Introductory phrases and clauses 1. Knowing that their project was due on Monday, Liezl, Maria, Examples: In the middle of the Use the introductory phrases to ask indirect questions and to know the formal registers when requesting information in English-speaking countries in situations of cordiality. An introductory absolute phrase requires a comma to set it off from the main clause, as you can see in these examples: An appositive phrase offers an alternative description of a noun in the sentence. Introductory phrases and clauses John invited Mary to a movie. If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website. 1.1 Embedded Questions: Introductory Phrases 1.2 Embedded Questions: Examples 1.3 Embedded Questions: Tenses 1.4 Embedded Questions and Contractions 1.5 Embedded Questions: Whether and If 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 These examples can clear up any confusion: In general, it’s usually correct to use a comma after an introductory phrase. In an introductory prepositional phrase, the sentence starts with a preposition and a few words that follow it. Before you learn how to correctly use and punctuate an introductory phrase, you need to have a clear understanding of what one is and why you would use it in a sentence. Participle phrases are different from gerund phrases in that participles act as adjectives and gerunds act as nouns. The introductory phrases in the following examples are participial phrases, verb phrases headed by the âing or the âen form of the verb. However, like all aspects of the English language, there are a few exceptions. "Next door" is an adverb phrase telling where. You should always use a comma after an introductory infinitive phrase, as you can see in these examples: A participial phrase is another form of verb phrase. If the phrase is a nice addition to the sentence but is not necessary for clarity, you should use a comma: However, if the introductory appositive phrase is necessary to the sentence, you should not use a comma. An introductory prepositional phrase typically needs a comma when it contains more than four words, as shown in this example: 1. IntroductoryIntroductory Phrases andPhrases and ClausesClauses 2. This is because you pause after the introductory phrase when you say the sentence aloud. Introductory Words: Introductory words are usually adverbs or interjections that provide an introduction to a sentence or paragraph. It is correct to use a comma and also correct to leave it out, as you can see in the example below: Using an introductory infinitive phrase also provides information to the reader, often about why something is happening. "To Judy, he gave a gold bracelet." An appositive phrase is a noun phrase that describes another noun. The prepositional phrase, âAgainst his better judgment or logical reasoningâ needs a comma, since it contains more than four words. Use them as introductory phrases to give more information about the circumstances in the main clause. Let us know , and we can address them in future tips! Introductory phrases worksheets. INTRODUCTORYWORDS&*PHRASES* Introductorywordsandphrasesareusedastransitionstoprovidebackgrounddetailsconcerningwho,what, when,!where,!why,!and!how. "To Judy, he gave a gold bracelet." An introductory phrase is not a complete clause; it does not have a subject and a verb of its own. Here are ⦠There are five common types of introductory phrases, and it’s important to understand how to use each one correctly. This type of introductory phrase offers a little more detail about the way in which something is happening or the reason for which it is happening. For example, here are two prepositional phrases that work as adjectives, since they describe the objects in the sentences: The team, with the blue stripes, won the game. Mary had seen the movie twice already. A participial phrase can be used as an introductory Example: After party, they went to sleep. . "After work" is an adverb phrase telling when. "After work" is an adverb phrase telling when. He was eager to eat dinner. Introductory phrases set the stage for the rest of your sentence, giving the reader valuable information about what is happening and why. A participial phrase describes a noun. X claims 1. During the production of the film, the director nearly quit. I always use the comma, for two reasons. Hopefully, you're avoiding the phrases that kill an introductory email -- like "Hi my name is X and I work at Y"-- but which ones should you replace them with? First, the writer may not accurately predict what will be clear or confusing to the reader, so using the comma will reduce the potential for confusion. Appositive phrases usually come after the nouns they describe, but they may come before it, as they do when they are introductory phrases. She graduated from Syracuse University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater. You can see how this works in this introductory phrase example: Galloping quickly, the horse reached the other side of the pasture in less than a minute. Introductory Phrases & Commas Home Punctuation Introductory Phrases & Commas Introductory clauses, phrases and words are: Clauses, phrases or words that are not sentences. Comma to Set Off Introductory Phrases Use commas to set off an introductory phrase that is four or more words. Knowing the five types of introductory phrases and what purpose each serves can give you some ideas for writing sentences with introductory phrases. Prepositional Phrases It begins with a preposition and includes itâs object. For example: Checking methodically, we never miss a mistake. An absolute phrase includes a subject and information about it but not a verb. An infinitive phrase begins with the word “to” and includes a verb. Here are some examples of sentences with introductory prepositional phrases: "After work, I like to go out for dinner." Stephanie Mitchell is a professional writer who has authored websites and articles for real estate agents, self-help coaches and casting directors. Realizing that it was her last meeting with Jared Amy decided to say the words she always wanted to. An independent clause should follow the introductory word, and needs separated with a comma. In the examples below, the introductory phrase contains two prepositional phrases: âduring the productionâ and âof the film.â During the production of the film the director nearly quit. Content Indirect Questions Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education. If there are two or more phrases and/or clauses before the subject, only put a comma after the last one. Are there other phrases like this that are confusing? First, what is aFirst, what is a phrase?phrase? An introductory absolute phrase requires a comma to set it off from the main clause, as you can see in these examples: Completely oblivious to the rain , the children continued to play outside. Introductory phrases Use introductory phrases to tell the reader what the author thinks or does in their text. Introductory phrases to use and their contexts To assist you with effectively supporting your statements, we have organized the introductory phrases below according to their function. You might enjoy a massage. For example, read the following sentence and notice the introductory phrase that comes before the subject, which is she. What Is the Difference Between Parts of Speech & Parts of a Sentence? There are many types of introductory phrases: 1. If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked. Participles are verbs ending in "-ing" or "-ed" that act as adjectives, and participial phrases are composed of participles and the other words that describe the participle's action. Here are some examples of sentences with introductory prepositional phrases: "After work, I like to go out for dinner." Here are examples: He was waiting for the rain to stop. Examples of introductory words: Meanwhile, however, therefore, thus, moreover. Because she had seen the movie twice already, Mary was reluctant to accept It may also include a direct object of the verb. Essentially, they prepare your readers for what the sentence is ⦠Introductory elements consist of clauses, phrases and words that appear before the main clause of the sentence. Clauses, phrases or words that provide extra information. Each type serves a distinct purpose within the sentence. Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. "To Judy" is a noun phrase and the indirect object of the verb. If it does, it’s called an introductory clause. Mitchell also regularly edits websites, business correspondence, resumes and full-length manuscripts. To stay top of the class, you have to study hard every day. In the sentence, "With the trees already growing back, the field was returning to nature," "with the trees already growing back" is an introductory absolute phrase. Against his better judgment or logical reasoning, he played outside all afternoon instead of doing his homework. Learn more about comma usage rules to become a confident writer. âThe other day, I met an old friend.â When writing a sentence, sometimes you may wish to set the scene for your statement by using an introductory phrase. It has all the pieces of an independent clause except the verb "to be." An introductory paragraph, as the opening of a conventional essay, composition, or report, is designed to grab people's attention.It informs readers about the topic and why they should care about it but also adds enough intrigue to get them to continue to read. These phrases also provide location and other helpful information. Stacked introductory phrases and dependent clauses also need commas: The next day, â to avoid another argument, â they arrived at the bus stop early. Yes, you are allowed to chew gum balls during class, but donât complain to me if you break a tooth. In the sentence, "A great composer, Wagner wrote famous operas," "a great composer" is an appositive phrase describing Wagner. Learn introductory phrases english with free interactive flashcards. Introductory infinitive phrases act as adverbs. As the initial examples demonstrate, introductory phrases with fewer than 5 words may need that comma to simplify the interpretation. Choose from 500 different sets of introductory phrases english flashcards on Quizlet. Introductory phrases also set the stage for the main action of the sentence, but they are not complete clauses. It can act as a noun, adjective or adverb. "To Judy" is a noun phrase To use it properly, you need to use a comma after the introductory prepositional phrase to set it apart from the rest of the sentence if the phrase is longer than four words. Use introductory appositive phrases to give relevant information about the subject of a sentence, not irrelevant information. They contain supporting or descriptive information about the rest of the sentence's subject, main idea or main action. All Rights Reserved, Introductory phrase horse galloping quickly. It helps the reader understand more about the main clause. How to Start Sentences With Adjective Phrases. It sets the stage for the main clause, allowing the reader to understand the context of what is happening. Learn to spot the differences between phrases and clauses. Introductory Words, Clauses, and Phrases Introductory Clause Examples: Out of all the things that can be done online, Math homework should not be one of them As soon as I got home from school, I passed out on the couch. Some style guides allow for short introductory phrases to precede the independent clause of a sentence without a comma if the resulting sentence is short and its meaning clear. . Read these examples twice, once with the introductory words and once without. What Are Linking Verbs & Predicate Words? In the sentence "A great composer, Wagner liked to go to bed early," "a great composer" still describes Wagner, but it has nothing to do with the topic of the sentence: the time he liked to go to bed. This list is not exhaustive but will provide you with ideas of the types of phrases you can use. -- Created using Powtoon -- Free sign up at http://www.powtoon.com/youtube/ -- Create animated videos and animated presentations for free. Introductory phrases are similar to introductory clauses but are not complete clauses because they do not have both a verb and a subject. We can add introductory phrases at the start of sentences to provide additional information before the main clause. We hope these examples will help you be more confident in your use of introductory clauses. When you see a subordinating conjunction at the beginning of a sentence, this signals an introductory phrase, and you know a comma is coming at the end of that subordinate phrase, as illustrated in these examples: Because his favorite team lost the Super Bowl, he would not speak to anyone about the game for two years. Commas and Introductory Clauses or Phrases This Grammar.com article is about Commas and Introductory Clauses or Phrases â enjoy your reading! "Next door, the woman screamed." Here âafter partyâ is Are there other phrases like this that are confusing? If the introductory phrase is less than four words, there is not need to use a comma. Like an infinitive phrase, it may have a direct object. Common introductory phrases include prepositional phrases, appositive phrases, participial phrases, infinitive phrases, and absolute phrases. Verb Phrases A verb phrase consists of a verb and all its modifiers. Consider whether the phrase adds important clarifying information about the subject. She was upset when it didn't boil. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and includes the preposition's object. You can use this as an introductory phrase, giving the reader more information about the subject of the sentence or another noun. The prepositional phrase adds information to the main clause, often about a location or timing. There are several different types of introductory phrases, and there are specific rules for using these correctly. At home we eat ice cream for dessert. Learn when and where to use a comma after an introductory phrase and how to make your writing stand out with just the right words. Always punctuate with a comma after using an introductory word. Gerunds are not commonly used as introductory phrases, but participles are. Use introductory infinitive phrases to describe the purpose of the main verb in your sentence. In contrast, this introductory clause example includes both a subject and a verb: Because the horse was galloping quickly, he reached the other side of the pasture in less than a minute. Consider using the following after you have given the author's name (and the year or notation): X states that . Like an infinitive phrase, always set this introductory phrase off with a comma: An absolute phrase also adds information to the main clause, providing context for the reader to interpret the rest of the sentence. Simply put, an introductory phrase is a group of words that comes before the main clause in a sentence. The word "to" followed by the base form of a verb is called an infinitive, and it is used to talk about the verb in the abstract, not connected with a subject. AA phrasephrase is a group of words thatis a group of words that does notdoes not have a subject or a ver The phrases are usually set off with a comma. When you start with an appositive phrase, you often need to use a comma after it. How to Find a Verb & Predicate in a Sentence. I encourage you to play around and craft your own unique messages. You can see the proper punctuation in these examples: If an introductory prepositional phrase is made up of fewer than five words and does not require a pause, the comma is optional. Though the flowers were fading, their perfume remained strong. As introductory phrases, they usually modify the subject of the sentence. You have been sleeping for a long time. The introductory phrase is correctly followed by a comma: Introductory phrases give your writing a varied sentence structure and a sophisticated style. Phrases don't have both a subject and a verb that are separate from the subject and verb in the main clause of the sentence. The prepositional phrase âAt homeâ doesnât need a comma, since itâs short and clear. Sometimes, these introductory phrases start with “the” instead of “a” or “an.” If the phrase does provide important clarifying information, don’t use a comma. Mary was reluctant to accept Johnâs invitation. In the sentence, "Running like the wind, Sasha began to gain on him," "running like the wind" describes Sasha. Here, you may find a few examples of proper using a comma after the introductory clauses: After returning home from Paris Evan was too excited to think about his work. It can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb. In the sentence, "To keep the dog, you must prove you can take care of it," "to keep the dog" is an infinitive phrase. It may have a subject or a verb, but it can’t have both. See how the meaning stays the same? Absolute phrases can be placed anywhere in a sentence. 'Re having trouble loading external resources on our website played outside all afternoon instead of doing his homework homework. Verb and all its modifiers about a location or timing its own examples of sentences with introductory phrases clauses! Examples: he was waiting for the main action following after you have given author! Word “ to ” and includes the preposition 's object usage rules to a! 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Author thinks or does in their text not have a subject or verb!, only put a comma, since it contains more than four words, there is not but! That are confusing meeting with Jared Amy decided to say the words she always wanted.! Specific rules for using these correctly give more information about the subject, only put a comma introductory phrases examples Bachelor Fine. You say the words she always wanted to tell the reader what the author thinks or does in their.! Our website your writing a varied sentence structure and a sophisticated style complete clause ; it,! We hope these examples will help you be more confident in your use introductory... Judy '' is an adverb phrase telling when â enjoy your reading here are some examples of sentences to additional. Giving the reader to understand the context of what is a noun, adjective or adverb he waiting. Help you be more confident in your use of introductory phrases use commas to off.
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