VERB PHRASES

VERB PHRASES are the words  in a sentence that make up the verb. That is ,a verb that consists of more than one word is a verb phrase. A verb phrase is typically made up of an auxiliary or modal auxiliary verb plus a main verb . But there may be more than one auxiliary :
* I have finished.
* Should we warn them?
* You might have been badly injured.
* Jim had been studying very hard.
*We shall soon be arriving in Switzerland.
* She must have forgotten.
THERE ARE WORD GROUPS that fill the role of other kinds of word class or part of speech. For example:
There are several word groups that act as prepositions:

• on top of  the cupboard         
• out of  the drawer
• according to my dad
• because of  the delay
• in spite of her injury
• away from the town
• in front of the hotel
• along with his friends
• on account of her injury
• in line with  our policy

These are called complex prepositions,NOT prepositional phrases.The term prepositional phrase refers to an adverbial or adjectival phrase that begins with a preposition, such as in bed,at school,with a limp,over the door,beside the railway.
2 There are several word groups that act as conjuctions, for example:

•  so long as it's safe
• last time i tried
• on condition that you pay
• in case it rains
• in view of the fact that it's late
• provided that they agree
• every time I try
• so that everyone gets a turn
• as if he already knew

These multi-word conjunctions can be called complex conjunctions.
The role of present and past particples
Participles can form part of a phrase acting as one of the word classes,or themselves
have the function of a word class,for example:

• Sweat was pouring off his face(part of a verb phrase)
• scattered showers (part of a noun phrase)
• the man leaning against the lamp post(part of an adjectival phrase)
• various points concerning the difficulties.(preposition or part of an independent participal phrase)
• Supposing everything's organised,we can start tomorrow.(conjunction)
• Granted she had a big disadvantage, she should have done better.(conjunction)

The term partcipal phrase is typically used for an adjectival phrase that contains a participle, and comes before or after or after or after a noun or pronoun:

• badly injured passangers
• those sitting at the rear of the train

We shall examine in more detail the roles of participles and participial phrases at the end of this chapter. 

WHAT IS A PHRASE ?

 IN everyday language a phrase is thought of vaguely as any group of words that has meaning but isn't a sentence or clause . In grammatical terms, however, a phrase is a word group that not only has meaning  but also grammatical status . It can have the grammatical status of any of the word clause or parts of speech. That is a phrase may have the function of a noun , adjective,adverb or verb and so on within a sentence.
We shall be looking at four main types of phrase; noun phrase, adjectival phrase,adverbial phrase and verb phrase. We shall also examine the roles of participial phrases.
NOUN PHRASES can have any of the grammatical roles that nouns have. For example;
1 subject of a verb ;
* My younger sister  is arriving tomorrow.
* The new supermarket opens everyday.
2  object of a verb:
*  I found a map of prague in my room
* I have lost my bunch of keys.
3   object of a preposition:
* A number of charities focus on child poverty.
* He arrived home with a cut knee.
4   complement of a linking verb  or object complement after a complex transitive verb:
*  Several of my friends were members of the choir.
* You have made me the proudest mother of the world.
ADJECTIVAL PHRASES act as adjectives, so they describe nouns and pronouns.They can be found in various positions in relation to the thing or person they describe. For example:
1  before a noun :
* an absolutely terrible experience
* on the sport reporting
* one day old chicks
2 after a noun or pronoun :
* anybody with any common sense
* a letter from the landlord
3  as the complement of a linking verb or as an object complement:
* The baby is sound sleep.
* You have made me extremely proud.
ADVERBIAL PHRASES act as adverbs, and can have a variety of adverbial roles:
1  describing or enlarging on the action:
* He died very peacefully.
* He died among his loved ones.
*I 'll see you this evening.
*Toys lay all over the floor.
*The work was completed in less than a month.
2  acting as the complement of a linking verb or as an object complement;
* Jack is at school.
*Joe seems in excellent form.
* The head looks out of proportion.
*Amy imagines herself  in the height of fashion.
*You think me out of touch, don't you?
3 acting as a sentence adverb:
*In my opinion ,Brian should have returned to Ireland.
*In the first place , we haven't enough cash.
* In conclusion I would say that the enterprise was a moderate success.
*Kenneth is still a child  ,in a way.
*To a certain extent  , you are right.
*At the end of the day it ' s audience enjoyment that counts.
*To my dismay , Kay refused my invitation.
*To be honest , I was quite relieved.

THE FUNCTIONS OF A NOUN IN A SENTENCE

NOUNS can have several different grammatical functions. They can act as the subject or object of a verb , the object of a preposition ,the complement of a linking  verb , the object  complement after a transitive verb ,and an adjective used before another noun.
Nouns as subjects
A noun  can be the subject of a verb :*
* The  students were reading quietly.
*  my photos didn't come out clearly.
* Mum and Dad usually get up about 6 am,
*Is  that light switch faulty,
* Hasn't the microwave oven been repaired yet.
Nouns act as objects
A noun can be the object of  a verb:
* Have you fed the cat?
* Please don' t interrupt the speaker.

* Did you enjoy that movie ?*Did you hear the news or the weather forecast.?
*We didn't dare make a sound.
Nouns as objects of a preposition
 Remember that a preposition always has an object (the preposition are in given in the examples below):*
*I walked into the sitting room .
*He was working on his desk.
*You are standing on my toe.
*Which lecture are you going to?
*We often run along the river bank for exercise and enjoyment.
GRAMMAR HELP
THE PREPOSITION CAN BE SEPARATED FROM ITS OBJECT.THIS HAPPENS IN SOME QUESTIONS AND IN CERTAIN OTHER CONSTRUCTIONS THAT WE SHALL DEAL WITH LATER:
* WHAT GODS DO THEY BELIEVE IN?

prepositions

Prepositions are the words ,usually short ones ,that you can use to specify any particular relationship that exists between people or objects ,or between people and objects. Such a relationship can be temporary or permanent, physical or abstract . For example;
1 space [position and direction ]
She sat on this chair.
Glasgow is in Scotland
I walked towards the door.
First two example out of three are used to tell position but third example is telling direction.
Time;
1 I 'll see you at six o ' clock.
2My birthday is on 1 April.
3I sometimes go running before breakfast.
other relationships
Who is the girl with you.
The report was prepared by the marketing department.
Did you see that program about frogs
A PREPOSITION always has an  OBJECT .Its object is the noun , pronoun,or pronoun that follows .
Some animals are active only at night .
I usually travel to school by bus.
you need 200 grams of flour  for this recipe.
Please wait outside the door.
Turn to page 49.
We are moving house at the end of the week.
Look at that1.
Come with with me.
The bus left without him.
THE OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION CAB BE AN ing form [called a gerund or verbal noun.]
1I AM