C.1 The 8 Phrases
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Jerick CruzC.1 The 8 Phrases
Uploaded by
Jerick CruzTHE 8 PHRASES
What is a phrase?
A phrase is a group of words that does not have a complete thought and does not contain a subject-
verb pair. It is one of the grammatical units along with words (the 8 parts of speech) and clauses
(independent and dependent). The underlined words in the following sentences are just some
examples of phrases:
The entire class of Mrs. Winslow has not yet decided to continue with the surprise party for their
teacher’s retirement this coming Thursday to thank her for her dedication and patience in teaching all
these years.
What do phrases do?
Unlike clauses, phrases do not affect the structure of the sentence. It means that even if you add a
dozen of phrases in one sentence, it will remain the same type of sentence. Below is an example:
The dog barked. (SIMPLE SENTENCE; 1 subject = the dog, 1 verb = barked)
Late last night, the dog from next door barked very loudly because of the cats annoying it. (SIMPLE
SENTENCE; 1 subject = the dog, 1 verb = barked)
So what do phrases do? Simply, they add details to sentences and thus making these sentences more
concrete, specific, and interesting.
How many types of phrases are there?
There are 8 phrases that we can use in sentences. The type of a phrase depends on how it works in a
sentence. A phrase can work as a noun (subject, object, or complement), adjective, or an adverb in a
sentence.
To remember the 8 phrases, we should use the initialism VIPPANGA. Here is what each letter stands
for and how they function:
Type Form Function + Examples
V Verb This includes the main Kate has not returned home. Do you
verb + auxiliary verbs. know where she is? I cannot contact
her. Her phone is just ringing.
I Infinitive Consist of the infinitive To play the piano is my goal this year.
(to + verb) and modifiers. (noun as subject)
He doesn’t want to take the classes.
(noun as object)
The sport to try this winter is
snowboarding. (adjective, describes
sport)
He will take cooking classes to become
a skilled chef. (adverb, answers the
question “why?”)
P Participial It is made of the participial The weird man wearing a trench
forms + modifiers. There coat and sunglasses left a cryptic
are 2 participial forms: note written on a used tissue.
• Present (verb-ing) (adjective, describe the words man and
• Past (verb-en) note)
P Prepositional This starts with a There is an island in South America
preposition plus its object. inhabited mostly by venomous snakes.
The object can be a noun, (adjective, describes island)
pronoun, or phrase.
Let’s talk about the plan at the
conference on the 12th. (adverb,
answer the questions “where?” and
“when?” respectively)
A Adjective Includes all the adjectives I had a box full of many treasures in
or modifiers adding details my youth.
to nouns or pronouns.
A long flamboyant red dress was laid
on the bed.
A girl with a weird tattoo is waiting
outside the house.
N Noun Includes all modifiers AND Two small brown sparrows are
the noun these modify. sitting on the branch of the oak tree
outside.
G Gerund Gerund (verb-ing) + related Accepting what has happened is the
words first step to healing. (noun as subject)
I will finish renovating the interior of
your house in no time. (noun as
object)
A Adverb Composed of adverbs and Put the baby back in the crib carefully
words that modify verbs, and quietly.
adjectives and other
adverbs. Manuel decided to take the challenge
with full resolve and eagerness.
Phew! We arrived in the nick of time
here.
