1.

The classes of phrases

a. Absolute Phrase
An absolute phrase is a modifying parenthetical or subordinate phrase of a root sentence
that includes a subject but does not have an acting verb so cannot stand on its own as
sentence: Their effort to regain the lead successful, the team continued to score until
they pulled ahead by a wide margin.
b. Appositive Phrase
An appositive phrase is one that restates a preceding term, or expands or explains it, in a
parenthetical statement. There are three variations of appositive phrases: Her dog, a bull
mastiff, looks ridiculous with a pink bow stuck to her head features a noun phrase. His
favorite hobby, knitting, is rather unusual for a man includes a gerund phrase. The
Tahitians ambition, to become an ice skater, is unexpected has an infinitive phrase.
Note that these three types of phrases are explained below; the distinction in the phrase
types as applied above, as opposed to the types described below, is that each type serves
as the basis for an appositive phrase; on their own, they need not be appositive, or set off.
c. Gerund Phrase
A gerund phrase includes a verbal, a hybrid that functions as a noun (or adjective). There
are three distinct functions: Juggling knives is not recommended as a relaxation
technique includes a gerund phase as the subject of the sentence. Im going for a long
walk off a short pier features a gerund phrase as the sentences object. Shes saving up
for a vacation in Antarctica has a gerund phrase as the object of a preposition.
d. Infinitive Phrase
An infinitive phrase includes the word to and a verb as the basis of a modification of a
root sentence: His effort to pass the bill doomed his political ambitions includes an
infinitive phrase that functions as an adjective modifying the previous noun. He plans to
see the movie features an infinitive phrase that functions as the sentences object. To
write of the experience is to dredge up unpleasant memories has an infinitive phrase that
functions as the sentences subject. To say as much is to admit guilt includes an
infinitive phrase that serves as predicate nominative, or a substitute subject. I went to the
store to buy some ice cream features an infinitive phrase that stands as an adverb
(modifying the verb went).

e. Noun Phrase
A noun phrase consists of a person, place, or thing and any modifiers: This is a
grammar lesson. It may include one or more adjectives (as grammar modifies lesson
here). It might include a noun and a modifying clause: This is a lesson that explains the
various types of phrases. It might take the form of one of three other types of phrase:
infinitive, participial, and prepositional. (The infinitive phrase is discussed above, and the
latter two types are described below.)
Many noun phrases are continuous; they consist of words in sequence. However, a noun
phrase may be discontinuous, meaning that it is broken up into more than one element:
This lesson is one that explains the various types of phrases.
f. Participial Phrase
A participial phrase consists of verbals ending in -ing or -ed, or another irregular form of
a verb, and serves as an adjective: The participial phrase in Having been lied to before, I
was wary modifies the word I. The phrase may be parenthetical within a sentence, too:
In You, knowing what you now know, are in a better position to judge, the participial
phrase modifies the word you.
g. Prepositional Phrase
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and a noun or pronoun that serves as the
prepositions object, and often one or more adjectives: I went for a walk in the dark
woods. Prepositional phrases are often located at the head of a sentence. When the sun
went down, I hurried back.

2. What is main phrase and subordinate phrase

Main phrase is a clause in a complex sentence that contains at least a subject and a
verb and can stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence.

Example: The man of the jungle

Subordinate phrase is a group of words that has both a subject and a verb.

Example: When the sky is blue

3. The function of Noun Phrase in the classes

A noun phrase consists of a pronoun or noun with any associated modifiers,

including adjectives, adjective phrases, adjective clauses, and other nouns in the
possessive case.
Since some verbals -- in particular, the gerund and the infinitive -- can act as
nouns, these also can form the nucleus of a noun phrase:
Ice fishing is a popular winter pastime.

However, since verbals are formed from verbs, they can also take direct objects
and can be modified by adverbs. A gerund phrase or infinitive phrase, then, is a
noun phrase consisting of a verbal, its modifiers (both adjectives and adverbs),
and its objects:
Running a marathon in the Summer is thirsty work.
I am planning to buy a house next month.

Like a noun, a noun phrase can act as a subject, as the object of a verb or verbal,
as a subject or object complement, or as the object of a preposition, as in the
following examples:
subject
Small children often insist that they can do it by themselves.
object of a verb
To read quickly and accurately is Eugene's goal.
object of a preposition
The arctic explorers were caught unawares by the spring breakup.
subject complement
Frankenstein is the name of the scientist not the monster.
object complement
I consider Loki my favorite cat.

4. How is the structure of noun phrase

Determiner: . These are found uniquely in the structure of noun phrases. They
have the form of determinatives (or determinative phrases, as in almost all
students, not many people, too few volunteers) or genitive noun phrases (the girl's
voice, some people's behaviour, my book). Determiners serve to mark the noun
phrase as definite or indefinite.
Complement: The clearest cases of Complements involve preposition phrases
where the preposition is specified by the Head noun, and certain types of
subordinate clause.
Modifiers. The typical pre-Head Modifier is an adjective or adjective phrase: a
good book, a very serious matter. But those are not the only possibilities. In

particular, nouns can also function as Modifier to a Head noun: a school play, the
unemployment situation, etc. Post-Head Modifiers are typically preposition
phrases and subordinate clauses that occur more freely than Complements in that
they do not have to be licensed by the Head noun: a man of honour, the house
opposite the post office, the play that she wrote, the guy who spoke first.
5. Explain about Noun and determiner in Noun Phrase
a. Noun function as head of noun phrase
b. Determiner introduce noun phrase, and its function ass modifier. Unlike adjectiive
modifiers, they are sometimes obligatory. If tge head of an NP is a singular count
noun, then some determiners have to be added