PHRASES

SESSION 7-8 / 9
 Basic sentence
•
patterns
Pattern 1: N be Aj
• Pattern 2: N be Av
• Pattern 3: N be N
• Pattern 4: N LV Aj
• Pattern 5: N LV N
• Pattern 6: N InV (intransitive verb)
• Pattern 7: N TrV N
• Pattern 8: N TrV N N
• Pattern 9: N TrV N plus one (N, Aj, Pronoun, Av,
Uninflected, Verb-present participle-past participle,
Prepositional phrase, Inf phrase with verb be)
 PHRASES

noun phrases verb phrases

 Noun phrases
A noun phrase consists of a noun and all the
words and word groups that belong with
the noun and cluster around it. The noun
itself is called the headword or head, and
the other words and word groups are
modifiers of the noun.
 Noun phrases -
Exercise 14-1
Underline the head of the following noun phrases.
1. The fence
2. The old fence
3. The new aluminum fence
4. The fence between the houses
5. The old fence which was painted green
6. The old fence between the houses which was painted
green
7. A worn-out putter
8. My worn-out putter lying in the attic
9. A used car, broken down by abusive driving
10. The children's swings in the park which were in use
all day long
 Noun phrases -
positions
Most sentence positions that are occupied by
nouns can also be occupied by noun phrases

Ex: Boys often build dams in the spring.

• Small boys who are not in school often build

dams in the spring.
• Jim wanted a car.
• Jim wanted a new sports car with wire wheels
which would be have a fast getaway.
 Noun phrases -
examples
• The yellow tulips
• The yellow tulips in the garden
• The yellow tulips in the garden which were
blooming
 Noun phrases -
Exercise 14-3
Expand the italicized nouns by adding modifiers
before, after, or both before and after. Then
underline these noun phrases.

1. The lock was broken.

2. I gave the cat a dish of milk.
3. The doctor remains in his office till five.
4. Camping is not always fun.
5. He makes jewelry.
 Verb phrases
A verb phrase consists of a verb and all the word groups
that belong with the verb and cluster around it. The verb
itself is called the headword or head, and the other
words and word groups are the auxiliaries, modifiers and
complements of the verb

Eg. soon arrived

• arrived late
• soon arrived at the station
• arrived just as the plane came in
• was waiting at the door
• may have been stolen by the cashier
 Verb phrases -
Exercise 14
Underline the head in these verb phrases.
- 4
1. Stepped lightly
2. Stepped into the room
3. Quickly stepped in
4. Stepped where he was told
5. At once shouted to the crowd to stand back
6. Without hesitation shouted for help
7. Were watching for the signal
8. Had been eaten by the cat
9. Would have driven to the fair
10. Spoke loudly
Verb phrases and DO, IO,
OC, SC
1. built a scooter

2. built his son a scooter

3. seemed gloomy and dejected

4. elected George a member of the fraternity

5. became president of his class

 Verb phrases -
Exercise 14-5
Underline the head of these verb phrases

1. sold his last semester's books

2. sold me his last semester's books
3. Appeared happy in his new job
4. Always chose Jim chairman of the dishwashing
committee
5. Still remained the best candidate
6. Cheerfully gave a handsome contribution
7. Never paid his bills on time
8. At once called his uncle a brick
9. Often was weary after his workout
10. Soon returned the book she had borrowed
 Verb phrases
Many sentences can be divided into two
parts, one consisting of a noun phrase, the
other a verb phrase.
 Verb phrases -
Exercise 14-6
Draw a vertical line seperating these sentences
into a noun phrase and a verb phrase. Underline
the noun head and the verb head.

1. The red pony in the pasture galloped along the

fence.
2. Many students attended the Christmas party.
3. The senior who sells the most tickets will be
honored at the prom.
4. The pipes in the classroom pounded noisily.
5. The choir in the loft sang the last hymn softly.
 Verb phrases -
Exercise 14-7
Add a verb phrase to each of these noun phrases,
making complete sentences.

1. The tiny leak in the hose.............................

2. The canoe that he wanted..........................
3. The pie........................................................
4. The steaming apple pie..............................
5. The passenger in the front seat who was
watching the speedometer...........................
 Verb phrases -
Exercise 14-8
Add a noun phrase to introduce each of the
following verb phrases making complete
sentences.

1. .........later regretted his decision.

2. .........came after his dog when school was over.
3. .........will soon return to college.
4. .........always seemed to have a complaint to
make.
5. .........marrily swung the heavy pack on his back
to begin the long hike.
 Subject + Verb -
Exercise 14-12
Below each sentence write the headword subject
and the verb to which it is tied.

1. The purposes of the training make me eager to

begin.
2. The leader of the trainees selects a deputy.
3. One among the flock of swans maintains guard.
4. The difference between the two men appears
when they are at a game.
5. The troublemakers on the squad were hard to
locate.
 Modification
Modificati
on

Sentence
Noun mod Verb mod
mod

Word-
One-word
Pre-mod Post-mod group
adverbials
adverbials
 Modifiers
A modifier is a subordinate element in an endocentric structure. It is
a word or word group that affects the meaning of a headword in
that it describes, limits, intensifies, and/or adds to the meaning of
the head.

Modifiers may appear before or after the heads they modify, and
sometimes they are separated from the head by intervening
words.

Eg. read rapidly

often read
A butterfly in the garden which was fluttering among the
flowers.
 Sentence
modifiers
A sentence modifier is an adverbial that
modifies, as its head, all the rest of the
sentence.

Eg. Naturally, he behaved at the party.

 Sentence modifiers
1. Single-word adverbial
 Luckily, I knew how to swim.
2. Clause adverbial
 Since the door was closed, we climbed in the back window.
3. Prepositional phrase
 In fact, the contract is invalid.
4. Absolute structure
 The guests having departed, we resumed the normal household routine.
5. Infinitive phrase
 To keep dry in a tent, you should be provided with a fly.
6. Participle phrase in -ing
 Considering the circumstances, he was lucky to escape alive.
7. Relative in -ever
 Wherever she is, I still find her.
 Noun phrase: Prenominal
Modifiers
1.Our sturdy garden fence
2.The red garden roses
3.The summer’s red roses
4.The red summer’s roses
5.The summer’s garden roses
6.The summer’s red garden roses
 Ambiguous
1) An old girl’s bicycle
2) The world women’s congress
3) A nice woman’s fur coat
4) A large woman’s garment
5) An advanced learner’s dictionary
 Pre Determiners -
Determiners
1. Another huge class ornament
2. Each happy farm duck
3. Some long winter vacations
4. All our friendly neighborhood dogs
5. Either short cotton dress
6. Enough college friends
7. Both my studious roommates
8. No cold cheese sandwich
9. Much evening enjoyment
10. Neither tired economics student
 Postdeterminers
1. The last three pickles
2. His every wish
3. Many fine university seniors
4. Some other bad newspaper reports
5. Much more white sand
6. Those same hungry ants
7. Both those two aimless fellows
8. Any such childish pranks
9. Harry’s few acquaintances
10. What other foolish ideas
 Restricters
1. Just girls
2. Even water
3. Especially candy
4. Just college girls
5. Just romantic college girls
6. Just another romantic college girls
 Prenominal
VI V Modifiers
IV III II I
Restricter Predet. Det. Postdet. Adj Noun Noun Head
Especially All a/an 1, 2, 3 Red School
Even Both The First Blue College
Just Half Poss. adjs. Second Big Dormitory
Merely Double Her Last Young House
Only His Every Large Garden
Particularly Its Few Small Fence
Almost My Less … Garage
Nearly Our Little Gate
Their Many …
Your More
Poss. Of Most
names Other
Demonstratives Same
This Several
That Single
… Such
…
 The noun phrase:
Postnominal Modifiers
1. The apartment, spotless clean
2. The apartment, large and empty
3. The apartment downstairs
4. The freshmen especially
5. The weather this morning
6. The apartment in front
7. The apartment standing empty
8. The apartment located in the rear
9. The apartment to rent
10. The apartment which is empty
11. The apartment, the home of the Snopeses
 Forms of postnominal
modifiers
1. Modified adjective
2. Compounded adjectives
3. Uninflected word
4. Adverb
5. Noun phrase adjectival
6. Prepositional phrase adjectival
7. Participle or participial phrase -ing
8. Participle or participial phrase, -ed
9. Infinitive phrase adjectival, to ….
10. Relative clause adjectival
11. Appositive Adjectival
1. We watched the brown river, swollen with rain.
2. I want to rent the bicycle outside.
3. It was a large outdoor swing, the property of our
neighbor.
4. The fireworks were a sight to behold.
5. The hoe leaning against the house is dull.
6. The mountaintop, high and craggy, was hidden in a
cloud.
7. The building which is near the library is new.
8. The fan in the corner has only one speed.
9. I’ll see you the day before you go.
10. The skiing last winter was good.
11. That car in front is mine.
12. There stood Jane, miserably tired.
13. The seniors especially arrived early.
 The verb phrase: One
word adverbials
• P (place)
• M (manner)
• DT (definite time)
• F (frequency)
• D (duration)
• O (other)
 Exercises 12-8
1 …shouted angrily. …were happily chatting in the patio
2 …often drove without her license. …put it anywhere.
3 …rarely drove carelessly. …cautiously looked sidewise.
4 …felt fearfully in the drawer. …read the story aloud.
5 …never work long. …tasted the ginger timidly.
6 …was walking ahead. …gnashes his teeth sleeping.
7 …could even smell him. …ate seated.
8 …had always lived there. …played cleaner than the others.
9 …was sewing inside. …came prepared
10 …may still snow. …study nights
 The verb phrase:
Word-Group Adverbials
1. Prepositional phrase adverbials: eats in the
kitchen
2. Noun phrase adverbials: eats every hours
3. Clause adverbials: eats when he is hungry
4. Infinitive phrase adverbials: eats to satisfy his
appetite
5. Participial phrases in –ing as adverbials: came
running to the table
6. Participial phrases in –ed as adverbials:
returned wounded in the leg