Phrase

Def: When two or more words together act as a single parts of speech but not a complete sense, then they are called Phrase. Eg: This is a to and fro motion. It is the question of life and death.

Types: Phrase is of six types:

• Noun.
• Adjective.
• Verbal.
• Adverbial.
• Prepositional.
• Conjunctional.
• Interjectional.

i) Noun Phrase: When a phrase does the work of a noun, then it is noun phrase.

Eg: They are my mom and dad.

This is not a matter of profit and loss.

* Formation of Noun Phrase:

a) When preposition 'or' and 'and' sits between two nouns.

Eg: The camel is ship of desert.

Whether the temperature increase or decrease, it will rain.

Food and water were in plenty.

b) When two nouns sit beside each other.

Eg: I have a gold ring.

Your dinning room is beautiful.

c) When adjective or participle precedes noun.

Eg: I entered into a dark room.

He went inside the drawing room.

d) When noun precedes adjective.

Eg: This is the time immemorial.

ii) Adjective Phrase: When a phrase does the work of an adjective.

Eg: He is a kind man.

He is a man of honour.

* Formation of Adjective Phrase:

a) When preposition sits after Present or Past participle.

Eg: A car is running at a high speed.

He is lost in thought.

b) Sometimes using infinitives 'to':

Eg: He has a friend to help him.

I am planning to visit Shimla.

c) Sometimes with the help of appropriate preposition and Adjective:

Eg: India is rich in minerals.

The plant is sensitive to touch.

iii) Verbal Phrase: Phrase that works like a verb, are called verbal phrase.

* Use of verbal phrase: Verbal phrase is used by some group verbs.

Eg: He laughed at me. Your argument will not hold water. Boys mustered strong in the play ground.

iv) Adverbial Phrase: When a phrase does the work of an adverb, then it is adverbial phrase.

Eg: The cat is running to and fro.

The boy is running at a great speed.

Examples of Adverbial Phrase:

a) Adverbial Phrase of place: Eg: Nobody can live on the moon.

He lives in a foreign country.

b) Adverbial Phrase of time: Eg: He at once left the house.

Now and then it rains hear.

c) Adverbial Phrase of mode or manner: Eg: We worked hand to hand.

At once we left bag and baggage.

v) Prepositional Phrase: When a phrase works as a preposition, then it is prepositional phrase.

Eg: He shouted at the top of his voice.

Ram sat in front of my house.

* Formation of Prepositional Phrase: A prepositional phrase is formed when a phrase begins and ends with a preposition.

Eg: This party is in honour of Mr Gupta.

I was absent because of my illness.

vi) Conjunctional Phrase: When a phrase does the work of a conjunction, then it is conjunctional phrase.

Eg: Come as soon as you come.

Not only he but his brother was also present.

vii) Interjectional Phrase: When a phrase works as an interjection, then it is interjectional phrase.

Eg: What a pity! By love! What a place!