Phrases The phrase is composed of one or more than one word. Generally, the phrase is a group of words organized in a specific way with a key word as its head(tt ia ) The word class of the head determines the class of the phrase and the way in which the words are organized 1)The noun phrase The noun phrase is a phrase with a noun as its head. The general pattern of a noun phrase is (determiner +)(premodifier + noun(+postmodifier) see examples on Page 7 the tall boy sitting in the corner °2) The verb phrase The verb phrase is a phrase with a main verb as its head. A verb phrase can be simple or complex. A simple verb phrase is just a main verb or modifier+main verb She looks pale ° We utterly detested him A complex verb phrase is a main verb preceded by an auxiliary(or auxiliaries)(+modifier) She ought to have told him about it In terms of grammatical form, a verb phrase can be finite or nonfinite. A finite verb phrase is initiated by a finite form, that is, a verb form that changes according to tense or subject. A nonfinite verb phrase is a phrase initiated by a nonfinite form, that is, a verb form that does not change according to tense or subject. [see examples on Pages 7-8 w We went there to see a filmPhrases • The phrase is composed of one or more than one word. Generally, the phrase is a group of words organized in a specific way with a key word as its head(中心词). The word class of the head determines the class of the phrase and the way in which the words are organized. • 1) The noun phrase • The noun phrase is a phrase with a noun as its head. The general pattern of a noun phrase is: (determiner +) (premodifier +) noun(+postmodifier) [see examples on Page 7] • the tall boy sitting in the corner • 2) The verb Phrase • The verb phrase is a phrase with a main verb as its head. A verb phrase can be simple or complex. A simple verb phrase is just a main verb or “modifier+main verb”. • She looks pale. • We utterly detested him. • A complex verb phrase is a main verb preceded by an auxiliary(or auxiliaries)(+modifier). • She ought to have told him about it. • In terms of grammatical form, a verb phrase can be finite or nonfinite. A finite verb phrase is initiated by a finite form, that is, a verb form that changes according to tense or subject. A nonfinite verb phrase is a phrase initiated by a nonfinite form, that is, a verb form that does not change according to tense or subject. [see examples on Pages 7-8] • We went there to see a film