Leo Topic Assignment: I'm writing a research paper and my native language is not English.

I'm concerned about sentence structure and need to know more about where to place phrases in sentences.


A phrase can never stand on its own as a complete sentence. 

These are the most common kinds of phrases:

1. NOUN PHRASE

A noun phrase consists of a noun and all of its modifiers.
It can function together in a sentence as a subject, object, or complement.

Exp: All of my international friends love to try the traditional food of my country.

2. APPOSITIVE PHRASE

An appositive phrase consists of the appositive and its modifiers which may themselves be phrases.
It functions as a noun that renames a noun/pronoun preceding it.

Exp: Jenny, a girl who is very poor, was accepted to go to Havard University.

3. VERB PHRASE

A verb phrase includes a main verb and its helping verbs.
It can function as the predicate of a sentence only.

Exp: It is difficult to wake up very early everyday.

4. ABSOLUTE PHRASE

It's a group of words often includes a noun or pronoun, a participle, as well as any related modifiers, objects or complements of the phrase.
Usually set off by commas, it modifies the entire sentence, adding information.

Exp: The birds having flown off, the cat climbed down from the tree.

5. PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

Prepositional phrase is a group of words made up of a preposition, its object, and any of the object's modifiers.
It often functions as an adjective or adverb, but it can function as a noun as well.

Exp: I prepared milk for the kitten.

6. GERUND PHRASE

A gerund phrase includes a gerund and might include other modifiers, objects, or complements.
It always functions as a noun.

Exp: Knowing the truth may hurt you a lot.

7. PARTICIPIAL PHRASE

A participial phrase consists of a present or past participle and its modifiers, objects, or complements.
It always functions as an adjective.

Exp: Walking under the rain, she got a cold.

8. INFINITIVE PHRASE

An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive and its modifiers, objects, or complements.
It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Exp: He helped to build the roof.


Source:

LEO: Phrases Formula