A group of words which makes some sense but not a complete sense is called a phrase.
OR
An incomplete sentence consisting of two or more words is called a phrase.
For Example:
1. Break out
2. Of great value
3. A bird’s eye view
4. On the way
A phrase can be turned into a meaningful sentence.
1. My friends congratulated me on my success.
2. We had a bird’s eye view of the city from this building.
3. They climbed on the hill.
4. The boy in white dress is my first cousin.
5. We will stand by you through thick and thin.
Ø Kinds of phrase
There are five main kinds of phrase:
1. Noun phrase
2. Verb phrase
3. Adverb phrase
4. Adjective phrase
5. Prepositional phrase
1. Noun phrase (NP):
A noun phrase is a group of words without its own subject and predicate that does the work of a noun in a sentence.
For example:
1. To win this game
2. Playing cricket
3. To become a doctor
4. Reading novels
A noun phrase can be turned into a meaningful sentence.
1. They want to win this game.
2. Many boys love playing cricket.
3. She wishes to become a doctor.
4. Reading novels is his hobby.
In order to understand noun phrase more clearly, question “what” should be asked after the verb, and what follows is either a noun, a noun phrase or a noun clause.
Forms of Noun Phrase:
(a) Noun and equivalents:
All pronouns: I, You, They, We
(b) Adjectives used as nouns:
The poor and the rich
The brave
The noble
(c) Adverbs and conjunctions used as nouns:
Ups and downs of life
Ifs and buts
(d) Infinitives
To err is human, to forgive is divine
(e) Gerund:
The going was good
Your coming to college will be useful
2. Verb phrase (VP)
In a sentence, a verb phrase contains a main verb and a helping verb.
The author is writing a new book.
I must make an "A" in this class.
The dog might eat the cake.
He was walking to work today.
We got married after college.
3. Adverb Phrase (AdvP)
A group of words without having subject and predicate does the work of an adverb is called adverb phrase.
1. He ran quickly.
He ran with great speed.
2. She spoke softly.
She spoke in a soft manner.
3. I am working now.
I am working at this moment.
Forms of Adverb Phrase:
(a) Two or more adverbs joined by “and”
Intelligently and industriously
Slowly and steadily
Quickly and prudently
(b) Preposition and noun
After their coming
In the corner
Under the tree
Before their going
After their departure
(c) Phrase indicating time and place
Two hours
Three kilometers
(d) Infinitives indicating purpose
He came to say good-bye.
I went to the airport to receive my friends.
4. Adjective Phrase (AdjP)
When a group of words without subject and predicate does the work of an adjective is called adjective phrase.
For example:
1. With a kindly nature
2. Of great value
3. In blue suit
4. Of great honesty
These adjective phrases can be turned into meaningful sentences:
1. Our teacher is a man with a kindly nature.
2. This book is of great value.
3. The boy in blue suit is my best friend.
4. He is a man of great honesty.