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What's a grammatical unit? What's a phrase?

Forms and subforms have a "subtype" field, which can include the following values:

• grammatical unit: for grammatical units (i.e., "hour", "by way of")
• phrase: for sentences or sentences part (i.e., "you want to")
• morpheme: for word parts as a prefix, a suffix... (i.e., auto-)
• symbol: for symbols replacing words (i.e., "$")

Sometimes, it can be tricky to choose between "grammatical unit" and "phrase". When can a group of many words be considered as a grammatical unit?

Grammatical units can be words alone (i.e., "house") or a words group which won't grammatically act the same as a sum of each word taken separately (i.e., the adverb "face to face" in "we are face to face" does not grammatically act the same as "face"+"to"+"face" in the phrase "from face to face"). Usually, a grammatical category can be attributed to a grammatical unit, when other strings can't have one for the whole.

Word series whose whole is not grammatically equal to the sum of its parts are labeled as grammatical units. If, grammatically, the word series behave the same whether it's a grammatical unit or a sum of words, then it's labeled as a phrase. If a serie of words behaves in a particular way, then we label it a grammatical unit.

To find out if the whole is equal to the sum of its parts, we can:

• See if other random words in the same category would act in the same way
• See if the grammatical function of a translation (composed of words from other categories) would be the same

Examples:

For the first example, the whole is equal to the sum of its parts. It will be labeled "phrase".

For the second example, the whole is not equal to the sum of its parts. It will be labeled "grammatical unit".

General rule

These rules are meant for Occitan and French language, but you can try to adapt them to any language.

We label as a grammatical unit:

• If some of the words which make up the form do not exist as a unit (i.e., "priori" in "a priori", etc.).
• If the grammatical unit exists as such with another grammatical category (i.e., "cap e cap" common noun also exists as "cap e cap" adjective).
• Whether it's a conjunction, determiner, numeral, preposition or pronoun.
• If it's an interjection which doesn't contain a conjugated verb (i.e., "Bonsoir!").
• If it's a one-word form with one or more collocations (i.e., "se vêtir de").
• Common nouns made up from a verb and a noun (i.e., "garda nèns") or a verb and an adjective (i.e., "canta polit") or an adverb and a noun (i.e., "hors jeu").

We label as a phrase:

• Verbs and nouns formed by many words (except those listed above).
• Interjections containing a conjugated verb (i.e., "God bless you!") or what (+ a) + n. (i.e., "what nerve!") and possessive + noun (i.e., "mon coeur", "votre dévoué", etc.) or containing punctuation (i.e., "tè, tu!").

For adverbs

Adverbs composed as follows are labeled as phrases:

• preadverb + adverb (i.e., "tout fort", "très bas", "quasi rien", etc.) unless the adverb can also be a modal or a conjunctive (i.e., "tout d'abord")
• adverb + "et"/"ou" + adverb (i.e., "à tort et à travers", "ici ou ailleurs", etc.)
• "selon" + noun (i.e., "selon moi")
• lexicalized COI (i.e., "au plus offrant", "au premier venu", etc.)
• circumstantial complements of place composed as follows:
  • preposition + determiner + noun (i.e., "sur le devant", "au milieu", "à la maison", "par les chemins", etc.) except "au ras", "en l'aire", "à l'intérieur", "à l'extérieur".
  • preposition + pronoun (i.e., "devant moi", "avec personne", etc.)
  • "en"/"dans" + place
  • "en" + determiner + noun (i.e., "en plusieurs endroits)
  • "au gré de" + noun (i.e., "au gré de l'eau")
  • introduced by "chez" (i.e., "chez lui")
  • ending in "estant" (i.e., "de casa estant")
  • "près de" + place (i.e., "près d'ici", "près du lac")
  • "chez" (+ determiner) + noun/pronoun (i.e., "chez moi", "chez le coiffeur", etc.)
  • "par" + moment (i.e., "par le passé", "par un beau dimanche", etc.)
  • "vers" + place/direction (i.e., "vers la maison", "vers l'Ouest")
  • "là où" + proposition (i.e., "là où je vais", "là où elles vivent", etc.)
  • "au début de"/"au milieu de"/"au bout de" + place (i.e., "au milieu du chemin", "au bout du pont", etc.)
• circumstantial complements of time composed as follows:
  • "dans"/"au milieu de"/"au coeur de"/"pour"/"au moment de"/"au début de"/"à la fin de"/"au bout de"... + noun expressing a period (i.e., "au coeur de l'été", "pour Noël", "dans la matinée", "au moment de partir", etc.)
  • introduced by "au moment" (i.e., "au moment voulu", "au moment où il part", etc.)
  • "avant de"/"après" + proposition/infinitive (i.e., "avant de partir", "après avoir réfléchi", etc.); avant/après + determiner + noun (i.e., "avant la nuit", "après l'heure")
  • "avant"/"après" + moment (i.e., "avant 15h", "avant l'été", "après décembre", etc.)
  • "avant de" + infinitive (i.e., "avant de partir", etc.)
  • introduced by "au(x) temps de"/"du temps de"/"au temps que" (i.e., "du temps des pharaons", "au temps que Bèrta fialava")
  • "à" + heure (+ tapantes/pile) (i.e., "à neuf heures", "à midi pile", etc.)
  • "le" + date (i.e., "le premier janvier")
  • beginning with an action (i.e., "au coucher du soleil", "à la tombée de la nuit", "à l'approche du jour", "à l'entrée de l'hiver", etc.)
  • "quand "+ proposition (i.e., "quand j'arriverai", "quand les poules auront des dents")
  • "autour de"/"sur le coup de"/"pendant"/"dans l'affaire de"/"au cours de"/"dans le courant de"/"dans"/"après"/"avant" + period (i.e., "autour de Noël", "pendant les vacances", "dans le courant du mois", "dans l'affaire d'une minute", "sur le coup de midi", etc.)
  • "à" + determiner + numeral + noun (i.e., "à la première heure", "au troisième top", etc.)
  • introduced by "il y a" (and "fa" in Occitan) (i.e., "il y a longtemps")
  • introduced by "(au)tanlèu com" (i.e., "autanlèu com vienut")
  • introduced by "tous les"/"chaque" (i.e., "tous les mois", "chaque jour")
  • introduced by "jusqu'à"/"jusque" (i.e., "jusqu'à lundi", "jusque demain", "jusqu'à nouvel ordre", etc.)
  • "en" + duration (i.e., "en une heure", "en un clin d'oeil")
  • "vers" + moment (i.e., "vers une heure", "vers Noël", "vers décembre", etc.)
  • "pour" + moment (i.e., "pour le 11 novembre", "pour lundi", "pour Noël", "pour 16h")
  • "depuis que" + proposition (i.e., "depuis que le monde est monde", "depuis qu'il est parti", etc.)
  • "à partir de" + time (i.e., "à partir de maintenant", "à partir de jeudi", etc.)
• circumstantial complements of manner composed as follows:
  • "à la"/"à la mode"/"à la manière (de)" + proper noun or nationality (i.e., "à la mode turque", "à l'anglaise", "à la Marengo", etc.)
  • "pour la" + ordinal + "fois" ("pour la troisième fois", etc.)
  • introduced by "au fil de" (i.e., "au fil de l'eau")
  • introduced by "comme" (i.e., "comme dans un rêve", "comme ci comme ça", "comme si de rien n'était", etc.)
  • "en" + present participle (i.e., "en chantant").
  • "en" (= en tant que) + noun (i.e., "en connaisseur")
  • "en" + language
  • "pour" + proposition/infinitive (i.e., "pour rire", "pour qui en veut", etc.)
  • "sans" + verb (i.e., "sans bouger")
  • "avec"/"sans" + noun (i.e., "with animation", "avec animation")
  • introduced by "à l'état de" (i.e., "à l'état de brouillon")
  • determiner + body part + adjective (i.e., "la tête nue", "les bras ballants", etc.)
  • adverbs introduced by "à titre (de)"/"au nom de" (i.e., "à titre privé », « à titre posthume », « à mon nom », « au nom de la loi »)
  • "a" + "tot" + infinitive (i.e., "a tot pèrdre", "a tot petar", etc.)
  • introduced by "aux dépens de"/"aux frais de" (i.e., "aux frais de la princesse")
  • introduced by "au bon vouloir de"/"au gré de" (i.e., "à mon gré", "au bon vouloir de Monsieur", etc.)
  • introduced by "comme" (i.e., "comme un dératé", "comme s'il en pleuvait")
  • introduced by "au train où" (i.e., "au train où vont les choses")
  • 3rd pers. verb + "que" + 3rd pers. verb (i.e., "coûte que coûte", "vaille que vaille", etc.)
  • "par" + determiner + position/passage (i.e., "par le haut", "par le dessus", "par la fenêtre", etc.)
  • "par" + means (i.e., "par avion")
  • "par" + article + body part (i.e., "par la main")
  • "au son de" + instrument
  • "aux" + proportion (i.e., "aux trois quarts")
  • introduced by "d'un air"
• circumstantial complements of purpose
• "si" + proposition (i.e., "si j'étais toi")
• "selon"/"d'après" + person/personal pronoun (i.e., "selon Confucius", "d'après moi", etc.)
• "selon"/"d'après" + proposition ("d'après ce qu'on dit", "selon s'il pleut", etc.)
• introduced by "en vertu de"
• proportion constructed with "par" + noun (i.e., "par habitant", "par an", etc.)
• price, distance, weight (i.e., "à 15 euros", "dans 10km", "pour 10 kilos")
• "à"" + verb (i.e., "à crever")
• "en" + material/language (i.e., "en bois", "en anglais")
• "en" + measurement/currency (i.e., "en mètres", "en euros")
• "en" + state/situation/aspect (i.e., "en voyage", "en retard", "en colère", "en bleu", "en italique", "en poudre", "en activité", etc.)
• "en" which introduces a COI (i.e., "croire en quelqu'un")
• "en" + discipline/domain (i.e., "expert en médecine", "un requin en affaires", "fidèle en amour")
• "de" + nom + "en" + nom (i.e., "de ville en ville", "de fil en aiguille")
• "hors" + noun (i.e., "hors cadre", "hors contexte", etc.)
• "par" + cause (i.e., "par inattention", "par hasard") except for modal adverbs
• "par" + personal pronoun (i.e., "par moi-même")
• "malgré" + pronoun / "malgré" + art + noun (i.e., "malgré moi", "malgré les circonstances", etc.)
• "pour" + person (in the sense of "in the opinion of" + person)
• "si" + conjugated verb ("si cela arrive", "s'il faut", etc.)

Other adverbs are labeled as grammatical units.

For adjectives

Adjectives composed as follows are labeled as a grammatical unit:

• "à" + definite article + noun not corresponding to a place (i.e., "à l'arrachée")
• "de" + noun (i.e., "de travers")
• "en" + position (i.e., "en avant")
• color adjective + noun (i.e., "bleu roi")
• other adjectives except those listed below

Adjectives composed as follows are labeled as phrases:

• "à" + noun in the sense of "with" (i.e., "à rames")
• "à" + verb (i.e., "à boire")
• "à" + definite article + noun corresponding to a place (i.e., "à l'abri")
• "à"/"pour" + verb (i.e., "à vendre")
• "comme" + proposition (i.e., "comme il convient")
• possible determiner + noun + adjective (i.e., "tête nue", "les yeux marqués", etc.)
• "sans"/"sur" + article + noun (i.e., "dans la gêne")
• "de" + "bon"/"mauvais"/"excellent"/"meilleur"/"premier"/"même"... + noun (i.e., "de bonne qualité", "de premier choix")
• "de" + "bon"/"mal" + verb (i.e., "de bon far")
• "de" + verb: (i.e., "de plànher")
• "de" + determiner + noun (i.e., "de l'endroit", "des environs", etc.)
• "de" + material (i.e., "de chair")
• "de" + origin (i.e., "de derrière les fagots", "d'ici", etc.)
• "de" + period (i.e., "de Noël")
• "en"/"dans" + place
• "en" + determiner + noun (i.e., "en plusieurs endroits")
• "en" + material/language (i.e., "en bois", "en anglais")
• "en" + measure/currency (i.e., "en mètres", "en euros")
• "en" + state/situation (i.e., "en voyage", "en retard", "en colère", "en bleu", "en tialique", "en activité", etc.)
• "en" (= as) + noun (i.e., "en connaisseur")
• "en" + clothing (i.e., "en chemise")
• "hors" (+ "de") + noun/pronoun (i.e., "hors de portée", "hors de lui", etc.)
• "sans" + noun (i.e., "sans mesure")
• "qui" + verb (i.e., "qui arrive")
• adj + complementary group (i.e., "malin comme un singe", "libre dans ses propos", "frais arrivé", etc.)
• composed of several adjectives linked by a conjunction (i.e., "franc et quitte")
• "mal"/"bien" + adjective (i.e., "bien élevé")
• adv intensité ("à demi"/"mi"/"tout"/"presque"/"à moitié"/"peu"/"plus"/"gravement") + adjective (i.e., "à demi-cuit", "mi-cuit", "tout petit", "presque prêt", "à moitié nu", "peu nombreux", etc.)
• color adj + adj (i.e., "bleu pâle")
• "couleur" + noun (i.e., "couleur crême")
• "pur" + noun (i.e., "pur porc")
• non + adjective (i.e., "not expressed")
• "plein de" + noun (i.e., "plein de morgue")
• noun + "eishenge"/"eishenja" ("moneda eishenge")
• "sur" + article + noun
• "comme" + article + noun
• beginning with "avec"
• at the time of ...
• "hors" + noun (i.e., "hors cadre", "hors contexte", etc.)
• "que" + proposition (i.e., "qu'il faut", "qu'on peut", etc.)

For proper nouns

Grammatical units include

• Proper nouns composed of geographical name + "de" + proper noun (i.e., "seuil de Naurouze", "chutes du Niagara", etc.) or in the form of a periphrase (i.e., "la Ville éternelle", "le Nouveau Monde". , etc.), but they have the grammatical category of noun alone, and the geographical noun + "de" is collocated (i.e., (chutes du) Niagara).

We label as phrase:

• Proper nouns which are names of works (i.e., "Les Misérables"), unless the work is so well known that it has become a common noun (i.e., "Coran", "Ancien Testament", "Code de la route", etc.).

Other proper nouns are labeled as grammatical units.