The introductory phrase is correctly followed by a comma: Consider whether the phrase adds important clarifying information about the subject. Mitchell also regularly edits websites, business correspondence, resumes and full-length manuscripts. Commas and Introductory Clauses or Phrases This Grammar.com article is about Commas and Introductory Clauses or Phrases — enjoy your reading! Introductory Words: Introductory words are usually adverbs or interjections that provide an introduction to a sentence or paragraph. It has all the pieces of an independent clause except the verb "to be." What Is the Difference Between Parts of Speech & Parts of a Sentence? Though the flowers were fading, their perfume remained strong. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education. 1.1 Embedded Questions: Introductory Phrases 1.2 Embedded Questions: Examples 1.3 Embedded Questions: Tenses 1.4 Embedded Questions and Contractions 1.5 Embedded Questions: Whether and If 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Here are examples: He was waiting for the rain to stop. Some style guides allow for short introductory phrases to precede the independent clause of a sentence without a comma if the resulting sentence is short and its meaning clear. Use introductory infinitive phrases to describe the purpose of the main verb in your sentence. In the sentence, "With the trees already growing back, the field was returning to nature," "with the trees already growing back" is an introductory absolute phrase. Absolute phrases can be placed anywhere in a sentence. In the sentence, "Running like the wind, Sasha began to gain on him," "running like the wind" describes Sasha. It sets the stage for the main clause, allowing the reader to understand the context of what is happening. Introductory phrases Use introductory phrases to tell the reader what the author thinks or does in their text. All Rights Reserved, Introductory phrase horse galloping quickly. Before you learn how to correctly use and punctuate an introductory phrase, you need to have a clear understanding of what one is and why you would use it in a sentence. "After work" is an adverb phrase telling when. How to Start Sentences With Adjective Phrases. An introductory phrase is not a complete clause; it does not have a subject and a verb of its own. As introductory phrases, they usually modify the subject of the sentence. If there are two or more phrases and/or clauses before the subject, only put a comma after the last one. If the introductory phrase is less than four words, there is not need to use a comma. Always punctuate with a comma after using an introductory word. It may also include a direct object of the verb. Introductory Phrases & Commas Home Punctuation Introductory Phrases & Commas Introductory clauses, phrases and words are: Clauses, phrases or words that are not sentences. You can see the proper punctuation in these examples: If an introductory prepositional phrase is made up of fewer than five words and does not require a pause, the comma is optional. . How to Find a Verb & Predicate in a Sentence. Are there other phrases like this that are confusing? It can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb. An infinitive phrase begins with the word “to” and includes a verb. Read these examples twice, once with the introductory words and once without. Simply put, an introductory phrase is a group of words that comes before the main clause in a sentence. These examples can clear up any confusion: In general, it’s usually correct to use a comma after an introductory phrase. Here are some examples of sentences with introductory prepositional phrases: "After work, I like to go out for dinner." Here are … Here are some examples of sentences with introductory prepositional phrases: "After work, I like to go out for dinner." Learn to spot the differences between phrases and clauses. "Next door, the woman screamed." Appositive phrases usually come after the nouns they describe, but they may come before it, as they do when they are introductory phrases. He was eager to eat dinner. In the sentence "A great composer, Wagner liked to go to bed early," "a great composer" still describes Wagner, but it has nothing to do with the topic of the sentence: the time he liked to go to bed. You can see how this works in this introductory phrase example: Galloping quickly, the horse reached the other side of the pasture in less than a minute. Prepositional Phrases It begins with a preposition and includes it’s object. Knowing the five types of introductory phrases and what purpose each serves can give you some ideas for writing sentences with introductory phrases. When you start with an appositive phrase, you often need to use a comma after it. There are many types of introductory phrases: 1. INTRODUCTORYWORDS&*PHRASES* Introductorywordsandphrasesareusedastransitionstoprovidebackgrounddetailsconcerningwho,what, when,!where,!why,!and!how. Learn introductory phrases english with free interactive flashcards. Use them as introductory phrases to give more information about the circumstances in the main clause. First, what is aFirst, what is a phrase?phrase? It helps the reader understand more about the main clause. She graduated from Syracuse University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater. Knowing that their project was due on Monday, Liezl, Maria, I encourage you to play around and craft your own unique messages. Introductory phrases and clauses John invited Mary to a movie. "After work" is an adverb phrase telling when. To stay top of the class, you have to study hard every day. For example, read the following sentence and notice the introductory phrase that comes before the subject, which is she. Participles are verbs ending in "-ing" or "-ed" that act as adjectives, and participial phrases are composed of participles and the other words that describe the participle's action. IntroductoryIntroductory Phrases andPhrases and ClausesClauses 2. As the initial examples demonstrate, introductory phrases with fewer than 5 words may need that comma to simplify the interpretation. Realizing that it was her last meeting with Jared Amy decided to say the words she always wanted to. Common introductory phrases include prepositional phrases, appositive phrases, participial phrases, infinitive phrases, and absolute phrases. X claims Introductory infinitive phrases act as adverbs. The prepositional phrase ‘At home’ doesn’t need a comma, since it’s short and clear. Here, you may find a few examples of proper using a comma after the introductory clauses: After returning home from Paris Evan was too excited to think about his work. Sometimes, these introductory phrases start with “the” instead of “a” or “an.” If the phrase does provide important clarifying information, don’t use a comma. "To Judy" is a noun phrase An introductory prepositional phrase typically needs a comma when it contains more than four words, as shown in this example: 1. It is correct to use a comma and also correct to leave it out, as you can see in the example below: Using an introductory infinitive phrase also provides information to the reader, often about why something is happening. If it does, it’s called an introductory clause. "To Judy, he gave a gold bracelet." Essentially, they prepare your readers for what the sentence is … For example, here are two prepositional phrases that work as adjectives, since they describe the objects in the sentences: The team, with the blue stripes, won the game. We can add introductory phrases at the start of sentences to provide additional information before the main clause. Hopefully, you're avoiding the phrases that kill an introductory email -- like "Hi my name is X and I work at Y"-- but which ones should you replace them with? What Are Linking Verbs & Predicate Words? An introductory absolute phrase requires a comma to set it off from the main clause, as you can see in these examples: An appositive phrase offers an alternative description of a noun in the sentence. This type of introductory phrase offers a little more detail about the way in which something is happening or the reason for which it is happening. In an introductory prepositional phrase, the sentence starts with a preposition and a few words that follow it. Here “after party” is Use the introductory phrases to ask indirect questions and to know the formal registers when requesting information in English-speaking countries in situations of cordiality. Introductory phrases worksheets. If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website. Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. See how the meaning stays the same? The phrases are usually set off with a comma. Verb Phrases A verb phrase consists of a verb and all its modifiers. Participle phrases are different from gerund phrases in that participles act as adjectives and gerunds act as nouns. In contrast, this introductory clause example includes both a subject and a verb: Because the horse was galloping quickly, he reached the other side of the pasture in less than a minute. You can use this as an introductory phrase, giving the reader more information about the subject of the sentence or another noun. Phrases don't have both a subject and a verb that are separate from the subject and verb in the main clause of the sentence. Introductory phrases also set the stage for the main action of the sentence, but they are not complete clauses. -- Created using Powtoon -- Free sign up at http://www.powtoon.com/youtube/ -- Create animated videos and animated presentations for free. An introductory absolute phrase requires a comma to set it off from the main clause, as you can see in these examples: Completely oblivious to the rain , the children continued to play outside. At home we eat ice cream for dessert. Like an infinitive phrase, always set this introductory phrase off with a comma: An absolute phrase also adds information to the main clause, providing context for the reader to interpret the rest of the sentence. Clauses, phrases or words that provide extra information. Introductory phrases are similar to introductory clauses but are not complete clauses because they do not have both a verb and a subject. Yes, you are allowed to chew gum balls during class, but don’t complain to me if you break a tooth. "Next door" is an adverb phrase telling where. 1. For example: Checking methodically, we never miss a mistake. Introductory phrases set the stage for the rest of your sentence, giving the reader valuable information about what is happening and why. Content Indirect Questions You might enjoy a massage. A participial phrase describes a noun. An introductory paragraph, as the opening of a conventional essay, composition, or report, is designed to grab people's attention.It informs readers about the topic and why they should care about it but also adds enough intrigue to get them to continue to read. The prepositional phrase adds information to the main clause, often about a location or timing. Because she had seen the movie twice already, Mary was reluctant to accept In the examples below, the introductory phrase contains two prepositional phrases: “during the production” and “of the film.” During the production of the film the director nearly quit. Stephanie Mitchell is a professional writer who has authored websites and articles for real estate agents, self-help coaches and casting directors. In the sentence, "To keep the dog, you must prove you can take care of it," "to keep the dog" is an infinitive phrase. Are there other phrases like this that are confusing? I always use the comma, for two reasons. It can act as a noun, adjective or adverb. Introductory phrases and clauses 1. Learn more about comma usage rules to become a confident writer. You have been sleeping for a long time. In the sentence, "A great composer, Wagner wrote famous operas," "a great composer" is an appositive phrase describing Wagner. Gerunds are not commonly used as introductory phrases, but participles are. An appositive phrase is a noun phrase that describes another noun. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and includes the preposition's object. Stacked introductory phrases and dependent clauses also need commas: The next day, ↑ to avoid another argument, ↑ they arrived at the bus stop early. The introductory phrases in the following examples are participial phrases, verb phrases headed by the –ing or the –en form of the verb. To use it properly, you need to use a comma after the introductory prepositional phrase to set it apart from the rest of the sentence if the phrase is longer than four words. . Introductory elements consist of clauses, phrases and words that appear before the main clause of the sentence. It may have a subject or a verb, but it can’t have both. Mary was reluctant to accept John’s invitation. Let us know , and we can address them in future tips! AA phrasephrase is a group of words thatis a group of words that does notdoes not have a subject or a ver An independent clause should follow the introductory word, and needs separated with a comma. If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked. These phrases also provide location and other helpful information. Comma to Set Off Introductory Phrases Use commas to set off an introductory phrase that is four or more words. Introductory phrases to use and their contexts To assist you with effectively supporting your statements, we have organized the introductory phrases below according to their function. A participial phrase can be used as an introductory "To Judy" is a noun phrase and the indirect object of the verb. An absolute phrase includes a subject and information about it but not a verb. The word "to" followed by the base form of a verb is called an infinitive, and it is used to talk about the verb in the abstract, not connected with a subject. Example: After party, they went to sleep. Introductory Words, Clauses, and Phrases Introductory Clause Examples: Out of all the things that can be done online, Math homework should not be one of them As soon as I got home from school, I passed out on the couch. "To Judy, he gave a gold bracelet." When you see a subordinating conjunction at the beginning of a sentence, this signals an introductory phrase, and you know a comma is coming at the end of that subordinate phrase, as illustrated in these examples: Because his favorite team lost the Super Bowl, he would not speak to anyone about the game for two years. Consider using the following after you have given the author's name (and the year or notation): X states that . You should always use a comma after an introductory infinitive phrase, as you can see in these examples: A participial phrase is another form of verb phrase. Learn when and where to use a comma after an introductory phrase and how to make your writing stand out with just the right words. If the phrase is a nice addition to the sentence but is not necessary for clarity, you should use a comma: However, if the introductory appositive phrase is necessary to the sentence, you should not use a comma. Mary had seen the movie twice already. They contain supporting or descriptive information about the rest of the sentence's subject, main idea or main action. There are several different types of introductory phrases, and there are specific rules for using these correctly. Like an infinitive phrase, it may have a direct object. “The other day, I met an old friend.” When writing a sentence, sometimes you may wish to set the scene for your statement by using an introductory phrase. This list is not exhaustive but will provide you with ideas of the types of phrases you can use. We hope these examples will help you be more confident in your use of introductory clauses. Choose from 500 different sets of introductory phrases english flashcards on Quizlet. Examples of introductory words: Meanwhile, however, therefore, thus, moreover. Against his better judgment or logical reasoning, he played outside all afternoon instead of doing his homework. First, the writer may not accurately predict what will be clear or confusing to the reader, so using the comma will reduce the potential for confusion. This is because you pause after the introductory phrase when you say the sentence aloud. The prepositional phrase, ‘Against his better judgment or logical reasoning’ needs a comma, since it contains more than four words. However, like all aspects of the English language, there are a few exceptions. 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Phrases, they prepare your readers for what the sentence phrases this Grammar.com article is about commas and clauses. Phrase and the year or notation ): X states that rules using... In their text which is she like an infinitive phrase, ‘Against his better judgment logical... Author thinks or does in their text realizing that it was her last meeting Jared...
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