Transcript The Phrase Self-Quiz

The Phrase
Self-Quiz
John should never have been going to
that party.
What is the verb phrase?
Should have been going
What kind and why?
It is an action verb phrase since going, the main
verb shows action. Should, have, and been are all
helping verbs since they help going show the
tense.
John should have never been going to that
party.
Are there other phrases in the sentence?
Yes.
What kind and why?
To that party is a prepositional phrase since to is a
preposition [cat to the barn] and party is a noun.
That is an adjective modifying party: “Which
party?” That party.
What kind of prepositional phrase and why?
It is an adverb phrase modifying the verb phrase
since it answers “Should have been going
where?” Should have been going to the party.
The girl on the bench sings at odd hours.
Are there phrases in the sentence?
Yes.
What kind and why?
On the bench is a prepositional phrase since on is a
preposition [cat on the barn] and bench is a noun. At
odd hours is a prepositional phrase since at is a
preposition [cat at the barn] and hours is a noun.
What kind of prepositional phrases and why?
On the bench is an adjective phrase modifying girl since it
answers “Which girl?” or “What kind of girl?” The girl on
the bench. At odd hours is an adverbial phrase modifying
sings since it answers “Sings when?” Sings at odd hours.
Pirouetting on her toes, the ballerina completed
her pas de deux.
Are there phrases?
Yes.
What kind and why?
Pirouetting on her toes is a verbal phrase
because it is a verb + ing, Pirouetting. On her
toes belongs since it is a prepositional phrase
modifying Pirouetting answering “Pirouetting
how?” Pirouetting on her toes. Therefore, it is
an adverbial phrase.
Pirouetting on her toes, the ballerina completed
her pas de deux.
Are there other phrases?
Yes.
What kind of phrase and why?
Pirouetting, a ving, can either be a participle or a gerund. How can one tell?
Pirouetting on her toes is not the subject of the sentence. “Who completed?” The
ballerina completed; therefore, ballerina is the subject. What does Pirouetting on
her toes answer? Not what she does. Completed tells that. Pirouetting on her
toes gives more description of the ballerina. To double check, ask “Which
ballerina?” The ballerina pirouetting on her toes. There could be other ballerinas.
The ballerina bending at the barre, the ballerina sitting this rehearsal out, the
ballerina working her heart out ,for example. All tell which one, not what she is
doing. All of these could have completed the pas de deux.
Since it works like an adjective, it must be a particle in present
participle form.
Swimming at the lake gives me great joy.
Are there any phrases in the sentence?
Yes.
What kind and why?
Swimming at the lake is a verbal phrase.
Swimming is a verb + ing (ving) that is not
preceded by a helping verb. At the lake
belongs since it is a prepositional phrase
modifying Swimming (Swimming where?
Swimming at the lake); therefore it is an
adverbial phrase.
The dog locked in the cage barked all
night.
Are there any phrases in the sentence?
Yes.
What kind of phrase and why?
Locked is a form of a verb (v + ed), without a helping verb. It cannot be
used as the verb. Barked tells what the dog was doing; therefore, it
is the action verb of the sentence.
In a cage belongs with Locked since it is a prepositional phrase that
answers “Locked where?” This shows it modifies the verbal form
locked - locked in the cage.
Therefore, locked in the cage is a participial phrase in past participle
form used as an adjective to modify dog. It answers “Which dog?”
The dog locked in the cage.
Swimming at the lake gives me great joy.
Are there any phrases in this sentence?
Yes.
What kind of verbal phrase and why?
Swimming, a ving, can either be a participle or a gerund. How
can one tell?
Swimming at the lake functions as the subject of the
sentence. “What gives?” or “Who gives?” Swimming at
the lake gives. Since the subject of a sentence is always a
noun/pronoun, swimming, a ving, is a gerund and
Swimming at the lake is a gerund phrase used as the
subject.
The football team likes winning each
game.
Are there any phrases?
Yes.
What kind and why?
There is a ving, winning. Is it a participle (adjective) or gerund (noun)?
Each game belongs with that since it is a direct object of winning.
“Winning what?” Winning each game. Each is an adjective
modifying game – “Which game?” Each game. The phrase winning
each game works like a direct object. It answers “Likes
what/whom?” Likes winning each game. A direct object is a
noun/pronoun; therefore, winning each game is a gerund phrase
used as a direct object.
I gave reading the text my full attention.
Are there phrases?
Yes.
What kind and why?
There is a ving, reading. Is it a participle or gerund?
The text belongs with reading because it is the direct object of reading.
“Reading what/whom?” Reading the text. What does that phrase add to
the sentence? It answers “Gave to whom/to what/for whom/for what?”
Gave (to) reading the text; therefore it is an indirect object.
What is the direct object, then?
Ask “Gave what/whom?” Gave my full attention. That is the direct object.
Notice that reading the text is between the action verb and the direct
object.
True happiness is eating chocolate.
Are there phrases?
Yes.
There is a ving. Is it a participle or a gerund?
Chocolate belongs with eating since it is the direct
object of that verbal. “Eating what?” Eating
chocolate. Eating chocolate renames or =
happiness since is is a linking verb. Therefore,
eating chocolate is a gerund functioning as a
predicate nominative.
Ms. McCallum, my former teacher, is ninety
years old.
Is there a phrase?
Yes.
My former teacher is an appositive renaming or
further identifying the noun directly in front of
it, Ms. McCallum.
Why commas?
My former teacher is an appositive phrase and
all appositive phrases are set off by commas.
How did you do?
If you have any issues, problems, questions,
please Gaggle me so I can provide more
support.