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What is phrases?

Dear student,

A phrase is a small group of words that adds meaning to a word. A phrase is not a sentence because it is not a complete idea with a subject and a predicate and thus, doesn't make sense completely.

For instance in the following lines, the words in italics form phrases:

  • Tell me what to do.

  • The elephant leaned against the wall.

  • The clouds float in the sky.

  • It is a mistake that you have made.

  • He has a game of robots.

Regards

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In everyday speech, a phrase may refer to any group of words. In linguistics, a phrase is a group of words (or sometimes a single word) that form a constituent and so function as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. A phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than a clause.

eg  

The house at the end of the street is red.

The words in bold form a phrase; together they act like a noun. This phrase can be further broken down; a prepositional phrase functioning as an adjective can be identified:

at the end of the street

Further, a smaller prepositional phrase can be identified inside this greater prepositional phrase:

of the street

And within the greater prepositional phrase, one can identify a noun phrase:

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A phrase functions as a unit and includes a head (or headword), which determines the type or nature of the phrase.

 

Types of Phrases:

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Phrases are incomplete statements or sentances which do not have vebs. Example - Long working hours...

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Sentences that do not contain verbs for example long working hours

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In everyday speech, a phrase may refer to any group of words . In linguistics , a phrase is a group of words (or sometimes a single word) that form a constituent and so function as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence . A phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than a clause .

eg

 

The house at the end of the street is red.

The words in bold form a phrase; together they act like a noun. This phrase can be further broken down; a prepositional phrase functioning as an adjective can be identified:

at the end of the street

Further, a smaller prepositional phrase can be identified inside this greater prepositional phrase:

of the street

And within the greater prepositional phrase, one can identify a noun phrase:

  • -1
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