How do these phrase types work in sentences?:

 

• Appositive
• Absolute
• Prepositional
• Gerund
• Participial
• Infinitive

Would it be possible to have an example of each?

 

1.Appositive

Appositive phrase is a noun phrase that gives another name to the noun appearing right besides it. It gives more description about a specific thing to help make a sentence more detailed. It also adds clarity to a sentence.

Example;

Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, is located in the Asian continent.

 

Appositive phrase can further follow two forms: a noun followed by an apposite phrase, or an apposite phrase followed by a noun.

 

Examples are as follows;

a. Noun followed by an appositive;

Shakespeare, the world's greatest dramatist, died in 1616.

 

b. Apposite followed by a Noun;

Regarded as the greatest dramatist, Shakespeare died in 1616.

 

2.Absolute

An absolute phrase is a phrase that modifies a whole independent clause, and not just a single word. It contains a noun and a participle, hence may be sometimes as short as two sentences. Absolute clause may either come before, follow, or interrupt the main clause.

 

Example;

His hands tacked in his pockets, the boy walked stealthily past us.

The boy walked stealthily past us, his hands tacked in his pockets.

The boy, his hands tacked in his pockets, walked stealthily past us.

 

3.Prepositional

A prepositional phrase is composed of a preposition, its object, and any other words that modify the object. The object may be a noun, pronoun or a noun phrase. The modifiers of the object may be the adjectives, and noun adjuncts. A prepositional phrase oftentimes modifies a noun and a verb.

 

Examples;

They set off just in time.

He likes shopping grocery in the shop by the roadside.

 

4.Gerund

A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any modifiers or objects associated with it. A gerund is a noun formed by adding a verb root plus -ing. A complete gerund phrase can function as a subject, object, or predicate nominative.

 

Example;

Exercising helps in improving body fitness.

 

5.Participial

A participial phrase is composed of a participle and the modifier and/or nouns, pronouns, and noun phrases, which function as either direct, indirect objects, or complements of the action expressed in the participle. The participial phrase resembles a verb, but functions as an adjective. The participial phrase may either be present participle or past participle. The present participle of a verb ends in -ing, while the past participle of a verb ends in -ed.

 

Examples;

The child, crying and crawling, was apparently bit by an insect.

Tired and famished, the athlete quickly emptied the cold fruit juice into his stomach.

 

6.Infinitive

An infinitive phrase comprises a group of words that uses an infinitive 'to' plus verb. An infinitive phrase serves the purpose of expressing the action in a sentence. It works just like a noun, adjective or adverb in a sentence.

 

Example;

The teacher wanted them to go round the track quickly

 

Infinitive phrases are divided into three parts; infinitives, objects, and modifiers.

 

Infinitive Phrase as a Noun

This phrase answers the question "what?"

Example:

They want to study for the exam.

 

Infinitive Phrase as an Adjective

Here, the phrase describes a noun or a phrase.

Example:

I need a Shakespearean novel to read.

 

Infinitive Phrase as an Adverb

Here, the phrase modifies the verb in a sentence.

Example;

He lay down to take a nap.