1. Language Network
Using Phrases

2. Prepositional Phrase Here’s the Idea Why It Matters Practice and Apply
Using Phrases
Prepositional Phrase
Here’s the Idea
As Adjective
As Adverb
Why It Matters
Practice and Apply

3. Here’s the Idea
Phrase
A phrase is a group of related words that acts as a single part of speech.

4. Here’s the Idea
Prepositional Phrase
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object. It can function as an adverb or an adjective.

5. By placing phrases properly, you can make your writing
Here’s the Idea
By placing phrases properly,
you can make your writing
clear and descriptive.

6. An adjective phrase modifies a noun or a pronoun.
Here’s the Idea
An adjective phrase modifies a noun or a pronoun.

7. What does each adjective phrase modify?
Here’s the Idea
What does each adjective phrase modify?
The dance club on Main Street holds a contest every weekend.
NOUN
Some of the competitors dance professionally.
PRONOUN

8. An adverb phrase modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
Here’s the Idea
An adverb phrase modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

9. What does each adverb phrase modify?
Here’s the Idea
What does each adverb phrase modify?
The city diving finals are the most difficult of all competitions.
ADJECTIVE
VERB
The graceful champion dives into the pool.

10. Why It Matters
The placement of a prepositional phrase can affect the meaning of a sentence.
As you write, make sure that prepositional phrases appear to modify the words you want them to modify.

11. At the dog show the woman waits beside her dog in the purple dress.
Why It Matters
How does the placement of the highlighted prepositional phrase affect the meaning of this sentence?
At the dog show the woman waits beside her dog in the purple dress.

12. At the dog show the woman in the purple dress waits beside her dog.
Why It Matters
How could the position of the prepositional phrase be changed to make the meaning clear?
At the dog show the woman in the purple dress waits beside her dog.

13. Identify the prepositional phrase, along with the word it modifies.
Practice and Apply
Identify the prepositional phrase, along with the word it modifies.
A news conference occurred on January 13, 1999. 1.

14. Identify the prepositional phrase, along with the word it modifies.
Practice and Apply
Identify the prepositional phrase, along with the word it modifies.
Michael Jordan said he was retiring from the Chicago Bulls. 2.

15. Identify the prepositional phrase, along with the word it modifies.
Practice and Apply
Identify the prepositional phrase, along with the word it modifies.
The reporter asked Jordan about his future plans. 3.

16. Sheila told us about the winning basket she made at dinner. 4.
Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence, changing the position of a prepositional phrase so that the meaning is clear.
Sheila told us about the winning basket she made at dinner. 4.

17. The player scored six points with the knee brace. 5.
Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence, changing the position of a prepositional phrase so that the meaning is clear.
The player scored six points with the knee brace. 5.

18. Participial Phrase Here’s the Idea Why It Matters Practice and Apply
Using Phrases
Participial Phrase
Here’s the Idea
Why It Matters
Practice and Apply

19. Here’s the Idea
Participle
A participle is a verb form that acts as an adjective. It modifies a noun or a pronoun.

20. Exhausted, Monique finished her workout.
Here’s the Idea
NOUN
Exhausted, Monique finished her workout.

21. There are two kinds of participles.
Here’s the Idea
There are two kinds of participles.
past participle
He fell to the ground, exhausted.
present participle
Stumbling, the player dropped the ball.

22. Here’s the Idea
Participial Phrase
A participial phrase consists of a participle plus its modifiers and complements.

23. Participial phrases can be used to add details to descriptions.
Here’s the Idea
Participial phrases can be used to add details to descriptions.
The ball dropped by Martin went out of bounds.

24. Why It Matters
Pay attention to the placement of participial phrases in your writing. A phrase in the wrong place is known as a misplaced modifier or dangling participle.

25. Why It Matters
A misplaced participial phrase, often called a misplaced modifier, modifies a word other than the one it is intended to modify.
STUDENT MODEL
Gasping for breath, the crowd watched the runner. The runner broke the ribbon.
DRAFT

26. Who is gasping for breath?
Why It Matters
Who is gasping for breath?
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
Gasping for breath, the crowd watched the runner. The runner broke the ribbon.

27. Why It Matters
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
Gasping for breath, the crowd watched the runner. The runner broke the ribbon.
REVISION
The crowd watched the runner. Gasping for breath, the runner broke the ribbon.

28. Why It Matters
A dangling participial phrase does not logically modify any of the words in the sentence in which it appears.
STUDENT MODEL
Coming home with the trophy, our parrot said, “Hello!”
DRAFT

29. The parrot won the trophy?
Why It Matters
The parrot won the trophy?
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
Coming home with the trophy, our parrot said, “Hello!”

30. Coming home with the trophy, our parrot said, “Hello!”
Why It Matters
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
Coming home with the trophy, our parrot said, “Hello!”
REVISION
Coming home with the trophy, we heard our parrot say, “Hello!”

31. Identify the participle and the word it modifies.
Practice and Apply
Identify the participle and the word it modifies.
The blooming honeysuckle attracts bees. 6.

32. Identify the participial phrase and the word it modifies.
Practice and Apply
Identify the participial phrase and the word it modifies.
Animals living in Antarctica make their homes along the coast. 7.

33. Identify the participial phrase and the word it modifies.
Practice and Apply
Identify the participial phrase and the word it modifies.
An enormous icicle broken into several pieces lay on the sidewalk. 8.

34. Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence to eliminate the dangling or misplaced participial phrase.
Mary Pickford played the heroine in many films known as “America’s Sweetheart.” 9.

35. Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence to eliminate the dangling or misplaced participial phrase.
The Marshalls found their yard full of weeds returning from their trip.
10.