In each of the foregoing sentences the subject is repeated, both a noun and a pronoun being used. The use of two words, a noun and a pronoun, in the same grammatical office, to refer to the same person or thing, is called pleonasm, a term meaning "too much.” Pleonasm is the use of two words, a noun and a pronoun, in the same grammatical office, to refer to the same person or thing. Pleonasm is to be avoided in common language. Such expressions as "John he told me" are not to be used. Say, "John told me." 45. Phrase Defined. CHAPTER VII PHRASES Note the italicized words: George writes carefully. George writes with care. The foregoing sentences have the same meaning. The group of words with care has the meaning and use of the single word carefully. For other examples of how a group of words may have the meaning and use of a single word, note the following sentences: James lives here. James is living here. John walked hastily. John walked with haste. Who is the blue-eyed girl? Who is the girl with blue eyes? Often there is no word that will take the place of the group of words, but the group has the use of a single part of speech in the sentence. Note these examples: She lives in Alabama. He came here on Monday. (On Monday tells when he came.) I have come to see you. You will note that not one of the foregoing groups of words contains a subject and predicate. A group of related words having the use of a single part of speech but not containing a subject and predicate is called a phrase. A phrase is a group of related words having the use of a single part of speech but not containing a subject and predicate. The words of a phrase are grouped around a central, or principal, word, which expresses the leading idea of the phrase; as, for example, the italicized word in each of the following phrases: To go back. For all men. By doing it. Is being sent. Phrases noticeably out of their natural order, or phrases not essential to the completion of the thought, are set off by commas; thus, At this sound, he increased his speed. My friend, seeing me enter, arose and came forward. Thanking the Old Man of the Sea, the hero resumed his journey. (2) Complete the following sentences by adding one or more appropriate words to the italicized word, then point out the phrase thus formed: 1. This belongs me. 2. Robert is home now. 3. I was born August. 4. Let us sit porch. 5. Poe was born Boston. 6. The child fell water. 7. There is no use trying. 8. We live this side the river. 9. I differ you as to this. 10. We have come visit your school. (3) Point out the phrases in the following sentences: 1. A young crocodile lived on the bank of the Pasig River. 2. He was so fierce that no animal dared to approach him. 3. One day, while resting on a rock, he thought of getting married. 4. "I will give all I have for a wife," he said. 5. A coquettish peahen, in passing by, overheard him. 6. She thought that the two big eyes of the crocodile were diamonds and that the rough skin was inade of pearls. 7. Making up her mind to marry him, she alighted on the rock where the crocodile was. 8. With extreme politeness he made her the offer again and she accepted. 9. He asked her to sit on his mouth, that she might not soil her beautiful feathers with mud. 10. She complied, and made a good dinner for the crocodile. 46. Kinds of Phrases. Note how each of the following italicized phrases has the use of a certain part of speech: We want to go along. He is a boy of much promise. Alice returned on last Wednesday. To go along is the direct object of the verb want, for it tells what we want; hence, it has the use of a noun. Of much promise is a modifier of the noun boy, for it describes the boy; hence, it has the use of an adjective. On last Wednesday is a modifier of the verb returned, for it tells when Alice returned; hence, it has the use of an adverb. Accordingly, phrases, if classified according to their use as a certain part of speech, are of three kinds: (1) Substantive phrases, or phrases having the use of nouns. (2) Adjectival phrases, or phrases having the use of adjectives. (3) Adverbial phrases, or phrases having the use of adverbs. Grammatical Uses of Phrases 47. Of Substantive Phrases. use of each italicized phrase: To do this is easy. Note the grammatical My desire is to help you. He likes to read good books. He has an ambition to be rich. To do this is the subject of the verb is, for it tells what is easy. To help you is the subjective complement, for it completes the meaning of the predicate verb is and explains the desire. To read good books is the direct object of the verb likes, for it tells what he likes. To be rich is in apposition with the noun ambition, for it refers to the same thing as ambition and is used to explain its meaning. Accordingly, substantive phrases may be used as: (1) subject, (2) subjective complement, (3) direct object, (4) appositive modifier. A phrase as the real, or logical, subject may be in apposition with the pronoun it used as the grammatical subject; thus, It is good to be here. The phrase to be here is in apposition with the pronoun It, for it refers to the same thing as It and is used to explain its meaning. The sentence might also be expressed thus: It, namely, to be here, is good; or simply, To be here is good. We shall see later that a substantive phrase may also be used as the substantive with a preposition, |