Chapter 3

Phrases

PRACTICE

Prepositional Phrases

Write the prepositional phrases. For each, write the word or words modified by the phrase. Then
write ADJ for adjective or ADV for adverb to identify the type of phrase.

1. The legs of that chair aren't very strong.

 The prepositional phrases - Of that chair

 Word modified - Legs
 ADJ

2. It was the most beautiful day of summer.

 The prepositional phrases - Of summer

 Word modified - Day
 ADJ

3. The furniture in the attic has been stored for many years.

 The prepositional phrases - In the attic

 Word modified - Furniture
 ADJ

 The prepositional phrases - For many years

 Word modified - Stored
 ADV

4. Please take the cake out of the oven.

 The prepositional phrases - Of the oven

 Word modified - Out
 ADV

5. We went to the supermarket for party supplies.

 The prepositional phrases - To the supermarket

 Word modified -Went
 ADV

 The prepositional phrases - For party supplies

 Word modified -Went
 ADV

6. The members of Mia's sorority work at the neighborhood soup kitchen on Saturdays.

 The prepositional phrases - Of Mia’s country

 Word modified - Members
 ADJ
  The prepositional phrases - At the neighborhood
 Word modified - Work
 ADV

 The prepositional phrases - On Saturday’s

 Word modified - Work
 ADV

7. Sondre always writes with fluency.

a. The prepositional phrases - With fluency
b. Word modified - Writes
c. ADV
8. Five of Min. Rasmussen's paintings have been sold to buyers across the country

 The prepositional phrases - Of Min Rasmussen’s paintings

 Word modified - Five
 ADJ

 The prepositional phrases - To buyers

 Word modified - Sold
 ADV

 The prepositional phrases - Across the country

 Word modified - Buyers
 ADJ

9. Tina borrowed my map of Chicago.

 The prepositional phrases - Of Chicago

 Word modified - Map
 ADJ

10. The streets in many Nantucket neighborhoods are paved with clamshells.

 The prepositional phrases - In Many Nantucket neighborhoods

 Word modified - Streets
 ADJ

 The prepositional phrases - With clamshells

 Word modified - Paved
 ADV

PRACTICE

Appositives and Appositive Phrases

Write each appositive or appositive phrase and the How or pronoun that is identified or
explained by the appositive

1. Our class's most accomplished musician, Minta has won several awards.

 Our class's most accomplished musician

 Minta

2. Diane's cousin Jeanne will visit her next week.

 Diane’s cousin
  Jeanne

3. Fred memorized a sonnet, a poem of fourteen lines.

 A poem of fourteen lines

 Sonnet

4. The citizens of Saskatchewan, a Canadian province, are used to cold weather.

 A Canadian province
 The citizens of Saskatchewan

5. Charity and Joseph announced their engagement in Des Moines, a city in Iowa.

 A city in Iowa
 Des Moines

6. My brother's car, a battered Ford sedan, runs well for its age.

 A battered Ford sedan

 car

7. A relief pitcher, Amedeo waited hopefully in the dugout.

 A relief pitcher
 Amedeo

8. Rita expects no party on Valentine's Day, her birthday

 Her birthday
 Valentine’s Day

9. Mom packed my favorite sandwich, tuna salad on wheat bread, in my lunch today

 Tuna salad on wheat bread

 Sandwich

10. A valuable vitamin, riboflavin belongs to the B group.

 A valuable vitamin
 Riboflavin

PRACTICE

Participles and Participial Phrases

Write the participles and participial phrases. Then write the word or words each participle or
participial phrase modifies

1. Purring loudly, the kitten curled up in my lap and fell asleep.

Purring loudly

The kitten
2. The plane, flying low, practically skimmed the tops of the trees.

Flying low

Plane

3. The emergency call, reported at 5:00, was answered immediately

Reported at 5:00

Call

4. Completed a week early, Sonia's report had been well researched.

Completed a week early

Report

5. The music blasting from the parked car was most annoying

Blasting from the parked car

Music

6. The exhausted girls looked forward to a good night's sleep.

Exhausted girls

sleep

7. Realizing her luck, Yolanda clasped the winning lottery ticket in her hand and smiled.

Realizing her luck

Yolanda

8. Relieved, Deirdre answered the phone.

Relieved

Deirdre

9. In tears, Larry hugged his recovered pet and thanked the rescuer.

In tears

Larry

10. The band, pleased by the enthusiastic applause, played splendidly.

pleased by the enthusiastic applause

band
PRACTICE
Gerunds and Gerund Phrases
Write the gerunds and gerund phrases. Identify the way each is used by writing one of these
labels: subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, predicate nominative,
appositive.
1. Finding a good parking space is very important to Mom.
Parking
Subject
2. I'd give Anderson's Handling the Pain a good review.
Handling
indirect object
3. By working hard, Jeremy brought up his math grade.
Working
Object of a preposition
4. Michiko's favorite activity is playing her flute.
Playing
Predicate nominative
5. Dad's job involved keeping the babies in sight.
Keeping
Predicate nominative
6. The musician's goal, playing flawlessly, was naive.
Playing flawlessly
Direct object
7. Fighting back tears was difficult for me just then.
Fighting back tears
Subject
8. The headmaster was not good at giving praise.
Giving praise
Object of the preposition
9. The twins enjoy skating.
Skating
Predicate nominative
10. Good luck can come from losing one's keys.
Losing one’s keys
Object of the preposition
11. Skipping rope is a good exercise.
Skipping rope
Subject
12. The second alternative, fighting bravely, was Aza's choice.
Fighting bravely
Appositive
13. Hiking seemed a good idea at the time.
Hiking
Subject
 14. Mr. Kaseler finally finished reading.
Reading
Predicate nominative
15. In forgiving Ryan, Pete had triumphed over his anger.
Forgiving Ryan
Object of the preposition

PRACTICE
Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases
Write the infinitives and infinitive phrases. For each, write noun, adjective, or adverb to tell how
the infinitive or infinitive phrase is being used.
1. Jim liked to sing in the shower.
to sing
adjective
2. Taree left to buy groceries.
To buy
Adverb
3. Kurt managed to disregard his fears.
To disregard
Adverb
4. I must make an effort to work faster.
To work
adjective
5. To have his artwork in the show was enough for Ken.
To have his artwork in the show
Noun
6. We played to win.
To win
Adverb
7. Franz is the person to choose in the election.
To choose
adverb
8. The bodyguard's job is to protect Mr. Williamson from harm.
To protect
Adverb
9. My father gave me the will to live.
To live
noun
10. The guide urged the travelers to continue their trip.
to continue
adverb
Appositives and verbals
Identify each italicized term by writing one of these labels: appositive, participle, gerund,
infinitive.
1. Rejoicing in his friend's victory made Raul happy.
appositive
2. The team's urge to win was overwhelming
infinite
3. Our swimming instructor taught us the scissors kick.
participle
4. We hopped into the waiting cab.
participle
5. Alyssa's houseguest, her cousin Molly, will stay for a week.
appositive
6. Driving from the mountain cabin to the airport was the only logical choice.
gerund
7. Suddenly Mrs. Gaspar was a changed woman.
participle
8. Wayne is the only sensible person to select for this difficult job.
appositive
9. The guests enjoyed singing under the stars.
gerund
10. Our defeated players slowly dragged themselves off the field.
Participle

PRACTICE
Phrases
Identify each italicized group of words by writing one of these labels: prepositional phrase,
appositive phrase, participial phrase, gerund phrase, infinitive phrase.
1. The desire to do a good job was strong in Jake.
Infinitive phrase
2. The foghorn moaning in the distance made Janna feel sad.
Gerund phrase
3. Making silk-screen prints was one of lona's hobbies.
Participial phrase
4. Entering the room, Monica startled Mrs. Albertson
Gerund phrase
5. My sister's Girl Scout troop, exhausted by their trip, slept all the way home.
Appositive phrase
6. We went to the tourist office and got help to plan our next vacation.
Participial phrase
7. Mr. and Mrs. Fibonacci hosted the twins, Dorothy's cousins.
Appositive phrase
8. Michael finally stopped writing his letter and looked up at the clock.
Gerund phrase
9. Stockholm, the peaceful city on the lake, was the next stop
Appositive phrase
10. After much effort, Stanley finally learned to play the trumpet
Prepositional phrase