Adjectival Phrases

1. The adjectival phrase is a group of words without a verb. (J.C.LIM)

Without a verb He bought a novel with a hard cover. The man dressed in black is my friend. With a verb He bought a novel which has a hard cover. The man who is dressed in black is my friend.

2. Adjectival Phrase is used to describe noun. (J.C.LIM) a. The girl with a cute smile was given a present. b. The cat with a black spots is belongs to Cecilia.

3. The phrase may be introduced by a preposition, a present participle or past participle. (J.C.LIM)

a. Adjectival phrase with preposition (Farida J. Ibrahim, 2009)

i. Doesnt have a finite verb. Correct Wrong He brings joy to He brings joy to people around people who are him. around him.

Are was the finite verb. People was the noun to be described.

ii. An adjectival phrase doesnt begin with, who, which or that. It can begin with a preposition. Correct He brings joy to people around him. Wrong He brings joy to people who around him.

iii. An adjectival phrase with a preposition is used after a noun to give more information about the noun.

Correct
The warehouse across the bridge is owned by the company.

Wrong
The warehouse is owned by that company across the bridge.

Take note that adjectival phrase must come immediately after the noun to be describes.

*The warehouse is the noun to be describes.

Across the bridge is the adjectival phrase describing the warehouse.

b.

Adjectival phrase with present participle. (Farida J. Ibrahim, 2009) i. Adjectival phrase doesnt have a finite verb. It can have a non-finite verb, for instance a present participle. Example:Correct Wrong We gazed at the river We gazed at the river which was shimmering in the sun. shimmering in the sun. (was shimmering is a finite verb) (Shimmering is non-finite verb [present participle]) ii. An adjectival phrase doesnt begin with who, which or that. It can begin with a present participle. Correct We gazed at the river shimmering in the sun. Wrong We gazed at the river that shimmering in the sun.

iii. An adjectival phrase beginning with a present participle is used after people or things to describe or identify them by saying what they are doing or what happens to them. Example, Correct Wrong The girl dancing gracefully on the The girl can also swim well stage can also swim well. dancing gracefully on the stage. (The girl is the noun to be described) (Dancing gracefully on the stage is the adjectival phrase describing the girl) *Take note that the adjectival phrase must come immediately after the noun it describes. iv. An adjectival phrase beginning with a present participle has an active meaning. Correct Wrong We marvelled at the child We marvelled at the child painted painting the picture. the picture.

c. Adjectival phrases with past participle. (Farida J. Ibrahim, 2009) i. Adjectival phrase doesnt have a finite verb. It can have a non-finite verb, for instance a past participle. Example:Correct Wrong She works for a man known to She works for a man who is be upright. known to be upright. ii. An adjectival phrase doesnt begin with who, which or that. It can begin with a present participle. Correct She works for a man known to be upright. Wrong She works for a man who known to be upright.

iii. An adjectival phrase beginning with a present participle is used after people or things to describe or identify them by saying what they are doing or what happens to them. Example, Correct The man chosen to be the new director has many years experience. Wrong The man has many years experience chosen to be the new director.

(The man is the noun to be describes) (Chosen to be the new director is the adjectival phrase describing the man)

Exercise
A. Cross out the incorrect words in the brackets to complete the sentences.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

They rounded up the people (smuggling / who smuggling) arms. We met a young girl (travelling / was travelling) by herself. He waved at the detective (is tailing / tailing) him. Its a painting of three ladies (are sipping / sipping) tea. I watched those nimble fingers (threading / were threading) a needle.

B. Rearrange the words to form sentences with adjectival phrases. 1. Decision he is making man the- the-. He is the man making the decision. 2. a Alaska friend have- I an living.

3. are enjoying students their they vacation.

4. A an building ex-addict life new shes.

5. fighting garden growing in our the weeds were.

C. Fill in the blanks with suitable adjectival phrase.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

We enjoyed watching boats ________ the river. (on / were on) He owns one of the houses _________ that road. ( along / which along) Im looking for an apartment __________ my budget. (in / within) He is the person __________ the uprising. (behind / who behind) This is an issue ___________ our scope. (is outside / outside)

D. Underline the adjectival phrases below. Example : The boy waving a green flag is Westly. The boy waving a green flag is Westly.

1. The police patrolling the housing estate are very efficient. 2. The house painted in blue seems to be haunted. 3. The road beside the river is flooded. 4. The animal swinging from tree to tree is a monkey. 5. The car parked under the tree belongs to my neighbour.

E. Join each pair of sentences below using an adjectival phrase. Make the necessary change.
Example : The man has a car. It is parked under the tree. The man has a car parked under the tree.

1. The chalet has a yellow roof. It is quite expensive. 2. The painting is on the table. It is done by my brother. 3. The snake was captured. It was hiding in the bush. 4. The swimmers were at the waterfall. They had a great time. 5. The boy was stung by a bee. He let out a scream.

Bibliography
J.C.LIM. New Primary English (Primary 6). Multi Link Educational Pte.Ltd. Faridah J.Ibrahim, Adibah Amin & Rosemary Eravelly. Grammar Builder. Pan Asian Publication Sdn.Bhd,2009.