Adjectival phrase - definition, types and examples

Adjectival Phrase - Meaning and Definition

SEG defines adjectival phrase as "An adjectival phrase is a group of words that plays the role of an adjective: to describe a noun, noun phrase or pronoun. Adjectival phrases don't necessarily contain an adjective word in them. 

Adjective, prepositional, infinitive and participial phrases, when they play the role of an adjective, come under the category of adjectival phrase."
 
From the definition, we learn that:

1. An adjectival phrase is a group of words.
2. An adjectival phrase acts as an adjective.
3. An adjectival phrase describes a noun, noun phrase or pronoun.
4. An adjectival phrase may or may not contain an adjective word.
5. Adjective, prepositional, infinitive and participial phrases, when they act as adjectives, they're put under the category of adjectival phrase. 

Adjectival Phrase Examples:

a. John is a very good boy.
b. The girl with curly hair is my friend.
c. Our teacher has given us an assignment to complete. 
d. The unprincipled boys, playing songs loudly, disturbed the students' preparation. 

How to Identify an Adjectival Phrase? 

Identifying an adjectival phrase is not that difficult. Follow the below-given steps to identify an adjectival phrase in a sentence.

1. Look at the sentence carefully. 
2. Look for the group of words in the sentence.
3. Find out the noun or noun phrase in the sentence.
4. See if that group of words modifies the noun or noun phrase.
5. If it modifies the noun or noun phrase, it's an adjectival phrase.


4 Types of Adjectival Phrase 


There are four adjectival phrases in English including the adjective phrase. All of them function as adjectives and modify a noun, noun phrase or pronoun. 

1. Adjective phrase 
2. Adjectival prepositional phrase 
3. Adjectival infinitive phrase 
4. Adjectival participial phrase 


Adjective Phrase 


An adjective phrase consists of an adjective word and describes a noun, noun phrase or pronoun. 

Adjective phrase examples

a. He is a very intelligent guy. 
b. She is an extremely beautiful girl.

Adjectival Prepositional Phrase

An adjectival prepositional phrase is a prepositional phrase that contains a preposition and that functions as an adjective to describe a noun, noun phrase or pronoun. 

 Adjectival prepositional phrase examples

a. The boy with the red hat beat your brother. 
b. Come here, you with the curly hair. 


Adjectival Infinitive Phrase 

An adjectival infinitive phrase is a phrase that contains the preposition "to" plus a verb and that functions as an adjective.

Adjectival infinitive phrase examples

a. I have some hand-made products to sell. 
b. I have a lot of things to do.

Adjectival Participial Phrase 

An adjectival participial phrase is a phrase that contains a present participial (verb + ing) or a past ( usually a verb + ed) and that functions as an adjective. 

Adjectival participial phrase examples

a. The weeping kid is my brother's son.
b. The snow-covered mountain is really enthralling.  


Adjectival Phrase Vs Adjective Phrase


An adjectival phrase is ANY phrase (prepositional, infinitive, participial) that need not necessarily contain an adjective word and that acts as an adjective and modifies a noun, noun phrase or pronoun as in the weeping kid or you with the red hat. 

An adjective phrase, on the other hand, is a phrase that must contain an adjective word and that modifies a noun, noun phrase or pronoun as in Very good boy.


FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is an adjectival phrase?

An adjectival phrase is a group of words that plays the role of an adjective: to describe a noun, noun phrase or pronoun. Adjectival phrases don't necessarily contain an adjective word in them. 

What does an adjectival phrase?

Like an adjective, an adjectival phrase modifies a noun, noun phrase or pronoun. That is an adjectival phrase gives more information about a noun or pronoun.

How would you describe an adjectival phrase?

An adjectival phrase is described as group of words or phrase (prepositional, infinitive or participial) that plays the role of an adjective: to modify or describe a noun, noun phrase or pronoun.