Category Phrase

An adverbial phrase is a phrase that functions as an adverb in a sentence. (In other words, it’s an umbrella term for all phrases functioning as an adverb.) Since only adverb phrase, prepositional phrase, participial phrase, absolute phrase, infinitive phrase, and noun phrase can function as an adverb, they constitute adverbial phrase when functioning as an adverb.

An adjectival phrase is a phrase that functions as an adjective in a sentence. (In other words, it’s an umbrella term for all phrases functioning as an adjective.) Since only adjective phrase, prepositional phrase, participial phrase, and infinitive phrase can function as an adjective, they constitute adjectival phrase when functioning as an adjective.

A phrase is a grammatical group of words that does not have both subject and verb. If the group of words has both subject and verb, it becomes a clause. Note that verb here means finite (or tense) verb, and not participle or infinitive.

Whereas a clause is a group of words containing both subject and verb, a phrase is a group of words without both subject and verb. Note that verb in a clause means finite (or tense) verb, and not participle or infinitive.

An adjective phrase is a phrase that has an adjective as its head word (or the most important word), and it functions as an adjective in a sentence. If you recall, a phrase is a group of words that doesn’t have both a subject and a verb.

An adverb phrase is a phrase that has an adverb as its head word (or the most important word), and it functions as an adverb in a sentence. If you recall, a phrase is a group of words that doesn’t have both a subject and a verb.