A phrase is a group of words that have their own meaning and are part of a sentence. (Akhmad Kardimin, 2005)
For example: A good-looking man, large classes, delicious meal, rather handsome, extremely tasty, etc.
So, what about noun phrases, verb phrases, and adjective phrases?
A. Noun phrase
A noun phrase is a phrase with a noun as the main word.
Example: Ahmad is a wise leader in this organization. From the sentence there is a noun phrase, namely a wise leader.
a: article (as pre modifier)
wise: adjective (as pre modifier)
leader: noun (as main word)
the phrase “a wise leader” above means a wise leader, the core of the phrase is the word leader, because wise as an adjective describes the state of the noun (leader) as a wise person.
B. Verb phrase
A verb phrase is a phrase consisting of a main verb followed by at least one helping auxiliary verb.
Example: He can read all of books in an hour. The verb phrase in the sentence is can read.
can : auxiliary verb (as pre modifier)
read : verb (as main verb)
The phrase “can read” above means can read, the core of the phrase is the word read, because can is an auxiliary verb.
In the verb phrase, “not” is not included in the phrase, for example: she shouldn’t have gone. From the sentence above, the verb phrase is should have gone, because not cannot be included in the phrase.
Examples of verb phrases:
1. Modal
Example: I must study hard.
Must study is a verb phrase with a modal as the auxiliary verb because must is a modifier in the phrase.
2. Perfect have
Example: I have had a dinner with my best friend.
Have had is a verb phrase with perfect have as the auxiliary verb because have is a modifier in the phrase.
3. Progressive be
Example: Kinan has been working there since years ago.
Has been working is a verb phrase with progressive be as the auxiliary verb. Progressive be is a verb with an active structure (me-/ber-).
4. Passive be
Example: the departure of the airplane has been cancelled because of the bad weather.
Has been cancelled is a verb phrase with passive be as the auxiliary verb. Passive be is a verb with a passive structure (di-/ter-).
C. Adjective Phrase
Adjective phrase is a phrase with an adjective as its main word.
Example:
1. I am very happy to know that.
2. It’s nice to see you.
The first sentence has an adjective phrase, namely very happy.
very : adjective (as pre modifier)
happy : adjective (as main word)
while, the second sentence has an adjective phrase, namely nice to see you.
nice : adjective (as main word)
to see you : (as post modifier)
usually this adjective phrase is also found in a noun phrase.
Example: my partner is a responsible person that I’ve ever met.
the noun phrase a responsible person, there is also an adjective phrase, namely responsible person.
Sources:
Smart English Grammar, oleh Akhmad
Pre-Intermediete Structure, compiled by Ikmi Nur Oktavianti
~Ratna Nur Azizah
