Headword
 Phrase (or group)
Level
 [C], [E]
Language
 English
Topic
 Grammar
Definition
 Technically, a phrase (or group) can be a single word, or a combination of words, that function as a component of a clause (i.e. one or more words that can function as Subject, Predicator, Object, Complement or Adverbial). For example, in the following sentences, both ‘lions’ and ‘great big hairy lions’ are phrases functioning as the Subject of the sentence, even though ‘lions’ is a single word.

(a) Lions are the kings of the jungle.

(b) Great big hairy lions were visible from the jeep.
Notes
 Phrases consist of a headword and a number of possible modifiers, which change the meaning of the headword in some way. In the two sentences above, ‘lions’ is the headword of the noun phrase, and in (b) this headword is modified by three adjectives, ‘great’, ‘big’ and ‘hairy’. In the verb phrase the headword is the main verb (e.g. ‘sings’) and any modifier would be an auxiliary verb (‘is singing’; ‘has been singing’).
Compare
Concept
 Structure
See also
 Adjective phrase, Adverbial, Adverb phrase, Complement, Form, Function, Headword, Noun phrase, Object, Predicator, Prepositional phrase, Subject, Verb phrase