Phrases

Question 1

Rework this sentence so that it doesn’t end with a prepositional phrase:
Jill passed the beaker to me.

Answer 1

Jill passed me the beaker.

Question 2

Identify all the prepositional phrases in the following sentence:
From the back seat, Vera instructed her daughter to take the exit on the left and stay behind the yellow Jeep.

Answer 2

From the back seat, on the left, and -behind the yellow Jeep- are prepositional phrases.

Question 3

What kind of phrase is the boldface portion?

The general -dressed in gray- is Robert E. Lee.

Answer 3

An adjective phrase.

Question 4

What kind of phrase is the boldface portion?

That song is empty -of meaning-.

Answer 4

An adverb phrase.

Question 5

Find all the prepositional phrases in the following sentence:
Under the tree behind the fence, there is a box that contains something quite interesting.

Answer 5

The prepositional phrases are: -Under the tree- and -behind the fence-

Question 6

Is the boldface phrase an adjective phrase?

The baby slept -with her thumb in her mouth.

Answer 6

No. This is an adverb phrase.

Question 7

What type of phrase is boldface below?

-In the dark-, the mice sneak toward the cookie jar.

Answer 7

-In the dark- is a prepositional phrase.

Question 8

What type of phrase is boldface below?

-Wearing only shorts-, the prince strode into the black tie ball.

Answer 8

An adjective phrase.

Question 9

What type of phrase is boldface below?

We watched the bird -flapping its wings.-

Answer 9

A gerund phrase.

Question 10

What is a phrase?

Answer 10

A phrase is a group of related words that lacks either a subject or a verb.

Question 11

T/F; Phrases never have subjects.

Answer 11

False. A phrase can have a subject if it doesn’t have a verb. (If it has both, it is a clause.)

Question 12

T/F: A phrase can be a complete sentence.

Answer 12

False: A phrase lacks either a verb or a subject.

Question 13

Can a phrase ever act as a subject?

Answer 13

Yes. A phrase acting as a subject is called a noun phrase.

Question 14

T/F: Sentence is synonymous with phrase.

Answer 14

False. Sentence is synonymous with independent clause. A phrase always lacks either a subject or a verb-the two essential components of a sentence.

Question 15

What is a gerund phrase?

Answer 15

A gerund phrase is a phrase that operates as a subject and contains a gerund (a verb ending with -ing)
-Washing the dishes- is a gerund phrase.

Question 16

What is a prepositional phrase?

Answer 16

It is a phrase containing a preposition (under, on, for, with) a noun and often adjectives that modify it. Prepositional phrases often describe where or when something is happening.

Question 17

What famous song from the Wizard of Oz contains a prepositional phrase in its title?

Answer 17

“Somewhere over the Rainbow” (Over the Rainbow is the prepositional phrase)

Question 18

Can prepositions end sentences?

Answer 18

Technically no but many good writers break this rule.

Question 19

What is an adjective phrase?

Answer 19

An Adjective phrase is a phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun.

Question 20

What is an adverb phrase?

Answer 20

An adverb phrase is a phrase that begins with a preposition and acts as an adverb.

Question 21

What is a noun phrase?

Answer 21

A noun phrase is a phrase that acts as a subject.

Question 22

What is a gerund phrase?

Answer 22

A gerund phrase is a noun phrase containing a gerund

Question 23

what is a participle phrase?

Answer 23

A participle phrase is a phrase that contains a present participle (an -ing ending verb) or a past participle (an -ed ending verb ) and acts as an adjective. If participle phrases begin sentences, they typically are set off by a comma. If they are in the middle of a sentence, they are set off by two commas.

Question 24

Is the following a phrase?

While he was carving his initials into the desk

Answer 24

No. This is a dependent clause.

Question 25

What type of phrase is boldface below?

-Reading without good light- can hurt your eyes.

Answer 25

This is a gerund phrase.

Question 26

What type of phrase is boldface below?

_Having changed hands millions of times-, the dollar bill was dirty and crinkled.

Answer 26

This is a participle phrase.