Modifying Phrases

A phrase is a group of words within a clause that modifies either the subject or predicate of a clause. Modifying phrases act as stage prompts to add meaning to either the actor (subject) or action (conjugated verb) of the clause. Adjective phrases modify the subject of the clause while adverbial phrases modify the predicate of the clause. In the last lesson, we discussed the subject/predicate pair, but we ignored the phrases that modify the subject and the predicate. However,  all phrases that modify the subject of the clause are also considered a part of the subject. All phrases that modify the predicate of the clause are also a part of the predicate of the clause.

Phrases serve as modifiers to add content to other elements in the sentence. Four types of phrases will be discussed in this lesson, the adjective phrase, the adverbial phrase, the infinitive phrase, and the participle phrase.

The Adverbial Phrase

Let’s look at a simple sentence without a modifier.

I drive.

This is a simple sentence with one subject/predicate pair. However, there is not much information about this phrase. It could mean the following:

I drive my girlfriend crazy.  (Simple sentence with a simple object – my girlfriend and a simple adverb – crazy).

The direct object of the above sentence is – my girlfriend. The adverb is – crazy, but that is not an adverbial prepositional phrase because it is not a group of words. It is simply an adverb.

I drive my car to the store. (Simple sentence with an adverbial phrase – to the store.)

The direct object is – my car – but the phrase – to the store – adds information about where I drive my car. This is a group of words that begins with a preposition to – and adds meaning to the verb. Thus, it is a prepositional phrase that modifies the verb, drive. Therefore, it is an adverbial phrase.

Bill needs to study history.

The direct object in this sentence is an infinitive to study history. The infinitive – to study history – modifies the verb – needs – it tells the readers what Bill needs to do. He needs to study history.

Let’s consider another sentence with an adverbial phrase.

The man walked into the bank.

The phrase – into the bank – is an adverbial phrase that modifies the verb – walked.  The preposition is – into. The object of the preposition is – the bank – Since it answers the question where the man walked, it is a prepositional adverbial phrase

Multiple phrases can be used in the same clause. For example:

The man walked into the bank to cash a check.

The first prepositional phrase – into the bank – modifies the verb – walked. It indicates where the man walked. He walked into the bank.  he second infinitive phrase – to cash a check -modifies the verb walk by saying why the man walked into the bank.

There is virtually no limit to the number of phrases that can be added to a clause.

The man walked into the bank to cash a check to get money to pay his rent in order to avoid being evicted and becoming homeless.

The above example introduces three more infinitive phrases. The phrase – to get money – modifies the phrase – to cash a check. It details why the man cashed a check. The phrase – to pay his rent – modifies the phrase – to get money.  It details why he got money. The phrase – in order to avoid – modifies the phrase – to pay his rent. It says why he pays his rent.  Two present participle phrases being evicted and becoming homeless – modify the infinitive – to avoid. This sentence could be improved with a revision. For example:

In order to avoid being evicted and becoming homeless, the man walked into the bank to cash a check to get money to pay his rent.

This revision moves the last adverbial phrases to the beginning of the sentence. A comma is placed after the introductory phrase to create a pause before the main and most important part of the sentence.

The Adjective Phrase

An adjective is a word that modifies a noun, a pronoun, or another phrase that acts as the subject of the sentence.

Wearing a suit and a tie, the man walked into the bank to cash a check to get money to pay his rent in order to avoid being evicted and becoming homeless.

In the above sentence, the adjective clause – Wearing a suit and a tie – adds details about the man. It is a present participle phrase like the other participle phrases – being evicted and becoming homeless. However, since it modifies a noun, it is an adjective phrase.

The man in the red hat laughs at the man in the clown suit.

The action in this sentence is – laughs. The actor is the man, but it is not just any man. The adjective phrase indicates that the man is wearing a red hat. The actor is the man in the red hat. Since the phrase modifies the actor or the subject of the clause, the entire phrase is a part of the subject of the clause. The phrase – at the man – is a adverbial phrase modifying the verb – laughs. The phrase describes what the man in the red hat is laughing at. Since this phrase modifies the predicate of the clause – laughs, it is a part of the predicate. Furthermore, the adjective phrase – in the clown suit – modifies the man that is the object of the verb. It says something about the man. He is wearing a clown suit. Since the man in the clown suit is part of the phrase that modifies the verb (action) of the sentence, that adjective phrase is a part of the predicate. Thus, every word in the clause is either a part of the subject or the predicate. The complete subject is – The man in the red hat. The complete predicate is – laughs at the man in the clown suit.

Notice that each of these modifying phrases begins with a preposition. They are both all called prepositional phrases, but they serve different purposes. If the phrase modifies a noun, then it is a prepositional adjective phrase. If it modifies a verb, it is a prepositional adverbial phrase.

The following example uses an adjective phrase along with an infinitive phrase and an adverbial phrase.

The Constitution of the United States of America serves to establish the law of the land for the good of all the citizens.

The first adjective phrase

of the United States of America

modifies the Constitution. It specifies that it is not any constitution. Rather it is the Constitution

of the United States of America.

Notice the adjective phrase in the substantive

the United States of America. This adjective is actually a part of the proper noun. Thus, it would not be considered a phrase.

The second adjective phrase – of the land – modifies – the law. It specifies that it is not just any law. Rather, it is the law – of the land. The third adjective prepositional phrase is – of all the citizens. This phrase modifies the object – good – of the prepositional phrase – for the good, which is a noun.

The phrase – for the good – is an adverbial prepositional phrase that modifies the infinitive phrase   – to establish. It adds information about why the law was established. Since the infinitive phrase – to establish – modifies the main verb – serves – the entire adverbial prepositional phrase – for the good – modifies the entire verb phrase – serves to establish.

The complete subject (actor) of the above independent clause is

The Constitution of the United States of America. The complete predicate of the clause is – serves to establish the law of the land for the good of all the citizens.

 

It is common to see phrases interrupt the subject of the sentence and the predicate of the sentence. This is a common origin of a subject/verb disagreement error. For instance, the following sentence commits the subject/verb disagreement error.

The California Code of Regulations require an applicant to sign the application.

It may seem like the correct verb is – require – because the word before it – Regulations – is plural, but that word is the object of the adjective phrase – of Regulations. It is not the subject of the clause. The base subject is – The California Code.  The adjective phrase – of Regulations – modifies the base subject. It specifies that it is the code of regulations, not another code. Since the base subject (actor) is singular, the correct verb – requires – must be singular.

The California Code of Regulations requires an applicant to sign the application.

The base predicate is the verb. It must agree in number with the base subject (actor) that performs the action regardless of the phrases that modify the base subject.

Complex Sentences

The above sentences contain only independent clauses. Most sentences contain a variety of clauses including independent and dependent clauses. While each clause has a subject/predicate pair, they are not always together. For example, a clause may have the subject with another dependent clause placed between its subject and its predicate. A sentence with at least one dependent clause is a complex sentence. For example:

The car that Maria drives to work will need a new transmission.

The above sentence is a complex sentence because it contains a dependent clause that modifies the car. Notice that the base subject of the main clause is – The car. Since the clause – – and the predicate of the main clause is – will need a new transmission. They are separated by another clause with its own subject/predicate pair – Maria/drives.  The interrupting clause – that Maria drives to work – is a dependent clause. The next several lessons will discuss dependent clauses.

©Derreck Sunderland 2024