Sentence Parts and Parts of Speech Part 4: How Can Phrases and Clauses Function as Parts of Speech?

In the previous posts of this multi-part blog series, we’ve discussed the parts of sentences, including words, phrases, and clauses. We’ve also discussed the parts of speech, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions. We’ve discussed how understanding the separate sentence parts and parts of speech can help you learn how those parts function together and how this overall structure impacts the meaning of the sentence. Furthermore, understanding the terminology used to describe sentence parts and parts of speech can give serious writers a stronger grasp of writing advice that uses such language, giving them the know-how to string together creative and compelling sentences.

Now, let’s take this discussion even further: How do word groups function together? How do readers discern when words are functioning as a singular group, and how do writers string together groups of words rhetorically? How can writers create groups of words (including phrases and clauses) that function as parts of speech? 

This post comprises part of a multi-part blog series on sentence parts and parts of speech. If you haven’t checked it out already, please check out Part 1, which covers the basic definitions of phrases and clauses. Part 2 covers the different parts of speech. Part 3 discusses subjects, objects, modifiers, and complements. Understanding the definitions discussed in these blog posts is necessary for comprehending the contents below. 

Without further ado, let’s consider the following questions: what are the different types of phrases and clauses, and how do phrases and clauses function as different parts of speech? 

Types of phrases and clauses: Phrases and clauses that function as parts of speech

Groups of words that function as specific parts of speech are labeled using terminology that shows 1) whether the word group is a phrase or clause and 2) which part of speech the word group is functioning as. For example, a phrase functioning as a verb is called a verb phrase. A clause functioning as an adverb is an adverbial clause. Let’s look at the different types of phrases and clauses more closely, along with some other concepts: 

Noun phrase definition | A noun phrase is a phrase that functions as a noun. This phrase can include a variety of different parts of speech, many of which serve as modifiers, and usually contains at least one noun. This phrase can be positioned as a subject, subject complement, or object. 

Noun phrase examples: 

• The nine-year-old boy from our neighborhood came over last night. 
• I ate a turkey cranberry sandwich for lunch. 
• The brown dog ran under the old bridge behind McDonalds.
• Swimming in the ocean is far different than swimming in a pool.

Noun clause definition | A noun clause is a clause that functions as a noun. This clause can include a variety of different parts of speech, many of which serve as modifiers, and usually contains at least one noun. This clause can be positioned as a subject, subject complement, or object. 

Noun clause examples:

• The dog swimming in the pool is called Max.
• I believe that psychology is one of the most important disciplines. 
• I get along most with the sister who dances on Broadway. 
• Whoever forgot to lock the door is in so much trouble.

Verb phrase definition | A verb phrase is a phrase that functions as a verb; this phrase is made up of one or more verbs (including helping verbs and modal verbs) along with modifiers, complements, and/or objects. 

Verb phrase examples: 

• I may have to stop by the store for baking powder.
• The dog in the grass over there has gotten too rowdy.
• The ballerina gracefully leapt across the stage. 

Phrasal verb definition | A phrasal verb is a verb that is made up of a verb and one or more other words, which are usually prepositions. The difference between a phrasal verb and a verb phrase is that the meaning of the verb in a phrasal verb is not the same without the addition of the other words, while the deletion of additional words in a verb phrase would not impact the meaning of the main verb. 

Phrasal verb examples: 

• I turned off the television. ← Without the inclusion of the preposition off, the sentence would have a much different meaning. 
• She hangs on to the bar. ← The addition of on changes the meaning of the verb hang.

Verbal phrase definition | A verbal phrase is a phrase that looks like a verb phrase but actually functions as another part of speech. (Yes—the naming makes this very confusing!) I’ll talk more about this in Part 5 of this blog series, but here are some quick examples. 

Verbal phrase examples:  

• Dancing through the streets is fun. ←The bolded text is a special type of verbal phrase called a gerund phrase that functions as a noun.
• Driving above the speed limit, Jack seemed unconcerned about getting a speeding ticket. ←The bolded text is a special type of verbal phrase called a participial phrase that functions as an adjective.
• We must leave now to get there on time. ←The bolded text is a special type of verbal phrase called a infinitive phrase. An infinitive phrase can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb; in this sentence, it functions as an adverb. (When infinitive phrases are functioning as nouns, they can also function as objects, subjects, or subject complements.)

Adjectival phrase definition | An adjectival phrase (also called an adjective phase) is a phrase that functions as an adjective describing a noun or pronoun. This phrase includes the adjective(s) and its/their modifiers (namely, adverbs), as well as conjunctions or determiners. 

Adjectival phrase examples: 

• The fuzzy and googly-eyed monster looks cute. 
• The chocolatier makes extremely delicious, melt-in-your-mouth truffles. 
• I enjoy authentic Chinese black pepper beef. 

Phrasal adjective definition | A phrasal adjective, also called a compound adjective, is a single adjective made up of two or more words. Oftentimes, these words are hyphenated, but not always. Sometimes, phrasal adjectives are formed by compound words that are mashed together into a single word; these are called “closed phrasal adjectives.” Phrasal adjectives are different from adjective phrases because

Using the examples above, let’s pick out the phrasal adjectives. 

Phrasal adjective examples: 

• The fuzzy and googly-eyed monster looks cute. 
• The chocolatier makes extremely delicious, melt-in-your-mouth truffles. 
• I enjoy authentic Chinese black pepper beef. 

Here is an example of a closed phrasal adjective: 

• My skateboard deck broke in half. ←This phrasal adjective contains two words mashed together: skate and board.

Adjectival clause definition | An adjectival clause, commonly referred to as a relative clause, is a clause that functions as an adjective describing a noun or pronoun. Often, adjective clauses begin with relative pronouns or adjectives (words like who, what, and that) that function as subjects, but sometimes, these can be left out. 

Adjectival clause examples: 

• The girl who has red hair is the manager. 
• The boy in the corner, who comes here often, is the manager’s son. 
• The restaurant where servers wear masks has a tasty menu. 
• I went to the restaurant that you recommended. (Notice that the relative pronoun that can be omitted.) 

Adverbial phrase definition | An adverbial phrase is a group of two or more words that functions as an adverb. Adverbial phrases can include an adverb and its modifiers (which are usually other adverbs). However, despite its name, an adverbial phrase does not have to include an adverb at all! Many adverbial phrases do not include adverbs, but they still serve to modify verbs, adjectives, adverbs, phrases, or even whole clauses. An adverbial phrase usually answers questions about how, when, where, or why something (usually an action) happened. They might also answer other questions, such as to what extent? or under what circumstances?

Adverbial phrase examples:

• She swims very slowly. ←This phrase answers the question, “How does she swim?” This is an example of an adverbial phrase that contains only adverbs.
• During the night, the toddler slept fitfully. ←This phrase answers the question, “When did the toddler sleep fitfully?” This phrase is also considered a prepositional phrase; scroll down to learn more. 
• The dog is sitting under the table. ← This phrase answers the question, “Where is the dog sitting?” This is also considered a prepositional phrase, which is discussed in more detail down below.
• She went into the back room to avoid seeing Ben. This phrase answers the question “Why did she go into the back room?” This also functions as an infinitive phrase, which is a type of verbal phrase. Confusing? I know!

Adverbial clause definition | An adverbial clause is a clause that functions as an adverb, describing either a verb, adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or a clause. Once more, despite its name, an adverbial clause does not need to include an adverb. These clauses answer questions about how, when, where, or why something happened. 

Adverbial clause examples:

• Once the parade commenced, Carolina danced through the streets. ← The dependent clause in this sentence answers the question: “When does Carolina dance through the streets?” 
• The blue-faced boy made no noise because he was choking on a large piece of meat. ←The dependent clause in this sentence answers the question: “Why was the boy making no noise?” 
• Akin to an elephant who stomps through the jungle, Henry walked noisily through the house. ←The dependent clause in this sentence answers the question: “How noisily does Henry walk?” 

Sentence adverb definition | A sentence adverb is an adverb or adverbial phrase that modifies an entire sentence by either 1) revealing the writer’s attitude toward the sentence’s contents or 2) contextualizing the contents of the sentence. 

Sentence adverb examples:

• Understandably, she did not want to face the disgruntled guests by herself. 
• Unfortunately, Cinderella cannot attend the ball. 
• Technically speaking, students are not allowed to use school materials outside of class without permission.
• Theoretically, gender is viewed as a spectrum.

*Please note that some grammarians find certain sentence adverbs, like “hopefully,” to be ungrammatical. Read more about this in Grammar Girl’s post. 

Prepositional phrase definition | A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition (this can include a compound preposition, which is defined below) and the object(s) of the preposition. Despite its name, a prepositional phrase usually functions as an adverb and thus is more often considered to be an adverbial phrase or even an adverbial prepositional phrase. When a prepositional phrase also functions as an adverbial phrase, it often tells us information about when or where. However, prepositional phrases can also function as adjectival phrases when they describe nouns. They can even rarely function as nouns. 

Prepositional phrase examples: 

• The kittens were born yesterday evening. ←The prepositional phrase “yesterday evening” is an adverbial phrase that describes when the kittens were born. 
• The man drove through the wall. ←The prepositional phrase “through the wall” is an adverbial phrase that describes where the man drove.
• I bought a book about theories of free will. ←The prepositional phrase “about theories of free will” is an adjectival phrase that describes book. This phrase contains a smaller prepositional phrase—“of free will”—that also serves as an adjectival phrase describing theories.
• In the box is the key. ←The prepositional phrase “in the box” functions as a noun.

Compound preposition definition | A compound preposition is a preposition made up of multiple words, including at least one preposition. These words function as a singular preposition and will not usually have the same meaning if one of the words is deleted. A compound preposition can make up all or part of a prepositional phrase.  

Compound preposition examples:

• Apart from you, no one else has sent in an RSVP.  
• I hid in between the two shelves. 
• In favor of fairness, I suggest we have a vote.

The classifications of phrases and clauses is confusing

Understanding the classifications of phrases and clauses based on their functions can be difficult, especially since 1) some phrases and clauses have multiple classifications, like the prepositional phrase that is also an adverbial phrase, and 2) the popularized names of classifications can lend to confusion (e.g., consider the distinction between phrasal verb and verbal phrase), and 3) some phrases and clauses can be contained inside of other phrases and clauses (e.g., a noun phrase can contain an adjective phrase). While it isn’t always necessary for college students or writers to memorize these classifications, the ability to recognize that groups of words work together to perform singular functions can help with all aspects of literacy. 

Becoming more familiar with different kinds of clauses and phrases can benefit readers and writers of all sorts. For example, this information can give creative writers the know-how they need to create inventive prose. Editors can use their knowledge of these categories in their editing pursuits, including editing for concision. (For example, most editors editing formal documents will replace phrasal verbs with more concise, single-word verbs.) College students can more easily pass their writing courses equipped with a firm knowledge of sentence parts and parts of speech. 
Stay tuned for Part 5 of this blog series, which will dig even deeper into the more confusing aspects of sentence parts and parts of speech, focusing on the way that some words, phrases, or classes can look like one part of speech but function as a different part of speech. If you have any questions about the topics of this blog series, please comment below!