Phrase

Definition of Phrase
A grammatical term, that is a collection of words, capabilities as a significant part or unit inside a clause or sentence is referred to as word. It consists of a headword that determines the grammatical nature of the unit and an elective modifier. A phrase may include different terms as well.

When it will become tough to describe some thing through an adjective or adverb, there comes a phrase to help the writer. For example, “It is continually the satisfactory policy to speak the truth – unless, of course, you are an exceedingly right liar.” (The Idler, via Jerome K. Jerome). In this sentence, the underlined word is an adjective word.

Types of Phrase
Based on constructions and features, word is of 8 types:

Noun Phrase (NP)
A noun word contains a noun as a headword and associated words which include determiners (like the, her, a) and modifiers, which modify that noun. It serves as a noun within a sentence.

Prepositional Phrase (Prep P)
A prepositional phrase contains a preposition, an item of preposition (pronoun or noun) and related modifiers. It ordinarily begins with a preposition and ends with an object of a preposition. It serves as an adjective, or adverb inside a sentence.

Adjective Phrase (Adj Ph)
An adjective word works as an adjective inside a sentence. It carries an adjective, some relevant determiners and modifiers, and a phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. The feature of this word is to paintings as a verb, noun, preposition, adverb, or an adjective. The function of the word in writing relies upon upon its construction.

Adverb Phrase (Adv Ph)
It works as an adverb inside a sentence. It consists of and adverb and other grammatical gadgets together with a verb, noun, preposition, and a few modifiers.

Verb Phrase (VP)
It consists of the principle verb and auxiliaries or supporting verbs within a sentence. According to Transformational generative grammar, verb phrases may contain the main verb, auxiliaries, modifiers, and compliments. It could seek advice from the entire predicate of a sentence.

Infinitive Phrase (IP)
An infinitive phrase incorporates an infinitive, that's a aggregate of (to+ simple verb form), with or without other words, and modifiers associated with that infinitive. It continually works as a noun, adjective or adverb inside a sentence.

Gerund Phrase (GP)
Gerund terms contain a gerund, mixture of (verb+ing) other words, and modifiers associated with that gerund. In a sentence, it features as a noun.

Participle Phrase (Part Ph)
Participle terms include a present participle, that's (verb+ing), and a beyond participle, modifiers, or different related words. They are separated from the relaxation of the sentence via commas. A participle terms act as an adjective inside a sentence.

Absolute Phrase (AP)
Absolute word consists of a noun, pronoun, participle, and associated modifiers. They are also referred to as nominative terms. They adjust or provide records approximately a whole sentence. Absolute phrases appear to be clauses, but they lack a true finite verb. They are separated from the relaxation of the sentence with the aid of commas.

Examples of Phrase in Literature
Example #1: The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky (via Stephen Crane)
“The guy stood laughing, his weapons at his hips.”

These lines have used absolute word as underlined. This word has modified the entire sentence, or provided statistics about a person and his stature.

Example #2: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (with the aid of Barbara Kingsolver)
“Humans can be fairly ridiculous animals.”

In this example, the underlined words display an adjective word editing noun “humans.” It is functioning as an adjective in this sentence.

Example #3: Life in Motion (through Misty Copeland)
“Lola walked over, lightly grabbed me by way of the hand, and led me to the front of the class.”

Copeland has used prepositional word twice in this sentence. Both terms contain prepositions, item of a preposition (pronoun), and modifiers. These terms are editing pronouns.

Example #4: The Book of Laughter and Forgetting (with the aid of Milan Kundera)
“To snort is to live profoundly.”

This is an example of infinitive word. Both terms are based totally on particle “to” and base verbs “snicker” and “stay.” In the second word, “profoundly” is a modifier.

Function
A phrase features as a verb, noun, preposition, adverb, or an adjective. The function of a phrase in writing relies upon upon its construction. It expresses an concept in a unit to present additional meanings to the text. If writers use it properly, it makes a written paintings greater concise and professional.

Phrasal Verb Possessive Pronoun