Phrases - Kinds of Phrases
Noun Phrase:
A phrase is a group of words that functions as a noun in a sentence. It is made up of a head noun and other modifiers before or after it. The noun phrase may be the subject of a sentence or the object of the verb, or a part of the prepositional phrase in the sentence.
For example:
Fresh orange juice is healthier than the packaged one.
Will you have fresh orange juice?
A sentence have more than one noun phrase.
A noun phrase answers the question: who or what.
A. Circle the noun phrases in these sentences. Underline the head noun in each.
1. The woman with the baby is known to me.
= (The woman with the baby) is known to me.
2. I water that bush with red flowers every day.
= I water (that bush with red flowers every day.
3. We welcome the newcomers to school.
= We welcome (the newcomers to school).
4. I taught Raghav's younger brother how to fly a kite .
= I taught (Raghav's younger brother how to fly a kite).
5. Bunty never shares his personal things with anyone.
= Bunty never shares (his personal things with anyone).
6. The tall tower in the city was erected in 2005.
= (The tall tower in the city was) erected in 2005.
Adjective Phrase :
An adjective phrase is a group of words that functions as an adjective and modifies a noun, a noun phrase or a pronoun in a sentence. It has a head adjective that is modified by other words before or after it.
For example:
Unbelievably expensive dresses were on sale.
Evening dresses look quite graceful.
She was very happy.
B. Underline the adjective phrases in these sentences.
1. Please wash your dirty, muddy hands outside.
= Please wash your dirty, muddy hands outside.
2. The restless child was actually bored among adults.
= The restless child was actually bored among adults.
3. The channel presents very young talented singers.
= The channel presents very young talented singers.
4. It was such an easy assignment that I could do it myself.
= It was such an easy assignment that I could do it myself.
5. The magician's tricks were amazingly tricky.
= The magician's tricks were amazingly tricky.
6. An extraordinary big bird flew along with our ferry.
= An extraordinarily big bird flew along with our ferry.
Prepositional Phrase :
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun, which is the object of the preposition. It may be a part of the noun phrase, or it may function as an adverb phrase in a sentence.
For example:
The train with several tourists was flagged off for Goa.
The birthday party was organised in an amusement park.
C. Read these interesting facts and underline the prepositional phrases.
1. Potato is the most cultivated vegetable across the world.
= Potato is the most cultivated vegetable across the world.
2. Honey found is the tombs of pharaohs still tastes good.
= Honey found in the tombs of pharaohs still tastes good.
3. Kangaroos find it impossible to walk backwards.
= Kangaroos find it impossible to walk backwords.
4. A cockroach can live without its head for nine days.
= A cockroach can live without its head for nine days.
5. Venus is the only planet that moves in a clockwise direction.
= Venus is the only planet that moves in a clockwise direction.
6. Number four is the only number with the same number of letters.
= Number four is the only number with the same number of letters.
Adverb Phrase :
An adverb phrase is a group of words that functions as an adverb and modifies the verb in a sentence. The head of an adverb phrase is an adverb, which is modified by other words before or after it.
An adverb phrase may give information about the manner, place, time, duration, frequency or degree of the verb.
For example:
Ajit keeps his books extremely clumsily.(manner)
You will find gems deep under.(place)
Birds begin chirping quite early even in winter.(time)
I stooped over at the Andaman Islands very briefly.(duration)
Father almost always travels by air.(frequency)
She narrated the story quite interestingly.(degree)
D. Underline the adverb phrases in the sentences.
1. With binoculars, you can see things very far away.
=With binoculars, you can see things very far away.
2. She answered all my questions very rudely.
= She answered all my questions very rudely.
3. The books were arranged in an orderly manner on the shelf.
= The books were arranged in an orderly manner on the shelf.
4. We will be moving to Ranchi soon sometime.
= We will be moving to Ranchi soon sometime.
5. The Indian football team played the game fairy well.
= The Indian football team played the game fairy well.
6.The bus arrived unusually late today.
= The bus arrived unusually late today.
7. I can hear a river somewhere near.
= I can hear a river somewhere near.
8. I read the newspaper almost everyday in the morning.
= I read the newspaper almost everyday in the morning.
9. I have observed parrots very closely as I have one as a pet.
= I have observed parrots very closely as I have one as a pet.
10. This medicine eases cough, almost immediately.
= This medicine eases cough, almost immediately.
E. Add the missing head adverbs to complete the adverb phrases. The first one has been done for you.
1. They quickly switched off all the lights.
2. The fog is clearing quite loudly this morning.
3.The guests left early.
4. I have quite knowingly cheated anyone of their money.
5. Grandpa chews rather slowly as he no molars.
6. The family had quite soon shifted into the new house.
7. The team performed surprisingly well in spite of the bad weather.
8. The flight landed much early than its scheduled arrival time.
9. My mother drives her car to office only upwards.
10. We were driving quite slowly when another car came speedily around a blind turn.
F. Complete these sentences with suitable adverb phrases from the box.
1. The gymnasts performed energetically enough to amaze everyone.
2. The eagle swooped down quite swiftly and lifted the carcass.
3. These singers are still under training, but they played the piano pretty musically.
4. The car was rolling speedily down the incline till it was obstructed by a tree.
5. She spoke indeed deliberately to those who had not qualified the round.
6. Jatin was sitting alone unusually silently before the exam.
7. However carefully you may drive, people around you make mistakes.
8. The dog was rather nastily set free to attack the thieves.