Phrases Examples, Exercises with Answers

 

 

Phrases – Group of words that add meaning to a sentence – Exercises with Answers

 

What is a Phrase? 

A phrase is often referred to as a group of words that come and work together to add meaning to a sentence but cannot form a sentence on its own. When writers feel that their sentences lack some flavor they use phrases to make the sentence more meaningful, rich and vivid. Phrases act as a color palette for the dull and lifeless sentences making them more vibrant, clarifying the thoughts and ideas stated in the sentence. 

Understanding phrases would not only enhance your writing skills but also improve your ability to write more vividly and creatively ensuring that your thoughts are expressed appropriately. In this article, we will be delving into the true definition of phrase, its types, tips, sample examples and some sample questions to help you prepare for the topic of phrase for your exams.

 

Phrases Definition

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a phrase can be defined as, “a group of words that is part of, rather than the whole of, a sentence.” As opposed to a complete sentence, a phrase does not consist of a subject and a verb and thus cannot stand alone as an independent idea or a sentence. 

In simpler terms, a phrase is like a group of words that adds extra meaning or description to a sentence but does not express a full thought on its own. A phrase may also function as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, or preposition in a sentence.

 

Types of Phrase with Examples

 

The following are the main types of phrases that are used in sentences:-

 

1. Noun Phrase 

A noun phrase is a group of words that have a noun or pronoun and is used to modify the noun. In other words, A noun phrase acts as a noun in a sentence. It can serve as the subject, object, or complement.

 

   EXAMPLE                                                                                    

• The red balloon floated in the sky. (Subject)
• I saw a group of students in the library. (Object)

 

2. Verb Phrase 

A verb phrase consists of a main verb and its helping verbs. It shows the action or state of being in a sentence.

 

Example, 

• She has been working tirelessly.

The phrase has been working shows a continuous action.

 

• They will be arriving soon.

 

Will be arriving indicates a future action.

 

3. Adjective Phrase

An adjective phrase modifies a noun or pronoun, providing more information about it. It is a group of words that consists of an adjective and can be used to complement it. 

 

Example, 

• The movie with the highest rating won the award. (Noun)
• She was very happy with the results. (Pronoun)

 

4. Adverb Phrase 

An adverb phrase modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It tells us how, when, where, or why something happens. It performs all the functions of an adverb and can be placed in any part of the sentence, with respect to the part of speech they modify.

 

Example, 

• He spoke in a polite manner. 

In a polite manner tells us how he spoke.

 

• They arrived after the storm ended.

After the storm ended, tells us when they arrived. 

 

5. Prepositional Phrase

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and an object. It works just like an adjective or an adverb and relates the subject and the verb in a sentence. A prepositional phrase is used to modify the nouns and verbs in a particular sentence.

 

Example, 

• It was too hard for me to concentrate with the kids jumping around.
• The jewelry boxes were kept inside the cupboard. 

 

6. Infinitive Phrase

An infinitive phrase starts with “to” and is  followed by a verb. It may include modifiers or complements. It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

 

Example,

• To win the competition was her goal. (Noun)
• She has a lot of work to finish today. (Adjective)

 

7. Gerund Phrase 

A gerund phrase begins with a verb ending in “-ing” and functions as a noun. A gerund phrase can also be seen to perform the role of a noun in a sentence.

 

Example,

• Swimming in the ocean is relaxing. (Subject)
• He enjoys reading historical novels. (Object)

 

8. Appositive Phrase 

An appositive phrase renames or provides more information about a noun or pronoun. In other words, an appositive phrase can be said to complement the noun in the sentence.

 

Example,

• My sister, a brilliant artist, won the contest.

A brilliant artist renames “my sister.”

 

• The city, a bustling metropolis, is home to millions.

A bustling metropolis adds more detail to “the city.”

 

Phrases Rules 

In order to ensure that the phrases are used appropriately, keep in mind the following rules when applying phrases to sentences in order to make them engaging and more vivid:-

1. Phrases Cannot Stand Alone: A phrase does not contain a subject-verb pair, so it cannot form a complete sentence. It needs to be part of a larger sentence to make sense. For Example: “In the park” is not a complete thought. Adding context like “The children are playing in the park makes it meaningful.”
2. Place Phrases Close to the Word They Modify: A phrase should always be positioned next to the word or phrase it describes to avoid ambiguity or confusion. Example: If you write ”She saw a painting on the wall of her dog”, it sounds like the dog is on the wall. But writing “She saw a painting of her dog on the wall” clarifies the meaning.
3. 3. Avoid Dangling Phrases: A phrase must have a clear connection to a specific subject in the sentence. Dangling phrases leave the subject unclear. Example: “Walking through the forest, the trees looked beautiful”  suggests the trees are walking, writing “Walking through the forest, I found the trees looked beautiful” is more appropriate.
4. 4. Keep Verb Phrases Complete and Consistent: Verb phrases must include all necessary helping verbs to express the correct tense or mood and should agree with the subject. For Example: “He going to the market” is incomplete. “He is going to the market” properly includes the helping verb is.
5. Use Punctuation Correctly with Appositive Phrases: Appositive phrases that provide extra information should be separated with commas, but essential information does not require them. Like, “My friend, an excellent singer, performed on stage” uses commas because the phrase “an excellent singer” is extra information. On the other hand, “The book Harry Potter is my favorite” omits commas as Harry Potter is important to identify the book.
6. Avoid Repetition in Modifiers: Phrases with modifiers should be concise and avoid repeating the same idea unnecessarily. Example: “A completely full glass of water” repeats the idea of fullness. Instead, the appropriate phrase would be “A full glass of water.”

 

Tips for Using Phrases

 

Once all the rules are appropriately applied when using phrases in sentences, there might still be some room for improvement which can be bridged with the following tips to ensure 100% accuracy:-

1. 1. Keep It Simple: Don’t overcomplicate phrases by adding too many words. Use clear, concise phrases that add meaning to your sentence without overwhelming the reader.
2. Use Phrases to Add Detail: Phrases can enhance your writing by providing extra information about a noun, verb, or entire sentence. Use them to enhance descriptions or explain actions.
3. Vary Your Sentence Structure: Using different types of phrases (noun, verb, prepositional, etc.) makes your writing more engaging. Avoid starting every sentence in the same way. Alternate between phrases like To win the race, she trained daily (infinitive phrase) and Her training in the morning paid off (noun phrase), to make the writing more engaging and fluid. 
4. Read Your Sentence Out Loud: Reading aloud helps you identify misplaced or awkwardly positioned phrases. If it sounds confusing or unnatural, consider rephrasing the sentence.
5. Give Your Brain a Break: Take appropriate breaks, relax and double-check the sentences if needed or stuck on any question with fresh eyes.

 

Example questions on phrases-

Identify the phrases in the following sentences and also state the type of phrase:

1. Danny was playing video games on his phone.
2. Nandhu, Vishnu and Arjun like going on road trips.
3. The girl, in the black dress, is my colleague.
4. We found an unowned vehicle parked in front of our house.
5. The savories that were served today were extremely sweet.
6. That little boy is my friend’s son.
7. Xavier found a white, furry bunny in their backyard.
8. The plant in the right corner of the garden finally bloomed.
9. Bangalore seems to be a busy, crowded and advanced city.
10. The security guard was unusually kind to all the employees today.

 

Answers:

1. was playing, on his phone.- Verb phrase, Prepositional phrase
2. going on road trips.-  Noun phrase
3. in the black dress –  Adjective phrase
4. an unowned vehicle, in front of our house – Noun phrase, Prepositional phrase
5. extremely sweet – Adverb Phrase
6. That little boy, my friend’s son – Noun phrase
7. a white, furry bunny in their backyard – Adjective phrase, Prepositional phrase
8. in the right corner of the garden – Prepositional phrase
9. busy, crowded and advanced city –  Adjective phrase
10. unusually kind – Adverb phrase

 

Practice questions on Phrases

 

Exercise 1 Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is an example of a prepositional phrase?
   (A) To read a book
   (B) With a bright smile
   (C) Singing loudly
   (D) The tall building

 

2. What type of phrase is “to go to the park”?
   (A) Prepositional phrase
   (B) Infinitive phrase
   (C) Verb phrase
   (D) Noun phrase

 

3. Which phrase is an example of an infinitive phrase?
   (A) By the window
   (B) To help others
   (C) Jumping over the fence
   (D) In the room

 

4. Identify the phrase in the sentence: “The cat under the table is sleeping.”
   (A) under the table
   (B) is sleeping
   (C) The cat
   (D) The table

 

5. Which sentence contains a participial phrase?
   (A) The girl reading a book is my sister.
   (B) To finish my homework quickly.
   (C) In the park, the flowers bloomed beautifully.
   (D) The man went to the store.

 

6. Which of the following is an example of a noun phrase?
   (A) To eat pizza
   (B) The large green ball
   (C) Quickly running
   (D) In the room

 

7. What is the role of the phrase “in the morning” in the sentence: “I jog in the morning”?
   (A) Noun phrase
   (B) Prepositional phrase
   (C) Verb phrase
   (D) Infinitive phrase

 

8. Which of the following is a gerund phrase?
   (A) Running through the park
   (B) To run fast
   (C) The sound of running water
   (D) Running quickly is fun

 

9. Which sentence uses the phrase “to swim in the lake” correctly?
   (A) He loves to swim in the lake on weekends.
   (B) To swim in the lake loves he on weekends.
   (C) The lake to swim in is cool.
   (D) Swimming the lake to do is fun.

 

10. Identify the type of phrase in the sentence: “She waited for him at the corner.”
    (A) Noun phrase
    (B) Prepositional phrase
    (C) Infinitive phrase
    (D) Verb phrase

 

11. Which sentence contains a misplaced phrase?
    (A) I saw a bird in the tree.
    (B) The boy with a hat is my friend.
    (C) The boy is my friend with a hat.
    (D) She found her book under the bed.

 

12. Which of these sentences contains an appositive phrase?
    (A) The car on the street is red.
    (B) My brother, a talented musician, is performing tonight.
    (C) We went to the beach yesterday.
    (D) The students studied hard for the test.

 

13. Which phrase is a verb phrase?
    (A) Running in the park
    (B) Will be going to the concert
    (C) Under the table
    (D) To the store

 

14. What type of phrase is “eating a sandwich”?
    (A) Verb phrase
    (B) Noun phrase
    (C) Infinitive phrase
    (D) Prepositional phrase

 

15. Identify the phrase in the sentence: “He left the party early, feeling tired.”
    (A) He left the party
    (B) Early
    (C) Feeling tired
    (D) The party

 

16. Which sentence uses the phrase “on the table” correctly?
    (A) I found my pen on the table.
    (B) I found on the table my pen.
    (C) On the table found my pen.
    (D) Found I on the table my pen.

 

17. What type of phrase is “the loud noise”?
    (A) Noun phrase
    (B) Prepositional phrase
    (C) Verb phrase
    (D) Gerund phrase

 

18. Which sentence uses an infinitive phrase?
    (A) She is reading a book.
    (B) He decided to go home early.
    (C) She ate lunch at noon.
    (D) I saw her singing yesterday.

 

19. Which of the following is a prepositional phrase?
    (A) Running on the track
    (B) To run fast
    (C) The boy singing
    (D) A tall building

 

20. Which phrase is an example of a participial phrase?
    (A) To go home
    (B) The dog barking loudly
    (C) On the table
    (D) A walk in the park

 

Answers:

1. (B) With a bright smile
2. (B) Infinitive phrase
3. (B) To help others
4. (A) under the table
5. (A) The girl reading a book is my sister.
6. (B) The large green ball
7. (B) Prepositional phrase
8. (D) Running quickly is fun
9. (A) He loves to swim in the lake on weekends.
10. (B) Prepositional phrase
11. (C) The boy is my friend with a hat.
12. (B) My brother, a talented musician, is performing tonight.
13. (B) Will be going to the concert
14. (A) Verb phrase
15. (C) Feeling tired
16. (A) I found my pen on the table.
17. (A) Noun phrase
18. (B) He decided to go home early.
19. (A) Running on the track
20. (B) The dog barking loudly

 

Exercise- 2

Identify the phrases in each sentence and state whether they are adjective phrases, adverb phrases, or noun phrases: 

1. The girl in the blue dress won the prize.
2. He is always in a hurry.
3. I bought a book about history yesterday.
4. The old man with the white beard is my neighbor.
5. The children played outside all day.
6. She is fond of painting.
7. We stayed at a beautiful hotel by the sea.
8. I have a dream of becoming a doctor.
9. They went to the beach in the morning.
10. The dog in the yard is barking loudly.
11. He works at a law firm in the city.
12. The cookies on the table are fresh.
13. She danced gracefully across the stage.
14. The teacher with the red hair is very friendly.
15. The movie was very interesting to watch.
16. The old house at the corner is abandoned.
17. She gave a speech about climate change.
18. The car parked in front of my house is new.
19. I enjoy spending time with my family.
20. The cat under the bed is hiding.

 

Answers:

1.in the blue dress- Adjective Phrase

2. in a hurry- Adverb Phrase
3. about history- Noun Phrase
4. with the white beard- Adjective Phrase
5. outside all day- Adverb Phrase
6. of painting- Noun Phrase
7. at a beautiful hotel by the sea- Noun Phrase
8. of becoming a doctor- Noun Phrase
9. to the beach in the morning- Noun Phrase
10. in the yard- Adjective Phrase
11. at a law firm in the city- Noun Phrase
12. on the table- Adjective Phrase
13. gracefully across the stage- Adverb Phrase
14. with the red hair- Adjective Phrase
15. to watch- Noun Phrase
16. at the corner- Adjective Phrase
17. about climate change- Noun Phrase
18. in front of my house- Adjective Phrase
19. with my family- Noun Phrase
20. under the bed- Adjective Phrase

 

Exercise- 3

Identify the phrases used in the following sentences:

1. She was talking with her friends about the upcoming event.
2. The man wearing the blue shirt is my uncle.
3. He arrived after the meeting started.
4. They sat quietly by the lake.
5. The red balloon flew high in the sky.
6. We were waiting for the train at the station.
7. They were walking down the street with joy.
8. The movie I watched yesterday was amazing.
9. I am planning to travel to Paris next summer.
10. He ran quickly to the finish line.
11. The teacher with the glasses is very kind.
12. She sang her song with passion.
13. The book on the table is mine.
14. We stayed at the luxurious hotel by the beach.
15. The children played in the park after school.
16. He is an expert in solving problems.
17. I love spending time with my family.
18. They walked home after the concert.
19. I cannot work in a noisy environment.
20. The dog sitting by the door barked loudly.

 

Answers:

1. with her friends / about the upcoming event
2. wearing the blue shirt
3. after the meeting started
4. by the lake
5. in the sky
6. at the station
7. down the street / with joy
8. I watched yesterday
9. to travel to Paris next summer
10. quickly to the finish line
11. with the glasses
12. with passion
13. on the table
14. by the beach
15. in the park
16. in solving problems
17. with my family
18. home after the concert
19. in a noisy environment
20. by the door

 

Conclusion 

Understanding and practicing phrases is crucial for mastering language and communication. Phrases provide structure and meaning, enhancing our ability to express thoughts clearly and effectively. Regular practice with examples and exercises not only improves grammar but also  builds confidence in applying phrases correctly. Learners can refine their skills, leading to greater confidence and proficiency in their language use.