What Is an Adjective Phrase?

An adjective phrase (or adjectival phrase) is a phrase that tells us something about
the noun it is modifying. The head (principal) word in an adjective phrase will be
an adjective. In the examples below, the adjective phrase is shaded and the head
word (i.e., the adjective) is in bold:
 These are unbelievably expensive shoes.
(In this example, the head adjective ends the adjective phrase.)
 Sarah was fairly bored with you.
(In this example, the head adjective is in the middle of the adjective phrase.)
Like a normal adjective, an adjective phrase can be used before the noun it is
modifying (like in the first two examples above) or after the noun it is modifying (like
in the last example).
More Examples of Adjective Phrases
Here are some more examples of adjective phrases (with the head adjectives in
bold):
 The extremely tired lioness is losing patience with her
overly enthusiastic cub.
 My mother was fairly unhappy with the service.
 Her baking always smells very tempting.
 The consequences of agreeing were far too serious.
 The dog covered in mud looked pleased with himself.

Adjective Phrases Can Be Used Attributively or Predicatively

An adjective phrase can be an attributive adjective or a predicative adjective.

Attributive Adjective. An attributive adjective is one that sits inside the noun
phrase of the noun it modifies. Look at these two examples:
 The beautifully carved frames are worth more than the painting.
(This is an attributive adjective phrase. It sits inside the noun phrase The
beautifully carved frames.)
 The frames beautifully carved by monks are worth more than the painting.
(This is also an attributive adjective phrase. It sits inside the noun
phrase The frames beautifully carved by monks.)
When an adjective appears before its noun, it is very likely to be an attributive
adjective. However, an adjective that appears after its noun can also be attributive.

Predicative Adjective. A predicative adjective sits outside the noun phrase of the
noun it modifies. Typically, a predicative adjective is linked to the noun it modifies
with a linking verb. For example:
 The curtains look far too long.
(This is a predicative adjective phrase. The linking verb is look.)

 The frames were beautifully carved by monks.

(This is a predicative adjective phrase. The linking verb is were.)
Examples of Adjective Phrases Used Attributively and
Predicatively
Let's look at the earlier examples:

 The extremely tired lioness is losing patience with her overly enthusiastic cub.(Both adjective
phrases are used attributively. They appear inside the noun phrases The extremely
tired lioness and her overly enthusiastic cub.)
 My mother was fairly unhappy with the service.(The adjective phrase is used predicatively.
It appears outside the noun phrase My mother. The linking verb is was.)
 Her baking always smells very tempting.(The adjective phrase is used predicatively. It
appears outside the noun phrase Her baking. The linking verb is smells.)
 The consequences of agreeing were far too serious.(The adjective phrase is used
predicatively. It appears outside the noun phrase The consequences of agreeing. The
linking verb is were.)
 The dog covered in mud looked pleased with himself.(In this example, the first adjective
phrase is used attributively. It appears inside the noun phrase The dog covered in
mud. The second is used predicatively. It appears outside the same noun phrase. The
linking verb is looked.)
Identify the adjective phrases in the following sentences.

Hints

An adjective phrase serves the same purpose as an adjective. That means it modifies a noun.

1. Have you ever seen an elephant with a white 6. We visited many villages without any
skin? inhabitants.

2. He was wearing a crown made of gold. 7. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

3. There I met a girl with blue eyes. 8. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

4. Wild beasts in small cages are a sorry sight. 9. He was a young man of great promise.

5. A man with a long beard came to see me. 10. In a low voice, he narrated the tale of his
adventures.
DIRECTIONS: Underline each phrase used as an adjective.

Circle the noun it modified.

1. Walter was a scholar of extraordinary insight.

2. A book is a gift of lasting value.

3. The journey to Japan was very long.

4. We received advice of an odd sort.

5. The house across the street from me is the nicest in town.

EXERCISE In each of the following sentences, underline the adjective phrase or phrases. Then, circle the

word that each adjective phrase modifies.

Example 1. The town beyond those mountains to the east is no longer inhabited.

1. My favorite writer of science fiction is Ray Bradbury.

2. The pie needs four cups of fruit.

3. A student from Mr. Levy’s class won first prize.

4. The loud crash of the cymbal was deafening.

5. The directions for the assignment confused Gilbert.

6. The glass of water on the table is mine.

7. The play of the sunlight on the water was a beautiful sight.

8. Somebody with feet of large proportions has scuffed the gym floor.

9. Susie mowed the area around the trunk of the tree.

10. The house on the corner of Main and Elm has been abandoned.
What Are Adverbial Phrases? (with Examples)
Adverbial phrase is the term for two or more words which play the role of an adverb.
Look at these examples:
 I will sit quietly.
(normal adverb)
 I will sit in silence.
(adverbial phrase)
 I will sit like a monk meditates.
(adverbial clause)
(When the multi-word adverb contains a subject and a verb (like in this
example), it is an adverbial clause as opposed to an adverbial phrase.)
In the examples above, all the adverbs tell us how the person will sit. They are all
adverbs of manner. When used to modify a verb, an adverb (including an adverbial
phrase and an adverbial clause) will usually describe when, where, or how something
happens.

When (Adverbial Phrase of Time)

An adverbial phrase of time states when something happens or how often. For
example:
 I'll do it in a minute.
 After the game, the king and pawn go into the same box. (Italian Proverb)
 Do not wait for the last judgment. It takes place every day. (Albert Camus)

Where (Adverbial Phrase of Place)

An adverbial phrase of place states where something happens. For example:
 I used to work in a fire-hydrant factory. You couldn't park anywhere near
the place. (Steven Wright)
 Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he
sings. (Ed Gardner)

How (Adverbial Phrase of Manner)

An adverbial phrase of manner states how something is done. For example:
  He would always talk with a nationalistic tone.
 He sings in a low register.
 People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. (Leo J. Burke)

The adverbial phrase answers the same questions as a regular adverb:

how/how much, when, or where.

Underline the adverbial phrase. On the line, write the question it answers.

1. We expect our grandparents to arrive in about an hour.

__________________________________________

2. My cousin watches television almost as much as you do.

__________________________________________

3. The weatherman says it will rain all day.

_____________________________________________________

4. Your brother plays soccer better than my brother does.

_________________________________________

5. Our friend drives on Mondays.

____________________________________________________________

6. Gerard and Donna will walk on the footpath.

__________________________________________________

7. The frog jumps through the tall grass. ____________________________________________________

8. Mum combs my hair more gently than Dad does.

________________________________________________

9. He found his lucky coin in the morning.

______________________________________________________

10. We raced our toy cars on the playground.

___________________________________________________

11. Patrick and Anthony were reading their books in the car.
________________________________________

12. The music teacher played the violin better than her student.
_____________________________________

13. Georgia tried to talk to Ryan underneath the water.

____________________________________________

14. Early in the morning the air is cold and fresh.

________________________________________________
15. Mum will pick us up after school today.
_____________________________________________________

16. Sue will run on the track at school. ________________________________

Underline the adverb phrases in the following sentences.

Notes: An adverb phrase is a group of words 8. The fishers went sailing over the sea.
that serves the same purpose as an adverb.

9. He lay beside the heap of corn.

1. She lives in a palatial home.

10. She whispered in his ear.

2. Is there water on the moon?

11. He fought with all his might.

3. She ran into her room.

12. He shouted at the top of his voice.

4. They chatted for a while.

13. It must be done at any cost.

5. She performed the task with great skill.

14. Much water has run under the bridge.

6. The desert stretched towards the north.

15. Without pausing to consider he struck the

7. The gun went off with a loud noise. blow.