The Phrase in English

The phrase in English

Form and Funtion in the English phrase

Table Of Contents

I. Introduction

II. Development

1. The noun phrases

2. The verb phrases

3. The adjectival phrases

4. The adverbial phrases

5. The prepositional phrase

6. The gerundivel phrases

7. The participial phrases

8. The absolute phrases

9. The infinitive phrases

III. Conclusion

IV. Reference

I. Introduction

Phrases are considered as the second level of classification as they tend to be larger than individual words, but are smaller than sentences. We refer to the central element in a phrase as the head of the phrase. If the head is a noun then the phrase is called a noun phrase.

There are nine generally accepted classifications for phrases. These classifications are generally based on the headword or construction of the phrase. The headword can usually stand alone as a one-word phrase. It is the only part that cannot be omitted from the phrase.

II. Development

1. The noun phrases

Noun phrase may serve as subjects , direct objects , indirect objects , or objects of prepositions . Most noun phrase has more major components , occurring in a fixed order :

* the determinative , that constituent which determines the reference of the noun phrase in its linguistic or situational context

* premodification, which comprises all the modifying or describing constituents before the head, other than the determiners;

* the head, around which the other constituents cluster; and

* postmodification, those which comprise all the modifying constituents placed after the head.

In the diagram below , notice that each funtional component of a noun phrase can be further subclassified as we diagram from left to right :

2. The verbal