PHRASES

412. A Phrase is a group of words acting as a Noun, Adjective or Adverb in a sentence.It 
        does not contain a Finite Verb but may contain an Infinite Verb ( Participle, Infinitive,
        Gerund ). In itself it cannot make complete sense, but can have meaning only through
        its relation to some part of the sentence in which it stands;as,

        1). The writer was a man of great wealth.
        2). He was a young man of great promise.
        3). It was a scene of great beauty.
        4). I shot an arrow into the air.
        
        (*) The words in italics are Phrases.



                              1. Adjective Phrases

413. Sometimes a group of words does the work of an Adjective. Now read the following
        pairs of sentences :---

        1.  (a) The French navy was defeated.
             (b) The navy of France was defeated.

       2.   (a) The judge was a generous man.
             (b) The judge was a man of a generous nature.

       3.   (a) A valuable document was found yesterday.
             (b) A document of great value was found yesterday.


       (*) In each of the above pairs of sentences, we have first a single word qualifying the
            Noun and then a group of words qualifying the same Noun.

       (*) For instance, the group of words of France describes the navy. It,therefore,does 
             the work of an Adjective , and is called an Adjective Phrase.

                                 
                                          

                                  2. Adverb Phrases

415. We have seen that sometimes a group of words does the work of an Adverb. 
        Examine the following pairs of sentences :---

1.  (a) She answered rudely. ( How ?)
     (b) She answered in a rude manner. ( How ?)

2.  (a) He was a magistrate then. ( When ?)
     (b) He was a magistrate in those days. ( When ?)

3.  (a) God is everywhere. ( Where?)
     (b) God is in every place. ( Where ?)

     (*) In each of the above pairs of sentences, we have first a single word ( an Adverb )
          modifying a Verb, and then a group of words modifying the same Verb.

     (*) For instance, the group of words, in a rude manner, tells us how she answered.It,
          therefore, modifies the Verb answered. Such a group of words that does the work
          of an Adverb is called an Adverb Phrase.





416. Study the following table of Adverbs and the Adverb Phrases that are
        equivalent to them :---

                                  3. Noun Phrases

417. Study carefully the following sentences :-

        1. She loves to paint her thoughts.
        2. I enjoy playing cards.
        3. To know one's self is a difficult task.
        4. Thinking good thoughts makes a good man.

   (*) The italicised phrases in the above sentences are used as Nouns ( Subject or
         Object to Verb ). They are, therefore , called Noun Phrases.