A phrase is any group of words that doesn't have both a subject and a predicate.
An introductory phrase comes at the beginning of a sentence, before the subject. An introductory phrase is followed by a comma.
An interrupting phrase comes in the middle of a sentence, often between a subject and predicate. An interrupting phrase goes in between two commas.
A modifier phrase is
A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition. A preposition is a word that indicates a relationship, often in space (over, under, across, beside) or time (after, before).
Space-related (spatial): under, over, behind, below, above, between, inside
Time-related (temporal): before, after, during
Logic-related (logical): because of, by, to, for, despite, except
Many dependent clauses also begin with prepositions. However, dependent clauses have both a subject and predicate; phrases do not.
prepositional phrase: after the game
dependent clause: after we finished the game
After the game, she went home to rest.
From under the table, we heard an odd noise.
Despite the rain, we still walked to the store.
She went home after the game.
We heard an odd noise from under the table.
We still walked to the store despite the rain because we really needed groceries.
A participial phrase begins with a participle. A participle is a verb form that acts as an adjective, usually ending in -ing or -ed.
Running too quickly, the child tripped and fell.
Interrupting the teacher, the student called out a question.
Interrupted by the student, the teacher was not happy.
The child, running too quickly, tripped and fell.
The student, interrupting the teacher, called out a question.
The teacher, interrupted by the student, was not happy.
The child ran wildly across the room, tripping twice before finally falling down.
The student called out a question, interrupting the teacher.
A phrase is any group of words that doesn't have both a subject and a predicate.
An adjective phrase starts with an adjective and describes a noun.
An appositive phrase is a noun phrase that renames a noun to add detail.
Eager for the weekend, the children couldn’t sit still in class.
Responsible yet still somewhat immature, Isaiah is a complex character.
The children, eager for the weekend, couldn’t sit still in class.
Isaiah, responsible yet still somewhat immature, is a complex character.
A thoughtful and eloquent lecturer, the professor inspired his students every time he spoke.
An analytical masterpiece, the essay was one of the best in the class.
The professor, a thoughtful and eloquent lecturer, inspired his students every time he spoke.
The essay, an analytical masterpiece, was one of the best in the class.
A phrase is any group of words that doesn't have both a subject and a predicate.
An infinitive phrase begins with “to” and a verb in its infinitive form. An infinitive is an unconjugated verb.
Infinitive phrases convey purpose or intent.
To earn extra money before college, Danielle got a job.
To support her thesis, the student wrote three body paragraphs.
Danielle got a job to earn extra money before college.
The student wrote three body paragraphs to support her thesis.
As noted above, an introductory phrase should be followed by a comma and an interrupting phrase belongs between two commas.
However, it's sometimes difficult to figure out whether a phrase is an interrupting phrase or part of a subject or object. Often, the best way to figure out whether you need a comma is to read your sentence out loud. If you pause before the phrase, you probably need a comma. If you don't, you probably don't.
And one last rule: if you put a comma on one side of a mid-sentence phrase, you also need a comma on the other side.
Correct: The boy who was obsessed with dinosaurs went to the museum.
The subject is “the boy who was obsessed with dinosaurs.”)
Also Correct: The boy, who was obsessed with dinosaurs, went to the museum.
The subject is “the boy.” There is an interrupting phrase to add that he was obsessed with dinosaurs.)
Incorrect: The boy who was obsessed with dinosaurs, went to the museum.
This is wrong because you can never have an odd number of commas between the subject and predicate.
Correct: The girl riding her bike on the wrong side of the road was a traffic hazard.
The subject is “the girl riding the bike on the wrong side of the road.”
Also Correct: The girl, riding her bike on the wrong side of the road, was a traffic hazard.
The subject is “the girl.” There is an interrupting phrase to add that she was riding her bike on the wrong side of the road.
Incorrect: The girl riding her bike on the wrong side of the road, was a traffic hazard.
This is wrong because you can never have an odd number of commas between the subject and predicate.