- published: 29 May 2014
- views: 54221
In everyday speech, a phrase may refer to any group of words. In linguistics, a phrase is a group of words (or sometimes a single word) that form a constituent and so function as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. A phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than a clause.
Examine the following sentence:
The words in bold form a phrase; together they act like a noun. This phrase can be further broken down; a prepositional phrase functioning as an adjective can be identified:
Further, a smaller prepositional phrase can be identified inside this greater prepositional phrase:
And within the greater prepositional phrase, one can identify a noun phrase:
Phrases can be identified by constituency tests such as proform substitution (=replacement). For instance, the prepositional phrase at the end of the street could be replaced by an adjective such as nearby: the nearby house or even the house nearby. The end of the street could also be replaced by another noun phrase, such as the crossroads to produce the house at the crossroads.
[Background Singers:]
I'm Tired, Hating My Soul, I'm Lost Nowhere To Go
[Phrase:]
Glass hits the floor then breaks, the bottle's empty, I'm drunk with a monkey on my shoulder tryin' to tempt me. 10 Cents to my name my park is empty, I sit back reach for a smoke gently.
Reside to the couch with a shameful slouch and a tear covered face tryin' slur these liberty's out.
My last words, the final testament. I'm half pissed, anxious as hell tryin' to make the best of it. The only thing left is memory's to reminiscence. Time's that I hit the park with who I can get my piss on. Nights that I've made love to women in the winter, Summer time I've had chicks hook, line & sinker. Time's were good then, no doubt, there ain't no question but drinks hittin friends, nah, that leads leads to depression. And my only expression's why it rhymes in a session, but my gift is my curse and I'm tired of obsession.
[Background Singers With Phrase saying various things]
I'm Tired, Hating My Soul, I'm Lost Nowhere To Go
I'm Tired, Hating My Soul, I'm Lost Nowhere To Go
Head fast, Losing Control, I'm Tired, Nowhere To Go
[Phrase:]
If I should die now, I wonder what ya think of me, better still, would you share a last drink with me? Would you push the boundaries and take it to the brink with me? And if the boat went down would you stay there and sink with me? See, that's the stuff I need to keep me up and breathin but it just ain't there so fuck this world, man I'm leavin. You slandered me for my actions and bad behaviour but all the time I was only searchin for a saviour. Fair enough I did the most to push the limits but peers creatin pressure can ruin that persons image. And since I dropped, it feels like you're forgotten. Some would say the apple gone bad can turn the basket rotten. If that's the way that you feel then I can deal with it, but ask for forgiveness and I'm a be real with it. See you're a pawn in this game with my songs and I'm a flame twice as bright that only burns half as long.
[Background Singers With Phrase saying various things]
I'm Tired, Hating My Soul, I'm Lost Nowhere To Go
I'm Tired, Hating My Soul, I'm Lost Nowhere To Go
I'm Tired, Hating My Soul, I'm Lost Nowhere To Go
Head fast, Losing Control, I'm Tired, Nowhere To Go oooh nooo.
[Phrase:]
So much to say, so little time to do it, I gotta get this right so that you can never misconstrue it. To mum, I love you more than life in itself, and I hope my album sells, hope to bring you some wealth.
To dad, You need to spend more time with the fam, you losin touch and that's the worst mistake for a man, don't become emotionally disabled, there's more to life than puttin food on the table and gettin jagged in ya stable.