Phrases and Clauses

Preposition Review A preposition relates the noun or pronoun

following it to another word in the sentence.

Fifty Common Prepositions

about above across after against along among around at before

behind below beneath beside besides between beyond but by down

during except for from in inside into like near of

off on onto opposite out outside over past since through

to toward under undernea

th until up upon with within without

Compound Prepositionsaccording to ahead of aside from as of because of

by means of in addition to in back of in front of in place of

instead of next to on account of on top of out of

Prepositional Phrases A prepositional phrase has at least two

parts: a preposition and a noun or pronoun that is the object of the preposition

prep object

EXAMPLE: near airports

The object of the preposition may be modified by one or more adjectives.

prep adj adj object

EXAMPLE: near busy urban airports

The object may also be compound. prep adj adj object conj object

EXAMPLE: near busy urban highways and airports

Prepositional Phrases That Act as Adjectives

An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun by telling what kind or which one.

The roadway with two lanes began there.What kind of highway began there?

The rancher with the angry face stopped us.Which rancher stopped us?

Adjective Phrase Practice Grammar w/b p. 69 ex. 1

Prepositional Phrases That Act as Adverbs

An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. Adverb phrases point out where, when, in what way (how), or to what extent.

modifying a verb : Raindrops fell in heavy torrents. (Fell in what way?)

modifying an adjective: The day was warm for December.

(Warm in what way?)

modifying an adverb: The tornado struck suddenly, within minutes of the warning.

(Suddenly to what extent?)

Adverb Phrase Practice Grammar w/b p. 71 ex. 1

Appositives An appositive is a noun or a pronoun

placed after another noun or pronoun to identify, rename, or explain the preceding word.

EXAMPLESThe painter Pablo Picasso lived in Spain.I want to visit Spain’s famous museum, The Prado.His painting Guernica impressed my father.

Appositive Phrases An appositive phrase is an appositive that

has modifiers.

EXAMPLES Willa Cather, an American novelist, wrote My Antonia.Lisbon, a thriving port in Portugal, has often been the

scene of espionage.The shopping center – a network of cars, shops, and

people – provides many jobs.

Appositive Phrase Practice

Grammar w/b p. 73 ex. 2

Participles Participles are verb forms with two basic

uses: 1) used with helping verbs, they are verbs 2) used to modify nouns or pronouns, they are adjectives

all present participles end in –ingShe is walking to school. walking = verbThey took a walking tour of the city. walking = adjective

some past participles end in –edHe has cooked dinner three times this week. cooked = verbThe cooked food won’t spoil. cooked = adjective

other past participles end in –n, -t, -en, or another irregular endingHe has grown six inches!He was by then, of course, a grown man.

Participial Phrases A participial phrase is a present or past

participle and its modifiers.

EXAMPLESThe instructor, speaking slowly, explained the use of

skis.The skier, choosing her slope, looked at its features

carefully.The esteemed poet, honored by the award, expressed

his thanks.

**Notice the commas

Participial Phrase Practice

Grammar w/b p. 75 ex. 1 Grammar w/b p. 77 ex. 1

Clauses A clause is a group of words with a

subject and a verb.

There are two basic kinds: 1) independent 2) dependent (a.k.a. subordinate)

Independent Clauses An independent clause is a group of

words with a subject and a verb that can stand alone as a complete sentence.

EXAMPLES S V

The air vibrated. S VIn the morning, he began to play the cello.

Subordinate Clauses A subordinate, or dependent, clause is a

group of words with a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

EXAMPLES S V

after she performed her solo S Vwhile the band practiced in the garage

Adjective Clauses An adjective clause is a subordinate

clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun.

EXAMPLESThe student whom I asked for help turned pages of

music for me.By pushing the pedal that is connected to the drum,

you will make sound.The harp, which was played in ancient Egypt, was

forbidden for women to play.The piano, whose strings are hit by hammers to

produce sound, can be made louder or softer by foot pedals.

Adjective Clause Practice Grammar w/b p. 79 ex. 1

Adverb Clauses An adverb clause is a subordinate clause

that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

A subordinating conjunction (next slide) always introduces the adverb clause.

EXAMPLESSince you expect to be late, I will prepare dinner.I will prepare dinner since you expect to be late.Whenever you are late, I expect you to call.I expect you to call whenever you are late.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

after although as as if as long as because before

even though if in order that since so that than though

unless until when whenever where wherever while

Adverb Clauses Practice Grammar w/b p. 81 ex. 1