Phrases

Question

Thanks to this website I have a good understanding of clauses but I struggle so much with phrases. Sometimes I feel I need to look for verb endings and other times (adverb clause of time, place etc.)I feel I am looking for content. Can you help me find the phrases?
"To be honest, I don't want to take extra work at the moment."
(to be honest = infinitival ___?__phrase)
(to take extra work = infinitival __?_ phrase)

"The car parked in the garage is not for rent."
(parked in the garage = participle adverb phrase of place)

"Having had a good season, they hoped to win the trophy.
(Having had a good season = participle adjective phrase)
(to win the trophy = infinitival noun phrase, object of hoped

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

"To be honest, I don't want to take extra work at the moment."
(to be honest = infinitival comment phrase)
(to take extra work = infinitival verb complement phrase)

"The car parked in the garage is not for rent."
(parked in the garage = participle adjectival phrase)

"Having had a good season, they hoped to win the trophy.
(Having had a good season = participle adverbial phrase)
(to win the trophy = infinitival verb complement phrase.

BillJ · Answer

The verb endings certainly help in identifying what kind of verb phrase it is, particularly whether it is finite or non-finite, infinitival or participial and so on. In the case of finite VPs, the verb ending can also help identify the tense.

You are correct about 'content'. So many phrases and clauses function as adverbials (adjuncts) and they are all categorised by their semantic content (meaning), such as 'manner', 'result', 'time' 'place' and so on. Let's analyse your examples:

1. To be honest, I don't want to take extra work at the moment.

To be honest - notice how it has the word "to" in front of "be" to give "to be" That's a dead giveaway that it is an infinitival clause. Its function here is that of supplement, specifically a special kind of "manner" adjunct called a speech act-related adjunct giving the speakers evaluation of how they view their statement.

To take extra work at the moment - again an infinitival clause (notice the pattern "to take"), functioning as complement to the verb "want".

2. The car parked in the garage is not for rent.

Parked in the garage - past-participial clause functioning as modifier of "car" (not an adverb of place)

3. Having had a good season, they hoped to win the trophy.

Having had a good season - participial clause as adverbial (adjunct) of reason (a special kind called an "implicated reason adverbial"). This clause is also a kind of 'supplement'.

To win the trophy - infinitival clause functioning as complement to the verb "hoped".

BillJ

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