (Acts as the subject)
2. She bought a beautiful red car. (Acts as the direct object)
3. He is my best friend. (Acts as the subject complement)
4. A house with a large garden is for sale. (Acts as the subject)
5. We saw the new movie that everyone is talking about. (Acts as the direct object)
6. The girl in the blue dress is my sister.
7. I want to read that interesting book.
8. All the students in the class passed the exam.
9. He told us a very funny story.
10. The old, dusty painting was worth a fortune.

Verb Phrase

A phrase made up of a main verb and one or more helping (auxiliary) verbs.

10 Examples:

1. She is running a marathon.
2. He has been studying for three hours.
3. They will have finished by tomorrow.
4. I should have called you earlier.
5. The package might be delivered today.
6. We were waiting for the bus.
7. He did not attend the meeting.
8. You must complete the task.
9. The problem can be solved easily.
10. I am going to travel next month.

Adjective Phrase

A group of words that describes a noun or pronoun in a sentence. The entire phrase acts as a single adjective.

10 Examples:

1. The man with the red hat is my uncle. (Describes 'man')
2. She was very happy about the news. (Describes 'She')
3. This is a decision of great importance. (Describes 'decision')
4. He is a person fond of music. (Describes 'person')
5. The girl wearing the blue dress is my sister. (Describes 'girl')
6. The book on the top shelf is incredibly interesting. (Describes 'book')
7. He works in a building taller than any other in the city. (Describes 'building')
8. She felt extremely tired after the long journey. (Describes 'She')
9. I read a story full of adventure and mystery. (Describes 'story')
10. The path covered in snow was difficult to walk on. (Describes 'path')

Adverb Phrase

A group of words that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. The entire phrase acts as a single adverb.

10 Examples:

1. He ran with great speed. (How did he run?)
2. She arrived in the morning. (When did she arrive?)
3. They are studying at the library. (Where are they studying?)
4. He works hard to earn a living. (Why does he work hard?)
5. Please put the box over there. (Where?)
6. We will meet in a few minutes. (When?)
7. She spoke in a very soft voice. (How?)
8. He left the company for personal reasons. (Why?)
9. They travel all over the world. (Where?)
10. He answered the question as quickly as possible. (How?)

Prepositional Phrase

A phrase that begins with a preposition and ends with its object (a noun or pronoun). It can function as either an adjective or an adverb.

10 Examples:

1. The book on the table is mine. (Adjective phrase describing 'book')
2. He is sleeping on the sofa. (Adverb phrase modifying 'is sleeping')
3. The girl with the red hair is my cousin. (Adjective phrase describing 'girl')
4. We will meet after lunch. (Adverb phrase modifying 'will meet')
5. He is the captain of the team. (Adjective phrase describing 'captain')
6. She ran around the track. (Adverb phrase modifying 'ran')
7. The keys to the car are missing. (Adjective phrase describing 'keys')
8. They live in a big city. (Adverb phrase modifying 'live')
9. A man from the village came to see you. (Adjective phrase describing 'man')
10. He hid the gift under the bed. (Adverb phrase modifying 'hid')

Infinitive Phrase

A phrase that starts with an infinitive (to + verb) and includes any objects or modifiers. It can function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

10 Examples:

1. To win the game is his only goal. (Noun phrase, subject)
2. He works hard to support his family. (Adverb phrase, modifies 'works')
3. This is the best way to solve the problem. (Adjective phrase, modifies 'way')
4. She wants to learn Spanish. (Noun phrase, direct object)
5. He went to the store to buy some milk. (Adverb phrase, modifies 'went')
6. I need a book to read on my vacation. (Adjective phrase, modifies 'book')
7. His dream is to become a pilot. (Noun phrase, subject complement)
8. They were happy to see us. (Adverb phrase, modifies 'happy')
9. The decision to move to a new city was difficult. (Adjective phrase, modifies 'decision')
10. To tell the truth requires courage. (Noun phrase, subject)

Gerund Phrase

A phrase that starts with a gerund (a verb ending in -ing) and includes its modifiers and objects. The entire phrase functions as a noun.

10 Examples:

1. Running every morning is good for your health. (Subject)
2. He enjoys playing the guitar. (Direct object)
3. Her favorite hobby is painting landscapes. (Subject complement)
4. I am tired of listening to your complaints. (Object of a preposition)
5. Finishing the project on time requires a lot of effort. (Subject)
6. She started working at the new company last week. (Direct object)
7. My biggest challenge is managing my time effectively. (Subject complement)
8. Thank you for helping me with my homework. (Object of a preposition)
9. Eating healthy food is important. (Subject)
10. He regretted not studying harder for the exam. (Direct object)

Participial Phrase

A phrase that starts with a participle (a verb form ending in -ing for present or -ed/-en for past) and includes its modifiers and objects. The entire phrase functions as an adjective.

10 Examples:

1. The man wearing the blue hat is my uncle. (Describes 'man')
2. The car, damaged in the accident, was towed away. (Describes 'car')
3. Blinded by the light, he stumbled and fell. (Describes 'he')
4. I saw a dog wagging its tail excitedly. (Describes 'dog')
5. The letter, written in a hurry, was difficult to read. (Describes 'letter')
6. The students working on the project are very talented. (Describes 'students')
7. Known for his generosity, he was loved by everyone. (Describes 'he')
8. The team, inspired by their coach's speech, played brilliantly. (Describes 'team')
9. We saw a movie starring my favorite actor. (Describes 'movie')
10. The treasure, hidden for centuries, was finally discovered. (Describes 'treasure')

Quick Identification Guide

Use this table as a quick reference to identify the type of phrase based on the question it answers.