1. Grammar
Explanation:
Descriptive Phrases
Pages 262-266

2. Some adjective clauses can be
shortened to descriptive
phrases.
We can shorten and adjective
clause in which the relative
pronoun is followed by the verb
to be.

3. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• People who are • People unhappy
unhappy about about the
the amount of amount of spam
spam they they receive
receive should should write
write their their lawmakers.
lawmakers.

4. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• Pierre Omidyar, • Pierre
who is the Omidyar, the
founder of e- founder of e-
Bay, is one of Bay, is one of
the richest men the richest men
in the world. in the world.

5. A descriptive phrase can begin
with a past participle.
This happens if you drop the
relative pronoun and verb “to
be” from an adjective clause in
the passive voice:

6. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
•One half of •One half of
all the e- all the e-
mail that is mail sent
sent today today is
is spam. spam.

7. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
•There are •There are
about 78 about 78
million items
that are million
listed on e- items listed
Bay. on e-Bay.

8. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
•There are •There are
about 78 about 78
million items
that are million
listed on e- items listed
Bay. on e-Bay.

9. A descriptive phrase can begin
with a present participle (-ing
form).
This happens if you drop the
relative pronoun and verb “to
be” from an adjective clause
the present or past continuous
tense:

10. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• A man who is • A man living in
living in Florida Florida retired
retired at the at the age of 37
age of 37 after after making
making millions millions in the
in the spam spam business.
business.

11. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• Shoppers who • Shoppers using
are using e- e-Bay can locate
a hard-to-find
Bay can locate
item.
a hard-to-find
item.

12. A descriptive phrase can give a
definition or more information
about the noun it follows.
This kind of descriptive phrase
is called an appositive.

13. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• Spam, which is • Spam, unwante
unwanted e- d e-mail, is an
annoying
mail, is an
problem.
annoying
problem.

14. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• eBay, which is • eBay, an
an auction auction Web
Web site, is site, is very
very popular. popular.

15. A descriptive phrase can begin
with a preposition:

16. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• A man who is • A man in
in Florida Florida retired
retired at the at the age of
age of 37. 37.

17. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• Pierre, who is • Pierre, from
from France,
France, create created e-Bay.
d e-Bay.

18. A descriptive phrase can be
essential or nonessential:

19. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• People who are • People unhappy
unhappy about about the
the amount of amount of spam
spam they they receive
receive should should write
write their their lawmakers.
lawmakers.

20. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• Pierre Omidyar, • Pierre Omidyar,
who is the the founder of
founder of e- e-Bay, is one of
Bay, is one of the richest men
the richest men in the world.
in the world.

21. However, an appositive is
always non-essential:

22. Compare:
Sentence with an adjective Same sentence with a
clause: descriptive phrase:
• Spam, which is • Spam,
unwanted e- unwanted e-
mail, is an
mail, is an
annoying
annoying problem.
problem.

23. Exercise 25
Pages 263-264

24. 1. Google, a popular search
engine, is used by millions of
people.
(You can leave out “which is.”

25. 2. Bill Gates, one of the richest
people in the world, gets spam
asking him if he wants to
become rich.
(You can leave out “who is.”)

26. 3. There are a lot of dishonest
companies trying to take your
money.
(You can leave out “which are.”)

27. Exercise 26
Page 264

28. 1. Google, a popular search
engine, is very easy to use.

29. 2. Have ever used Mapquest, a
Web site that gives maps and
directions?

30. Exercises 27
Pages 265-266
In this exercise, you have choices about how
to write the sentences!

31. 1. Pierre Omidyar, who was
born in France, wrote his first
computer program at age 14.
OR
Pierre Omidyar, born in France,
wrote his first computer
program at age 14.

32. 2. BusinessWeek, which is a popular
business magazine, named Meg
Whitman among the 25 most
powerful business managers.
OR
BusinessWeek, a popular business
magazine, named Meg Whitman
among the 25 most powerful
business managers.