Phrases

1. Phrases Prepositional Phrases, Appositives, Participles, Gerunds, and Infinitives

2. Prepositional Phrases • Can function as adjectives modifying nouns or pronouns by telling what kind? or which one? • Examples of Adjective Phrases • The tepee of buffalo hide was sturdy. • The decoration on the hide was painted carefully. • The drawing of a warrioron the tepee was painted in red.

3. Prepositional Phrases • Can function as adjectives modifying nouns or pronouns by telling what kind? or which one? • Examples of Adjective Phrases • The tepee of buffalo hide was sturdy. • The decoration on the hide was painted carefully. • The drawing of a warrioron the tepee was painted in red. • Create your own examples of adjective phrases.

4. Prepositional Phrases • Can function as adverbs modifying verbs, adjectives, or adverbs by telling When? Where? How? or to what extent? • Examples of Adverb Phrases • Modifying a verb: • Abstract animal figures were carved in totem poles. • Southwestern art dates back before Columbus. • Modifying an adjective: • The forest was quiet before dawn. • They are happiest at the playground. • Modifying an adverb: • He arrived late for lunch. • Create your own examples of adverb phrases.

5. Appositives • An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed near another noun or pronoun to identify, rename, or explain it. • Examples • A tribe of the Northeast, the Iroquois, made pottery, baskets, beadwork, and quill work. • (Notice – the appositive is set of by commas which indicates that the appositive in NOT essential to the meaning of the sentence. • The Native American writer N. Scott Momaday won a Pulitzer Prize for his novel House Made of Dawn. • (Notice the appositives are NOT set of by commas because they ARE ESSENTIAL to the meaning of the sentence. • Symbols of wealth, copper and horses, were important to Northwestern tribes. • (Notice: appositives can be compounded.)

6. Appositive Phrases • An appositive phrase is a noun or pronoun with modifiers, placed next to a noun or pronoun to add information and details. • Examples • The horrible smoke, a blend of burnt rubber and industrial fumes, made her choke. • The man took his daughter, a talented artist, to see Native American paintings. • The dog, a large Saint Bernard, crushed the flowers in the garden.

7. Appositives and Appositive Phrases • An appositives and appositive phrases can be used to combine sentences with similar ideas. • Examples • The Navajo is a tribe in the West. They developed silver-working skills for making jewelry. • The Navajo, a tribe in the West, developed silver-working skills for making jewelry. • Sugar cane is a plant with a long stem. It was used to make armor for Creek warriors. • Sugar cane, a plant with a long stem, was used to make armor for Creek warriors.

8. Participles • A participle is a form of a verb that can act as an adjective. • Present Participles • A whining sound came from the man’s horse. • Competing, each tribe tried to show off its riches. • Past Participles • The ground corn was used to make tortillas. • Disgusted, Len walked away without saying goodbye.

9. Participle or Verb? • The same words can be used as verbs or as participles. • Because verbs often have endings such as –ing or –ed, you must be careful not to confuse them with participles acting as adjectives. • Verbs • The train was chugging down the track. • The directions confused her. • Participles • The chugging train puffed down the track. • Confused, she could not follow the directions.

10. Participial Phrases • A participial phrase is a participle modified by an adverb or adverb phrase or accompanied by a complement. The entire phrase acts as an adjective. • Examples: • Studying carefully, she learned much about Native American people. • Frightened by its sudden appearance, I yelled, “Snake!” • Her sister, using a calm voice, told us to stand still.

11. Participial Phrases • Placement – A participial phrase can usually be placed either before or after the word it modifies. • Gleaming in the sun, Aztec temples and towers were awesome. • Aztec temples and towers, gleaming in the sun, were awesome. • Punctuation – Participial phrases may be set off by commas as you have seen in the previous examples. However, when a participial phrase distinguishes one person, place or thing from another, it is NOT set off by commas. • The man wearing the war bonnet was a chief of the Sioux people.

12. Gerunds • A gerund is a form of a verb that acts as a noun. • Gerunds always end in –ing and always act as a noun. • Example • Subject – Public speaking is often feared. • Direct Object – On their vacation, the Millers discovered canoeing. • Indirect Object - His performance gives acting a bad name. • Predicate Nominative – One relaxing exercise is swimming. • Object of a Preposition – The Aztecs obtained much of their food by fishing. • Appositive – I have a new hobby, cooking.

13. Gerund Phrases • A gerund phrase is a gerund with modifiers or complements. • Examples • Subject – Carving in stonewas how the Aztecs made their calendars. • Direct Object – Vicki’s morning routine includes showering leisurely. • Indirect Object - His performance gives acting a bad name. • Predicate Nominative – Denise’s greatest accomplishment was weaving a blanket. • Object of a Preposition – The Aztecs were skilled at building in dense forests. • Appositive – I have a new hobby, baking decorative cakes.

14. Gerunds and Gerund Phrases • A gerund is a form of a verb that acts as a noun. • Gerunds always end in –ing and function as nouns. • Subject: • Writing essays can be difficult for some. • Direct Object: • On their vacation, the Smiths discovered canoeing. • Indirect Object: • His performance gives acting a bad name. • Predicate Nominative: • One relaxing exercise is swimming. • Object of a Preposition: • The Aztecs obtained much of their food by fishing. • Appositive: • I have a new hobby, cooking.

15. Verb, Participle, or Gerund? • Sometimes distinguishing between verbs, participles, and gerunds can be difficult. • Verb: • Samson is cooking dinner. • Participle: • Cooking dinner, Samson moved quickly around the kitchen. • Gerund: • Cooking dinner is usually Samson’s responsibility.

16. Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases • An infinitive is a form of a verb that generally appears with the word to and acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb. • Examples: • Subject • To succeed requires perseverance. • Direct Object • Alone and frightened, she wanted to survive. • Predicate Nominative • The purpose of pictures was to record an idea. • Object of a Preposition • He had no choice except to relent. • Appositive • His goal, to travel, was never realized.

17. Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases • Examples: • Adjective • The team lost its will to finish the season. (describes will) • Adverb • I was sad to leave Disneyworld. • Andy worked to overcome the obstacle.

18. Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases • Other points about infinitives. • Infinitives used as direct objects can have a subject that precedes them: • We wanted her to clean the garage. (direct object) • Hidden infinitives are infinitives without “to”. • I’ll help build the birdhouse. (to build – direct object)