Phrases – Definition, Types, and Examples.

What is a Phrase?

Phrases definition: A phrase is a group of words that do not have a subject and verb. On its alone, it doesn’t communicate anything. But it has a certain meaning when used in a sentence.

Examples:

1. A beautiful dress – This is a phrase. It doesn’t convey any meaning on its own. But if we use it in a sentence it will add additional meaning. I bought a beautiful dress for Sagarika.
2. A nice car – This doesn’t convey any meaning. It can be used in a sentence like “He has a nice car.”
3. We’re waiting for 2 hours – This can be used in a sentence like “They were waiting for 2 hours at the airport.”
4. Pink saree – This phrase can be used as “My daughter gifted me a pink saree yesterday.”
5. Content writer. – This phrase can be used as “I am a Content writer.”

Types of Phrases

Based on the parts of speech there are 5 types of phrases

1. Noun Phrase
2. Verb Phrase
3. Adjective Phrase
4. Adverb Phrase
5. Prepositional Phrase

Noun Phrase

A Noun Phrase is a combination of words that fulfills the role of a noun in a sentence.

Examples:

1. I am allergic to citric fruits.
2. The company fired dishonest people.
3. He built a beautiful house.
4. Radha lives in a gated community.
5. He enjoyed watching Vijay’s movie.

A noun phrase is a set of words with a noun or pronoun serving as its head. Modifiers, determiners, and complements can all be used in conjunction with the noun head.

Examples:

1) The small house near the post office is my brother’s house.

Here, The is the determiner, the small is the modifier, the house is the noun, near the post office is the modifier, is my brother’s house is the compliment.

2) The girl wearing a pink dress is my sister.

Here, The is the determiner, the girl is the noun, wearing a pink dress is the modifier, is my sister is the compliment.

The noun phrase functions as both the verb’s subject and object, just like a noun.

Examples:

1) The bookshop near the market was closed.

Here, the noun phrase “The bookshop near the market” acts as a subject.

2) Megha bought a black handbag.

Here, the noun phrase “a black handbag” acts as an object of the verb bought.

Read Also

• What is a noun? – definition, types, and examples
• Conjunction – definition, examples, types, and rules
• Interjection- Definition, types, and examples.
• Adverbs – definition, types, and examples
• Tenses in English grammar- Definition, Types, and Examples.

Verb Phrase

A verb phrase fulfills the role of a verb in a sentence.
It combines an action verb and a helping verb. The helping verbs are also known as auxiliary verbs.

Examples:

1) My brother has come from London.

Here “has come” is the verb phrase. It has both a helping verb and an action verb. “has” is the helping verb and “come” is the action verb.

2) All should attend the meeting.

Here, “should attend” is the verb phrase. It has both helping and main verbs. “should” is the helping verb and “attend” is the action verb.

Sometimes a verb phrase can have more than one helping verb.

Examples:

1) He has to submit the work tomorrow.

Here, “has to submit” is the verb phrase with 2 helping verbs and the main verb. “has” is a helping verb, “to” is another helping verb, and “submit” is the action verb.

2) They should have informed the security guard.

Here, “should have informed” is the verb phrase with helping verbs “should”,” have” and the action verb “informed”.

Adjective Phrase

An adjective phrase does the work of an adjective in a sentence. It is a group of words that add additional meaning to the noun of the sentence.

Examples:

1) This is a beautiful saree

2) She is a very pretty lady.

3) The exam was surprisingly easy.

Like adjectives, the adjective phrases can also appear either at the beginning of a sentence, middle of the sentence or at the end of a sentence.

Examples:

1. A very beautiful watch was gifted to her.
2. He lives in a highly congested city.
3. Ramu arranged a surprise party for his father’s 60th birthday.

Adverb Phrase

An adverb phrase is a collection of words that serves as an adverb in a sentence. It gives additional meaning to the verb in the sentence.

Examples:

1) Her food tasted surprisingly good.

Here, the adverb phrase “surprisingly good” describes the taste of the food.

2) He works hard to support his family.

Here, “to support his family” is the adverb phrase used.

3) He studies in the evening.

Like the adverb, the adverb phrases also answer the question of when, where, and how an action takes place.

Prepositional Phrase

A prepositional phrase is a set of words that includes the preposition and the preposition’s object. The words that change the object come between the preposition and the preposition’s object.

In a sentence, the prepositional phrases have no function as a preposition. Instead, in a sentence, they serve as either adverbs or adjectives.

Examples:

1) The lady in the pink saree is my sister.

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Here, “in the pink saree” is the prepositional phrase used.

The preposition used is “in“, the preposition’s object is “saree” and the modifiers used are ”the” and “pink“.

2) They are waiting for HR’s announcement.

Here, “for HR” is the prepositional phrase used.

3) I will meet him in the evening.

Here, “in the evening” is the prepositional phrase used.

Read Also

• What is an Adjective – definition, meaning, types, and examples
• Verbs – Definition, meaning, and 5 types

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