Phrases may be classified:
| According to Form | According to Use |
| Prepositional | Adverbial |
| Participial (Gerund) | Adjective |
| Infinitive | Noun |
The prepositional and infinitive phrases may have all three uses; the participial phrase has two—adjective and noun (gerund).
Variety of Expression[2]
Phrases are important because, like clauses, they help us to vary the form of our sentences. They help us, above all, to avoid the childish so habit. Thus, instead of They wished to make the ice smooth so they flooded the pond, we may use, for example:
Subordinate clause: Because (as, since) they wished to make the ice smooth, they flooded the pond.
Participial phrase: Wishing to make the ice smooth, they flooded the pond.
Infinitive phrase: To make the ice smooth, they flooded the pond.
Gerund phrase: Flooding the pond made the ice smooth.