Practice: Verbals And Prepositionals

1. Identify the phrase in italics. The Story of the Door is a chapter full of interesting vocabulary.

Prep- Adj

Prep- Adv

Gerund

Participial

The phrase "of the Door" is in italics. It is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adjective, modifying the noun "Story." It provides additional information about the story by specifying which story is being referred to.

Explanation

The phrase "of the Door" is in italics. It is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adjective, modifying the noun "Story." It provides additional information about the story by specifying which story is being referred to.

2. Identify the phrase in italics. Although the vocabulary is challenging, reading the context clues carefully allows me to gain an understanding of the text.

Gerund- S

Gerund - D.O

Gerund - P.N

Gerund- Ob.P

The phrase in italics is "reading the context clues carefully". It functions as the subject of the sentence, indicating the action of reading the context clues.

Explanation

The phrase in italics is "reading the context clues carefully". It functions as the subject of the sentence, indicating the action of reading the context clues.

3. Identify the phrase in italics. Reading all night, I couldn't stop thinking about the novella.

Prep- Adj

Prep - Adv

Gerund

Participial

The phrase "Reading all night" is the participial phrase in this sentence. It is a present participle phrase that describes the action of reading that the speaker was engaged in all night.

Explanation

The phrase "Reading all night" is the participial phrase in this sentence. It is a present participle phrase that describes the action of reading that the speaker was engaged in all night.

4. Identify the phrase in italics. Instead of wasting my time watching t.v, I read the first 5 chapters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde/

Gerund- S

Gerund - D.O

Gerund P.N

Gerund Ob. P

The phrase in italics is "wasting my time watching t.v". It functions as a gerund object of the preposition "Instead of".

Explanation

The phrase in italics is "wasting my time watching t.v". It functions as a gerund object of the preposition "Instead of".

5. Identify the phrase in italics. Sitting by the fire on a cool day in a comfy chair is not only the best time, but also the best location to read.

Prep- Adj

Prep-Adv

Gerund

Participial

The phrase in italics is "Sitting by the fire on a cool day in a comfy chair". This is a gerund phrase because it begins with the present participle "sitting" and functions as a noun in the sentence. It acts as the subject of the sentence and describes the activity or action being performed.

Explanation

The phrase in italics is "Sitting by the fire on a cool day in a comfy chair". This is a gerund phrase because it begins with the present participle "sitting" and functions as a noun in the sentence. It acts as the subject of the sentence and describes the activity or action being performed.

6. Identity the phrase in italics. After the students are finished reading the first 2 chapters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for homework as assigned on Monday, Mrs. Cooke will present them with a lovely opportunity that will assess their reading.

Prep- Adj

Prep- Adv

Gerund

Participial

The phrase in italics is "as assigned on Monday". It functions as an adjective, modifying the noun "homework". It provides additional information about the homework by specifying when it was assigned.

Explanation

The phrase in italics is "as assigned on Monday". It functions as an adjective, modifying the noun "homework". It provides additional information about the homework by specifying when it was assigned.

7. Identify the phrase in italics. They say the best option for dealing with a cold is waiting it out.

Gerund - S

Gerund- D.O

Gerund- P.N

Gerund - Ob. P

The phrase in italics is "waiting it out." It functions as a gerund, which is a verb form that acts as a noun. In this case, "waiting" is the gerund and it is functioning as the predicate nominative, renaming or restating the subject "the best option for dealing with a cold."

Explanation

The phrase in italics is "waiting it out." It functions as a gerund, which is a verb form that acts as a noun. In this case, "waiting" is the gerund and it is functioning as the predicate nominative, renaming or restating the subject "the best option for dealing with a cold."

8. Identify the phrase in italics. In my reading, I noticed that Mr. Enfeild was walking in London at 3 AM when he noticed the trampling. Suspicious!

Gerund

Participial

Prep- Adj

Prep- Adv

The phrase "In my reading" serves as a prepositional adverbial (Prep- Adv) phrase. It modifies the main verb "noticed" by specifying the circumstances under which the action took place, namely during the speaker's reading. This contextual detail frames the timing and setting of the observation.

Explanation

The phrase "In my reading" serves as a prepositional adverbial (Prep- Adv) phrase. It modifies the main verb "noticed" by specifying the circumstances under which the action took place, namely during the speaker's reading. This contextual detail frames the timing and setting of the observation.

9. Identify the phrase in italics. Sitting by the fire on a cool day in a comfy chair, I read the first chapter of the novella.

Prep- Adj

Prep- Adv

Gerund

Participial

The phrase "Sitting by the fire on a cool day in a comfy chair" is a participial phrase. It starts with the present participle "Sitting" and describes the subject of the sentence, which is the speaker. It provides additional information about the speaker's actions and surroundings.

Explanation

The phrase "Sitting by the fire on a cool day in a comfy chair" is a participial phrase. It starts with the present participle "Sitting" and describes the subject of the sentence, which is the speaker. It provides additional information about the speaker's actions and surroundings.

10. Identify the phrase in italics. Be careful, while you are reading, to pay attention to the clues present in each chapter.

Prep - Adj

Prep- Adv

Gerund

Participial

The phrase "while you are reading" is in italics. It is identified as "Prep- Adv" because it functions as a prepositional phrase modifying the verb "pay attention." The phrase indicates the time during which the action of paying attention should occur.

Explanation

The phrase "while you are reading" is in italics. It is identified as "Prep- Adv" because it functions as a prepositional phrase modifying the verb "pay attention." The phrase indicates the time during which the action of paying attention should occur.