Phrases: Definition and Types

Phrase and clause are the most important elements of English grammar. Phrase and clause cover everything a sentence has. Clauses are the center of sentences and phrases strengthen the sentences to become meaningful. If the clauses are the pillars of a building, the phrases are the bricks. A phrase usually is always present within a clause, but a phrase cannot have a clause in it.

A phrase, therefore, is a group of words which has no finite verb in it and acts to complete the sentence for making it meaningful.

“A phrase is a small group of words that form a meaningful unit within a clause"

-Oxford Dictionary

Types of Phrases

The phrases are generally of six types.

Noun Phrase

A noun phrase is usually assembled centering a single noun and works as a subject, an object or a complement in the sentence.

Adjective Phrase

An adjective phrase is comprised of an adjective and works as a single adjective in the sentence.

Adverbial Phrase

An adverbial phrase modifies the verb or the adjective and works as an adverb in the sentence.

Prepositional Phrase

A prepositional phrase always begins with a preposition and connects nouns.

Conjunctional Phrase

A conjunctional phrase works as a conjunction in the sentence.

Interjectional Phrase

Interjections that have more than one words are called the interjectional phrases.

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