This document defines and provides examples of four types of brushstroke phrases: absolute phrases, participial phrases, infinitive phrases, and appositive phrases. Absolute phrases combine a noun and participle with modifiers. Participial phrases begin with a present or past participle that describes a noun. Infinitive phrases start with "to" followed by the simple form of a verb. Appositive phrases contain a noun followed by an appositive and any modifiers to identify the noun. Examples are given for each type of phrase.

2. Brushstroke Phrases

3. Absolute
Phrase

4. Absolute phrases
combine a noun and
a participle with any
modifiers or objects.

5. Not all absolute phrases
contain a participle.
Sometimes it’s only the noun
and the modifiers.

6. Building an
Absolute Phrase

7. Her work
completed, Amanda
went home.
Her
work
completed

8. Examples
His tail between his legs, the dog
sulked out the door.
The dog, with his mind on that awful
cat, sulked out the door.

9. Participial Phrase

10. A participial phrase
begins with a past or
present participle that
DESCRIBES a noun or
noun phrase.

11. A participle in a
participial phrase
now acts as an
adjective!!!

12. Building a
Participial Phrase

13. Stuck in the closet, Maria began to panic.
Stuck
in the closet
Phrase
describes
the noun
(Maria)

14. Examples
Walking quickly, we reached the
town in 15 minutes.
You could see the panther
releasing his grip.

15. The Infinitive Phrase

16. To + Simple
form of verb =
Infinitive phrase

17. Think “Buzz
Lightyear”
“To infinity and beyond!”

18. Infinitive Phrase
Structure
TO JUMP was
Daisey’s only
desire.

19. The
Appositive
Phrase

20. Appositive = a
word/words placed
after another to
identify it

21. Appositive
Phrase = Noun
+ Appositive +
any other
modifiers
(separated by

22. Appositive Phrase
Structure
Mary, my
sister, goes to LD
Bell High School.

23. Sources
Chompchomp.com
Sinclair.edu
Grammar.about.com
Google.com/images