Phrases: Meaning, Types, List, Most Common Phrases

Given below are some of the effective tips to remember English phrases and use them naturally in daily life:

• Try to group phrases by situation: Organize the phrases by context, such as shopping, travel, greetings, etc. For example, at the time of meeting someone, one could say, “Nice to meet you!”
• Emphasize useful and short phrases first: To remember the phrases, start with simple, high-frequency expressions. Examples: “What does that mean?”, “How are you?”
• Use flashcards to remember: One can use flashcards or apps to review phrases regularly so that they stay in memory for a longer period of time
• Practice speaking out loud: Say phrases aloud and use them in daily conversations to develop fluency and confidence. One can also do this by practicing in front of the mirror
• Watch English movies or series with subtitles: To know common or better phrases, one can watch English series or movies

Also Read:

The most frequent mistakes that students must watch out for while using Phrases in English grammar are given below:

Using a phrase as a sentence

A phrase cannot stand alone as a sentence because there is no subject and / or verb in it. So, to fix this mistake, always connect the phrase to a complete sentence

• Incorrect: After completing her work
• Correct: After completing her work, she went home

Omitting commas with introductory phrases

Intro phrases should generally be followed by a comma for clarity. To fix this, use commas after interrupting or long phrases at the start of a sentence

• Incorrect: After the rain the streets were flooded
• Correct: After the rain, the streets were flooded

Misplaced Modifiers

At times, when a phrase is placed too far from the word it is modifying, it can create confusion. So, to fix this, put the phrase next to the word it is modifying

• Incorrect: He served burgers to the children on paper plates
• Correct: He served burgers on paper plates to the children

Redundant Phrasing

The same idea should not be used repeatedly. This can confuse the reader and make the sentence seem unnatural. 

• Incorrect: In my personal opinion, I think that 
• Correct: Either in my personal opinion or I think that 

Lack of Proper Structure 

There should be a proper format of a sentence with correct usage of grammar

• Incorrect: She likes to read, writing and to draw
• Correct: She likes to read, write, and draw

Quick checklist to avoid Phrase errors

• Is the phrase part of a complete sentence?
• Is the meaning of the sentence clear?
• Is the phrase placed right next to the word it modifies?
• Are commas used in the right place?
• Are the phrases clear enough?

Also Read: 

• Etymology and Roots
• English Spelling Rules
• Active and Passive Voice

Here are some of the practical tips to master Phrases in English Grammar.

1. Identify the part of speech it Acts Like: When you see a phrase, ask if it is acting like a noun, adjective, verb, or adverb. So, read a sentence carefully and underline the phrase. Then, label what it does
2. Know about the type of phrases: It is important to learn about the type of phrases one by one. One can make a short list of different types of phrase examples from articles or books
3. Listen and spot phrases in real-life conversation: One can spot phrases while listening to podcasts, speeches or movies
4. Take phrase quizzes: Online exercises are a great way to understand a concept, in this case, Phrases in English. So, practice as many questions as you can

Here are some of the books that students can use to learn and practice Phrases for better understanding:

The best way to learn about a particular topic is to practice through its examples. Here are 10 examples of Phrases:

• The black dog sat on the bed
• He had been waiting for hours
• We are on the way to Los Angeles
• He is sleeping on the couch
• Shreya has been working for a long time
• The warm, cozy blanket kept her comfortable
• She went to the hospital as quickly as possible
• We will be pausing this project for a while
• He is known for her exceptionally quick thinking
• She might have forgotten about the meeting

Exercise 1: Identify the phrases in the sentences given below and mention the type of phrase

• Rayansh was playing video games on his phone
• The girl in the green dress was my classmate
• We found an unowned vehicle parked in front of our house
• That little girl is my friend’s daughter
• Bangalore is a busy, crowded, and advanced city

Exercise Answers

• was playing (Verb Phrase) and on his phone (Prepositional Verb)
• in the green dress (Noun Phrase)
• unowned vehicle (Noun Phrase), in the front of our house (Prepositional Verb)
• that little girl (Noun Phrase), my friend’s daughter (Noun Phrase)
• busy, crowded, and advanced city (Adjective Phrase)

Exercise 2: Underline the Verb Phrase in the sentences given below:

• Rohan has been waiting for you since morning
• Anita has worked abroad for many years
• She is trying to improve her French
• He was playing hide and seek with his friends
• Reena will buy a new house

Exercise 3: Identify the phrases in the following sentences:

• The savories that were served today were extremely sweet
• The plant in the right corner of the garden finally bloomed
• She found an unowned vehicle parked in front of the house
• The children played outside all day
• He is always in a hurry
• They went to the beach in the morning

Answers

• Extremely sweet: Adverb Phrase
• Right corner of the garden: Prepositional Phrase
• Unowned vehicle: Noun Phrase, In front of the house: Prepositional Phrase
• Outside all day: Adverb Phrase
• Always in a hurry: Adverb Phrase
• Went to the beach: Noun Phrase

Phrases_in_English_Grammar_Exercises_PDF.pdf

Students can check out some of the FAQs on Phrases in English from below: