How to structure phrases

A phrase has the same role as a noun, but it allows you to express a more complex meaning. For example:
  • I went to the park.
  • I went to the park down the road from my house.
Prepositional phrase
A prepositional phrase uses preposition(s) to link nouns.
Below are two ways to construct prepositional phrases:
  • Remove the verb.
    • The park is down the road --> The park down the road.
    • The frog swam in the pond --> The frog in the pond.
  • Change the verb into its noun counterpart.
    • I live in New Zealand --> My life in New Zealand.
    • If there is no counterpart, change to 'verb-ing'.
      • The plane landed on the runway --> The plane's landing on the runway.
    • If there is no preposition, add 'of'.
      • ​I crossed the bridge --> My crossing of the bridge.
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Conjunctive phrase
A conjunctive phrase uses a question word or 'that' to introduce a clause or to link a clause with a noun.
When a clause is linked with a noun, it follows the noun.
  • Considered whether the noun belongs to one of the categories, if so, use the appropriate question word.
    • The time when (e.g. the day when the President was elected)
    • The place where (e.g. the hospital where I was born)
    • The person who (e.g. the woman who saved my life)
    • The reason why ('why' is usually only used with reason/s)
  • If not, use 'that'.
    • He ate a sandwich that had been in the fridge for over a week.

When a clause is introduced, it follows the verb.
  • Consider which phrase is suitable between the verb and the clause. Note that the words in [...] are usually omitted.
    • ​8 pm was [the time] when the children fell asleep
    • This park is [the place] where we used to play as kids.
    • A red-headed woman is [the person] who I am looking for.
    • Bad weather is [the reason] why they left the country.
    • Watching YouTube videos is [the way] how I learned to cook.
  • For general clauses, 'that' can be used, as it has no meaning. 'What' and 'whether' are variations of 'that'.
    • The problem is that we don't know.
    • A new phone is the thing that I want --> A new phone is what I want.
    • She questioned that I knew the answer or not --> She questioned whether I knew the answer.
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Clausal phrase
A clausal phrase is the same as a clause except that verbs are changed to '-ing'.
Below are three rules for constructing clausal phrases:
  • If the subject of the clause is a pronoun:
    • Change the subject to its object form.
      • I --> me
      • she --> her
      • he --> him
      • they --> them
      • we --> us
    • Don't use it as the subject of the sentence.
      • She looking at me made me unconformable. X
      • I was made unconformable by her looking at me. ✔​
  • Preserve past tense by adding 'having'.
    • ​I volunteered on a farm.
      • She was impressed with me for volunteering on a farm. (which could mean I am still volunteering)
      • She was impressed with me for having volunteered on a farm. (which means I am no longer volunteering)