This document defines and provides examples of four types of phrases: prepositional phrases, participial phrases, infinitive phrases, and gerund phrases. Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and include the object of the preposition. Participial phrases begin with a participle and include the object or other words connected to the participle. Infinitive phrases begin with "to" and a verb. Gerund phrases begin with a gerund and function as a noun. Examples are given for each type of phrase.

3. • A group of related words that lacks both a
subject and a verb
• A group of related words that cannot act as a
sentence
• A banal term for two or more words that
convey an idea (according to Mark Nichol)

5. Prepositional Phrases
Participial Phrases
Gerund Phrases
Infinitive Phrases

6. • Begins with a preposition and includes the
object of the preposition
• Consists of a noun or pronoun that serves as
the preposition’s object, and often one or
more adjectives

7. • I went for a walk in the
dark woods.
• Marie spent the whole
day laughing with her
closest friends.
• The baby crawled
under the table.
• Jonah left her bag on
top of the cabinet.
• She witnessed the
accident across the
street.

8. • Begins with a participle and includes the
object of the participle or other words that
are connected to the noun by the participle
• Consists of verbals ending in –ing or –ed, or
another irregular form of the verb, and serves
as an adjective

9. • Left alone in the dark,
Matthew was so
afraid.
• The little girl, crying
loudly, stepped in
front of the crowd.
• No one bothered to
listen to the man
dressed in shabby
clothes.

10. • Begins with an infinitive and includes the
object of the infinitive or other words that are
acting as part of the phrase
• Includes the word “to” and a verb as the basis
of modification of a root sentence

11. • His effort to pass the
bill doomed his
political ambitions.
• Luis plans to see a
movie this coming
weekend.
• To obtain a passing
grade is my goal this
semester.

12. • Begins with a gerund and include the object of
the gerund or other words that are acting as
the complete subject or complete object
• Includes a verbal that functions as a noun

13. • Juggling knives is not
recommended for
children.
• Learning how to swim
is my dream.
• Waking up from a
dream that he really
likes you should now
happen to prevent
you from getting hurt.

14. References:
• www.grammaruntied.com
• www.dailywritingtips.com