Phrases and Clauses

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Phrases and Clauses

• (Expanding simple sentences into complex
  sentences).

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Phrases a group of words that lacks a subject,
a verb, or both.
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Prepositional

• Preposition a word used to show the
  relationship of a noun or pronoun to some other
  word in the sentence. Common prepositions
  about, above, across, around, at, before,
  between, by, concerning, during, except, for,
  from, in, into, of, over, since, through, to,
  toward, under, until, up, upon, with, within.
• Def. A prepositional phrase is a group of words
  beginning with a preposition and usually ending
  with a noun or pronoun.
• Examples at the lake inside the house under
  the sea along the path
• Rule of thumb Prepositional phrases do not
  stand by themselves they are parts of a sentence
  and are used as modifiers (a modifier is a word
  or phrase that describes or makes more definite),
  sometimes as adjectives and at other times as
  adverbs. An adjective phrase is a prepositional
  phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun ex.
  That tall building with the red tower is our new
  library. An adverb phrase is a prepositional
  phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or
  another adverb ex. Louisa May Alcott wrote with
  great care.

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Strategy 1 Combine sentences by using
prepositional phrases.

• Not Combined Handlers can usually train dogs.
  Training is in basic obedience. Training takes
  about eight weeks.
• Combined Handlers can usually train dogs in
  basic obedience in about eight weeks.
  (prepositional phrases in bold)

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Participial phrases

• Participle a word that is formed from a verb
  and used as an adjective ex. The talking
  students were asked to be quiet. The cheering
  fans waited for their team to arrive.
• Def. A participial phrase is a phrase
  containing a participle and any complements
  (complement - one or more words in the predicate
  that complete the meaning of the subject and
  verb) or modifiers it may have. A predicate is
  the part of the sentence that says something
  about the subject i.e. the verb and those words
  that follow ex. John (subject) walks by the road
  (predicate).
• Examples Nodding his head, the student agreed
  with the teacher. Holding her breath, the
  cheerleader waited for the results. Disturbed by
  his letter, she called him on the phone.

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Strategy 2 Combine sentences using participial
phrases.

• Not Combined Handlers and dogs work together.
  This strengthens the bond between pet and master.
• Combined Handlers and dogs work together,
  strengthening the bond between pet and master.
  (participial phrase in bold)

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Appositive phrases

• Appositive a noun or pronoun that follows
  another noun or pronoun to identify or explain
  it. Ex. Her sister Nancy was a year older. My
  favorite dog Sherman ran away from home.
• Def. An appositive phrase is made up of an
  appositive and its modifiers.
• Examples We drove through Tallahassee, the
  capital of Florida. George Washington, the first
  president of America, was a great military
  leader.

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Strategy 3 Combine sentences by using
appositive phrases.

• Not Combined A training collar helps the handler
  correct the dog. It is the handlers most
  important tool.
• Combined A training collar, the handlers most
  important tool, helps correct the dog.
  (appositive phrase in bold)

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Other Phrases
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Absolutes p. 220

• A word group that modifies a whole clause or
  sentence, usually consisting of a noun followed
  by a participle or participial phrase.
• Ex. His tone suggesting no hint of humor, the
  minister told us to love our enemies because it
  would drive them nuts.

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Gerunds

• A verb form ending in ing that is used as a
  noun.
• Ex. Jogging can be good exercise.
• A gerund phrase includes the gerund and all the
  words related to the gerund.
• Ex. Shouting at people does not make them
  understand you better.

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Infinitive

• A verb from that can be used as a noun, an
  adjective, or an adverb. It has the word to
  directly before the plain form of the verb.
• Examples
• To forgive does not always mean to forget. (used
  as a noun)
• The best time to visit the north is in the
  summer. (used as an adjective)
• They were eager to try. (used as an adverb)
• An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive
  together with its complements and modifiers.
• Ex. To lift those weights takes a lot of
  strength.

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Clauses
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Adverb Clauses

• An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that
  modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb by
  telling how, when, where, or under what condition
• Adverb clauses begin with subordinate
  conjunctions and answer such questions as where,
  why, when, how, to what extent, in what manner,
  and under what conditions.
• Subordinate conjunctions
• After, although, as, because, since, though,
  unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever,
  while, that, as long as, even though, in order
  that, so that, provided that, as if.

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Adverb Clauses continued

• Example Because the house had been empty for so
  long, the lawn and garden were choked with weeds.
  The adverbial clause is underlined and because
  is the subordinating conjunction.
• When combining two sentences, identify the less
  important sentence and join it with the other
  sentence by adding a subordinating clause dont
  forget to use punctuation when combining..
• Example The medium-sized sun will last longer
  than more massive stars. Massive stars burn up
  their fuel at a very fast rate. When combining
  these two sentences using an adverb clause, it
  looks like this Since massive stars burn up
  their fuel at a very fast rate, the medium-sized
  sun will last longer than more massive stars.

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Adjective clauses

• An adjective clause is a subordinate clause used
  as an adjective to modify a noun or a pronoun.
• Adjective clauses begin with relative pronouns
  who, whose, that, whom, which OR relative
  adverbs when, why, where.
• Note Sometimes a relative pronoun is omitted.
  The missing pronoun, however, is understood and
  still functions in the sentence.
• Examples
• The flowers (that) I bought for my mother are
  beautiful.
• The friends (whom) I visited are my cousins.

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Adjective clause continued

• Example The novel that I read in class was very
  interesting. The adjective clause is underlined
  once and the relative pronoun that introduces the
  clause is italicized.
• When combining two sentences, identify the less
  important sentence and join it with the other
  sentence by adding a relative pronoun Add commas
  when you use the word which.
• Ex. The school has just been declared a landmark.
  The school was renovated last year. When
  combining these two sentences using an adjective
  clause, it looks like this The school, which
  was renovated last year, has just been declared a
  landmark.
• Ex. I borrowed a novel from the library. The
  novel is about the American Revolution. When
  combining these two sentences using an adjective
  clause, it looks like this The novel that I
  borrowed from the library is about the American
  Revolution.

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Noun Clauses

• Noun clauses often begin with the words that,
  which, who, whom, or whose (the same pronouns
  used to begin adjective clauses). Noun clauses
  can also use variants of those words such as
  whichever, whoever, or whomever. Noun clauses
  may also begin with the words when, where,
  whether, why, how, if what, or whatever.
• Examples
• No one knew where we were headed.
• She asked whether we should go.
• Do you know when you are leaving?

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A Final Note about Noun Clauses

• Sometimes students confuse noun clauses
  functioning as appositives with adjective
  clauses. Remember, appositives rename the noun
  before them, whereas adjectives describe that
  noun.
• Examples
• The report that there was an earthquake alarmed
  my mother. (Noun clause)
• Notice that you can replace the report with
  that there was an earthquake. And both, of
  course, can be replaced with the pronoun it.
• The report that was in the paper explained the
  situation. (Adjective clause)
• You can not say That was in the paper explained
  the situation.