Subordinate word groups

Subordinate word groups cannot stand alone. They function only within sentences, usually as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.

The main types of subordinate word groups are the following:

• Prepositional phrases

• Verbal phrases (participial, gerund, infinitive)

• Appositive phrases

• Absolute phrases

• Subordinate clauses (adjective, adverb, noun)

Exercise: Prepositional phrases 1

Exercise: Prepositional phrases 2

Exercise: Objects of prepositions

Exercise: Verbal phrases 1

Exercise: Verbal phrases 2

Exercise: Subordinate clauses 1

Exercise: Subordinate clauses 2

Exercise: Subjects of subordinate clauses

Exercise: Phrases and clauses

adjective A word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun: lame, old, rare, beautiful; also the articles a, an, the.

adverb A word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb: very, smoothly, never.

noun The name of a person, place, thing, or an idea.