Subject : English Language
Topic: Grammar
Sub-Topic: Noun phrases and Verb phrases
Duration: 40 minutes
Objectives: At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1- define phrases
2- list the types of phrases
3- identify noun phrases and verb phrases
Content
Phrases
A phrase is a group of related words that, unlike a sentence, has no subjet-predicate combination. Words in a phrase act together to function as a single part of speech. Some act as nouns, some as verbs, some as adjective and some as adverbs. Remember, phrases can’t stand alone and express a complete thought like sentences. There are five types of phrases: noun phrase, verb phrase, adjective phrase, adverb phrase and prepositional phrase.
The underlined words below are phrases.
1- The man slapped him. (noun phrase)
2- Olu and Mary lived happily ever after. (adverbial phrase)
3- She might be leaving tomorrow. (verb phrase)
4- She threw the book into the bush. (propositional phrase)
5- The woman is very beautiful. (adjective phrase)
Noun phrases
A noun phrase is a group of words that acts as a noun. It has a a noun as its key word. A noun phrase functions as the subject, object, or compliment of the sentence. It can also function as indirect object, object compliment, prepositional complement and apposition.
Examples:
.The man killed the snake. (subject)
. She saw the man. (object)
. The police officer reported seing the suspect. (subject)
. The man bought a book. (object)
. My class teacher explained the topic to the students. (subject)
. Riding the black stallion terrified Mark. (subject)
. Calling uncle Roberto is calling for trouble. (subject)
Verb phrases
A verb phase is a group of words acting as a verb and having a verb as its key word. It performs the action of the sentence just like the verb. A verb phrase is made up of a main verb and one or more auxiliary verbs or helping verbs.
A helping verb includes forms of be, such as am, is, are, was, were, being, and been; forms of have, such as has and had; forms of do, such as does and did; forms of can, such as could, will, would, and shall; and forms of should, such as may, might, and must.
Examples:
– Tolu and Bola will (auxiliary) go (verb) to the fun-fair tomorrow.
– You would (modal auxiliary) have (auxiliary) gone (main verb).
– She should (modal auxiliary) go (verb) to the party.
Exercises
A- Underline the noun phrases in the following sentences and state the function of each.
1. The man bought a book.
2. Olu helped the girl.
3. The woman gave the girl her food.
4. It rains heavily in the west.
5. The man became a lawyer.
B- Underline the verb phrases in the following sentences.
1. Chijoke will travel to Enugu tomorrow.
2. She may be doing the job.
3. They were ready hours ago.
4. I have been reading this book since last week.
5. The children are playing outside.