Lesson 1: The Phrase

Definition

A phrase is a group of related words that is used as a single part of speech and that does not contain both a verb and its subject.

Explanation

Think of a phrase as a team of words working together to do one job in a sentence. The most important rule is that a phrase can't have both a subject and a verb. It’s just a piece of the sentence. Remember, a whole phrase can do the same job as a single word!

Examples

• VERB PHRASE: has been painting [This word group has no subject.]
• PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE: for the signal [This word group has no subject or verb.]
• INFINITIVE PHRASE: to finish your chores [This word group has no subject or verb. To finish is an infinitive, not a main verb.]

Definition

If a word group has both a subject and a verb, it is not a phrase.

Explanation

When you find a group of words that has both a doer (the subject) and an action (the verb), you've found something that is not a phrase. It’s like a mini-sentence or a complete thought. Because it has both key parts, it doesn't fit the main rule for being a phrase.

Examples

• My brother was watching television. [This word group has a subject, brother, and a verb, was watching. It is not a phrase.]
• after we saw the movie [This word group has a subject, we, and a verb, saw. It is not a phrase.]