Title: Holt Handbook Chapter 5
1Holt Handbook Chapter 5
- The Phrase Prepositional, Verbal, and Appositive
Phrases
21-What is a Phrase?
- A phrase is a group of related words that is used
as a single part of speech and that does not
contain both a verb and its subject.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE a message from the other
members of the debate team
PARTICIPIAL PHRASE monkeys swinging through the
dense jungle
INFINITIVE PHRASE asking to go with them on
their Antarctic expedition
APPOSITIVE PHRASE a painting by van Gogh, the
famous Dutch painter
NOTE a group of words that has both a verb and
its subject is called a clause.
Pg 95
32-The Prepositional Phrase
- A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, a
noun or pronoun called the object of the
preposition, and any modifiers of that object.
EXAMPLES The Seine River flows through Paris.
The noun Paris is the object of the preposition
through.
EXAMPLES The car in front of us slid into an icy
snow bank. The pronoun us is the object of the
compound preposition in front of. The noun snow
bank is the object of the preposition into.
4NOTE
- Be careful not to confuse a prepositional phrase
with an infinitive. A prepositional phrase always
has an object that is a noun or a pronoun. An
infinitive is a verb form that usually begins
with to.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE When we went to Florida, we
saw the old Spanish fort in St. Augustine.
INFINITIVE When we were in Florida, we went to
see the old Spanish fort in St. Augustine.
Pg 96
53-The Adjective Phrase
- A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a
pronoun is called an adjective phrase.
EXAMPLES Wang Wei was a talented painter of
landscapes. the prepositional phrase of
landscapes modifies the noun painter, telling
what kind of painter.
EXAMPLES Mrs. OMeara is the one on the left.
the prepositional phrase on the left modifies
the pronoun one, telling which one Mrs. OMeara
is.
Pg. 97
64-The Adverb Phrase
- A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an
adjective, or an adverb is called an adverb
phrase.
An adverb phrase tells how, when, where, why, or
to what extent (how long, how much, or how far).
EXAMPLES the snow fell throughout the day .
the phrase modifies the verb fell, telling when
the snow fell.
EXAMPLES Are you good at soccer? the phrase
modifies the adjective good, telling how you are
good.
Pg 99
75- Verbals and Verbal Phrases
- A verbal is a word that is formed from a verb but
is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
There are three kinds of verbals the participle,
the gerund, and the infinitive.
86- The Participle
- A participle is a verb form that can be used as
an adjective. - Present participles end in ing.
- The smiling child waved.
- The horses trotting past were not frightened by
the crowd. - ---Most past participles end in d or ed. Some
past participles are irregularly formed. - The police officers searched the abandoned
warehouse.
97 The Participial Phrase
- A participial phrase consists of a participle and
any modifiers or complements the participle has.
The entire phrase is used as an adjective.
Seeing itself in the mirror, the duck seemed
quite bewildered.
108- The Gerund
- A gerund is a verb form ending in ing that is
used as a noun.
SUBJECT Skiing down that slope was fun.
PREDICATE NOMINATIVE Dads favorite pastime is
fishing for trout and bass.
INDIRECT OBJECT Give sailing a try.
DIRECT OBJECT We enjoyed hiking in the Sangre de
Cristo Mountains.
OBJECT OF PREPOSITION Please sweep the front
sidewalk after mowing.
11The Gerund Phrase
- A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any
modifiers or complements the gerund has. The
entire phrase is used as a noun.
Having a part-time job may interfere with your
schoolwork.
The townspeople heard the loud clanging of the
fire bell.
NOTE When a noun or a pronoun comes immediately
before a gerund, use the possessive form of the
noun or pronoun.
129 The Infinitive
- An infinitive is a verb form that can be used as
a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Most
infinitives begin with to.
NOUN To install the ceiling fan took two hours.
ADJECTIVES The best time to visit Florida is
December through April.
ADVERBS The gymnasts were ready to practice
their routines.
13The Infinitive Phrase
- An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive
and any modifiers or complements the infinitive
has. The entire phrase may be used as a noun, an
adjective, or an adverb.
- An infinitive may be modified by an adjective or
an adverb it may also have a complement.
The crowd grew quiet to hear the speaker.
Peanuts and raisins are good snacks to take on a
camping trip.
1410- Appositives and Appositive Phrases
- An appositive is a noun or a pronoun placed
beside another noun or pronoun to identify or
describe it.
NOTE commas are generally used with appositives
that refer to proper nouns.
- An appositive phrase consists of an appositive
and its modifiers.