Phrase

In everyday speech, a phrase may be any group of words, often carrying a special idiomatic meaning; in this sense it is roughly synonymous with expression. In linguistic analysis, a phrase is a group of words (or possibly a single word) that functions as a constituent in the syntax of a sentence—a single unit within a grammatical hierarchy. A phrase appears within a clause, although it is also possible for a phrase to be a clause or to contain a clause within it.

Common and technical use

There is a difference between the common use of the term phrase and its technical use in linguistics. In common usage, a phrase is usually a group of words with some special idiomatic meaning or other significance, such as "all rights reserved", "economical with the truth", "kick the bucket", and the like. It may be a euphemism, a saying or proverb, a fixed expression, a figure of speech, etc.

In grammatical analysis, particularly in theories of syntax, a phrase is any group of words, or sometimes a single word, which plays a particular role within the grammatical structure of a sentence. It does not have to have any special meaning or significance, or even exist anywhere outside of the sentence being analyzed, but it must function there as a complete grammatical unit. For example, in the sentence Yesterday I saw an orange bird with a white neck, the words an orange bird with a white neck form what is called a noun phrase, or a determiner phrase in some theories, which functions as the object of the sentence.

Renaissance Learning

Renaissance Learning Inc. (RLI) is an educational assessment and learning analytics company that makes cloud-based educational software for use in Kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2011, the company was purchased by Permira. Renaissance Learning acquired Skynet, an instructional e-reading platform in 2013. Google Capital made a $40 million investment in the company at a $1 billion valuation in 2014. In March 2014 it was reported that private equity firm Hellman & Friedman was acquiring Renaissance Learning for $1.1 billion in cash.

History

Accelerated Reader, the company's flagship product, was created in 1985 by Judith and Terrance "Terry" Paul, who founded the company in 1986 under the name "Advantage Learning Systems" (ALS). The company's name changed to "Renaissance Learning, Inc." (RLI) in 2001. At one time, the couple owned about 75% of RLI. In August 2011 the company was bought by the British company Permira. As of October 16, 2011, Renaissance Learning was no longer traded as a public company.

Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant, in the family Zingiberaceae whose rhizome, ginger root or simply ginger, is widely used as a spice or a folk medicine.

It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual stems about a meter tall bearing narrow green leaves and yellow flowers. Ginger is in the family Zingiberaceae and is closely related to turmeric, Curcuma longa, and cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum. Ginger originated in the lush tropical jungles in Southern Asia. Although ginger no longer grows wild, it is thought to have originated on the Indian subcontinent. The ginger plants grown in India show the largest amount of genetic variation. The larger the number of genetic variations, the longer the plant has grown in that region. Ginger was exported to Europe via India in the first century AD as a result of the lucrative spice trade and was used extensively by the Romans. India is now the largest producer of ginger.

Other members of the family Zingiberaceae include turmeric, cardamom, and galangal. The distantly related dicots in the genus Asarum are commonly called wild ginger because of their similar taste.

Ginger (band)

Ginger was a Canadian rock band in the 1990s. The band initially consisted of Tom Hooper on vocals,guitar and bass, Chris Hooper on drums and Vincent Jones on keyboards, following the departure of Kevin Kane from their earlier band The Grapes of Wrath. Lanny Hussey and Sean Ashby added extra guitars working as session players.

With the Grapes of Wrath name and song catalogue tied up in legal wrangling between Kane and the remainder of the band, Jones and the Hooper brothers adopted the name Ginger, and released a self-titled EP under that name in 1993.

In 1994, Ginger released Far Out. Both Far Out and the self-titled EP were noted for their strong similarity to the classic Grapes jangle-pop sound.

In 1996, Jones left the band and Lanny Hussey was promoted to full membership. Ginger then made a more conscious effort to develop its own distinctive sound, adding some trip hop and electronic elements to their album Suddenly I Came to My Senses. Jones played keyboards on the album, billed as a "special guest"; long-time session sideman Ashby was also a special guest performer. Sarah McLachlan (billed merely as an "additional musician") performed some of the backing vocals on the album. The song, "Come To Me" was featured in the film Kissed, and was included on the soundtrack album as well.

Ginger (disambiguation)

Ginger is a delicacy, medicine, or cooking spice made from the stem of the plant Zingiber officinale.

Ginger may also refer to:

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