Phrase in English
A phrase is a set of words that forms a complete meaning and, does not always constitute a sentence and, a sentence contains several phrases contained in punctuation marks, which causes its meaning to be unclear and must be determined through context. The word phrase is of Greek origin “phrasis” . Types of phrases with examples
The sets of words that make up the different parts of speech are also called phrases. Depending on the function they fulfill, they can be:
Types of Phrases in English Grammar
Noun phrase
Set of nouns that can occupy the function of
- Subject: The boy and the girl became friends. / The boy and the girl became friends.
- Direct Object: They bought shoes, trousers, and shirts. / They bought shoes, pants, and shirts.
- Indirect object: They gave flowers to girls and women. / They gave flowers to girls and women.
Adverbial phrase
Set of words that function as adverbs, that is, that modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
- With great regret, we inform that the program will not continue next year. / With much pain we inform that the program will not continue next year.
- They stayed with him in silence. / They stayed with him in silence.
Verbal phrase
Set of verbs.
- They are trying to tell us something. / They are trying to tell us something.
- I have invited them to visit next fall. / I invited them to visit him next fall.
Specific types of verb phrases are :
- Infinitive phrase: He is ready to start training. / You are ready to start training.
- Phrase participle: The roof was blown away and lost.
- Gerund Phrase: He spent the evening eating and drinking. / He spent the night eating and drinking.
Adjective phrase
It is a set of words that characterize a noun, that is, they provide information about its characteristics.
Types of phrases with examples
