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.