PHRASES

I> DEFINITION II> CLASSIFICATION II.1> NOUN PHRASE II.2> ADJECTIVE PHRASE II.3> VERB PHRASE II.4> ADVERB PHRASE II.5> PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

I> DEFINITION
A phrase is a syntax unit (a string of words that conform to the rules of English syntax) which is usually made up of more than one word, and is immediate between word and clause level in sentences (Finch, 2000 : 112)

II> CLASSIFICATION II.1> NOUN PHRASE

II.1.1> Structure pre-nominal modifier+HEAD+post nominal modifier

-obligatory element: HEAD -other two: optional elements Ex: the new market downtown
Pre-nom.Mod. Head Post-nom.Mod.

Head Noun
NOUN PRON. DEMONST. PRON. INDEFINITE PRON. PERSONAL PRON

POSS. PROPER N.

POSS. PRON.

E.g.:-innocent Alice -the short Smith in accounting department who is willing to help his colleagues

PRE-NOMINAL MODIFIERS
Pre-nominal modifiers+HEAD NOUN -optional elements in a noun phrase -are comprised of: +restricters (especially, even, just, merely, only, particularly, almost, nearly, quite) e.g.: just girls, even water +pre-determiners (all, both, half, double, one-third of) e.g.: both girls, one-third of the population

+determiners consisting of identifiers and quantifiers: *Identifiers articles: definite article (the) and indefinite articles (a/an) demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) possessive of common noun (e.g. summers roses) interrogative determiners (e.g. what and which as in what restaurant, which way). exclamatory determiners(what a boy!)

*Quantifiers: some, few, several, little, any, a lot of, plenty of, a piece of, Note: some of quantifiers: few, a few, little, a little, some, and many are also grouped into (quantifying) adjectives when premodified by adverbs.

+post determiners including Numerals: ordinal & cardinal, e.g.: first 2 red roses possesive of common noun when it is preceded by a determiner, e.g.: the summers days; verb participles which consist of present participles and past participles, e.g.: A dancing teacher

+Adjective E.g.: large gate *Order of adjectives: OSSACOM + NH opinion adj.(epithet)-size-shapeage-color-origin-material (substance)+ present particle+ denominal adj+NH - Noun modifier: nouns preceding the head noun to modify it. The combination of the pre-modifying noun and the head noun creates a compound noun.

PRENOMINAL MODIFIERS

restricterpredeterminer determinerpostdeter mineradjectivenoun modifierNOUN HEAD

HEAD NOUN+Post nominal modifiers

are optional constituents in a noun phrase are made up of: - adjectives/adjective phrases e.g. any room available; something undefinably strange; the man, wet & hungry, - Adverbs, e.g.: the people upstairs are; the football game now is - adjective/relative clause-adjectival, e.g.: a person who you can rely on

- noun phrase-adjectival, e.g.: the decision that time was correct - prepositional phrase-adjectival, e.g. a gift from God, peace at heart - non-finite clause-adjectival which may be an infinitive clause, or a present/past participle clause, e.g. the person to clean up the party, the man standing by the door, the memories forgotten for twenty years - appositive-adjectival, e.g.: Mary Evans, a graduate in journalism, became a feature writer for the Saturday review; That was what he wanted, a riding horse

II.1.2>Functions
Subject An air of quiet grief pervades the countryside. Direct object She recalls that summer of their engagement. Indirect object She gave her life to the homeless children. Retained object She was given choices to make. Subject complement Love is the most beautiful sentiment the Lord has put into the soul of men and women.

 Object complement I find it an impossible mission.

Prepositional complement/OP She walked down the long carpeted aisle. Pre-nominal modifier The radiant summers red roses stayed forever in my mind Adjunct (provides circumstantial

Ive been there three times.

information about the action, process or event talked about in the clause in which they occur. Circums. info. includes info. about the place, time, manner, etc. of the action, process or event)

II.3> ADJECTIVE PHRASE II.3.1> Structure

PRE-MODIFIER+ADJ HEAD +POSTMODIFIER E.g.: surprisingly strange in her thinking Pre-modifiers: - degree (intensifying) adverb e.g.: very beautiful - general adverb e.g.: breath-talkingly beautiful

 post-modifier: infinitive phrase/prepositional phrase/that-clause E.g.: -worried about the unemployment PP -afraid to be at home alone to Inf P -afraid that she wont come that-Cl

II.3.2> Functions
operates the same as an adjective; -attributively: as a pre-nominal modifier E.g.: a difficult to express feeling; -predicatively: as subject complement, object complement E.g.: He is totally reliable. SC I find her so kind. OC -post nominal modifier E.g.: Someone highly responsible to take over this job is always out there. post n-al Mod

III> Exercises: III.1> Ex. 14, page 17-H. Jackson

Answer key
1. The(ident) old(adj) cupboard(head) with the blue handles (post mod prep P) 2. All(pre-det) the(ident) coal(head) stacked outside the back door (post mod non-finite cl) 3. The(ident) third (num) unpleasant(adj) task(head) to be assigned to me(post mod non-finite cl) 4. The(ident) fourth(num) place(head) behind Jim (post mod prep P) 5. The(ident) major(adj) upset(head) of the year(post mod prep P).

6.The(ident) clearest(adj) instructions(head) that anybody could have been given (post mod rel cl) 7. This(ident) sudden(adj) disaster(head) approaching us(post mod non-finite cl) 8. All(pre-det) the(ident) eighty(num) elderly(adj) passengers(head) in the first coach(post mod prep P) 9. Several(quant) irate(adj) gentleman(N mod) farmers(head) waiting for the Prime Minister(post mod non-finite cl) 10. A(ident) poor(adj) little(adj) boy(head) who seems to be lost(post mod rel cl)

III.2> Analyse the following adjective phrases in terms of the word classes or subclasses or other kinds of phrase or clause that comprise them 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Somewhat anxious Rather safe for children Very worried about his health Incredibly slow Quite proud to say about himself Concerned that Paula will be confused too much

1. Somewhat(pre mod intens adv) anxious (head adj) 2. Rather(pre mod intens adv) safe(head adj) for children(post mod prep P) 3. Very(pre mod intens adv) worried(head adj) about his health(post mod prep P) 4. Incredibly(pre mod general adv) slow(head adj) 5. Quite(pre mod intens adv) proud(head adj) to say about himself(post mod inf cl) 6. Concerned (head adj) that Paula will be confused too much(post mod that cl)