1. Participial Phrases: These phrases begin with a participle (a verb form ending in -ing or -ed, usually acting as an adjective) and modify a noun or pronoun.
* Example: "The running dog chased the ball." (The phrase "running dog" modifies the noun "dog")
2. Gerund Phrases: These phrases begin with a gerund (a verb form ending in -ing acting as a noun) and function as the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
* Example: "Swimming is my favorite exercise." (The phrase "swimming" is the subject of the sentence)
3. Infinitive Phrases: These phrases begin with the infinitive form of a verb ("to" + verb) and function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
* Example: "I want to learn to play guitar." (The phrase "to learn to play guitar" is the object of the verb "want")
Important Note: Verbal phrases are not complete sentences because they lack a subject or a finite verb. They are groups of words that function as a single part of speech within a sentence.