Download Practice and Apply

Using Phrases
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.
Here’s the Idea
By placing phrases properly,
you can make your writing
clear and descriptive.
On the English portion of the
ACT, proper placement of
phrases is a popular question.
Here’s the Idea
What does each adjective phrase modify?
The dance club on Main Street holds
NOUN
a contest every weekend.
Some of the competitors dance
PRONOUN
professionally.
Here’s the Idea
What does each adverb
phrase modify?
The city diving finals are the
most difficult of all competitions.
ADJECTIVE
The graceful champion dives into the pool.
VERB
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.
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.
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.
Practice and Apply
Identify the prepositional phrase,
along with the word it modifies.
1. The ostrich is a bird for the record
books.
Practice and Apply
Identify the prepositional phrase,
along with the word it modifies.
2. The ostrich also holds a record for
speed.
Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence, changing the
position of a prepositional phrase so
that the meaning is clear.
4. John told us about the ostriches he had
photographed after the test.
Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence, changing the
position of a prepositional phrase so
that the meaning is clear.
5. The ostrich photographs won first
prize by Chad.
Here’s the Idea
Appositives
An appositive is a noun or
pronoun that identifies or
renames another noun or
pronoun.
An appositive phrase is made up
of an appositive plus its
modifiers.
Here’s the Idea
Appositives can be essential
to the sentences meaning in
which case no commas are
needed.
Nonessential appositives
are unnecessary information
and are set off with
commas.
Here’s the Idea
Essential v/s Nonessential?
The Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci drew a
NOUN
flying machine with flapping wings around 1500.
Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian artist, drew a flying
NOUN
machine with flapping wings around 1500 .
Practice and Apply
Identify the appositive in each
sentence. Is it essential or
nonessential?
5. Leonardo da Vinci, the great
Renaissance painter, was also an
inventor.
Practice and Apply
Identify the appositive in each
sentence. Is it essential or
nonessential?
Submersibles, vessels that operate under
water, are used in research.
Practice and Apply
Identify the appositive in each
sentence. Is it essential or
nonessential?
The submersible Alvin can dive very deep.
Verbals
Participles
Gerunds
Infinitives
Here’s the Idea
Participle
A participle is a verb form that
acts as an adjective. It modifies
a noun or a pronoun.
Here’s the Idea
Exhausted, Monique finished her workout.
NOUN
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.
Here’s the Idea
Participial Phrase
A participial phrase consists of
a participle plus its modifiers
and complements.
Here’s the Idea
Participial phrases can be used
to add details to descriptions.
The ball dropped by Martin went
out of bounds.
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.
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
DRAFT
Gasping for breath, the crowd
watched the runner. The runner
broke the ribbon.
Why It Matters
Who is gasping for breath?
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
Gasping for breath, the crowd watched
the runner. The runner broke the ribbon.
Why It Matters
A dangling participial phrase does not
logically modify any of the words in the
sentence in which it appears.
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
Coming home with
the trophy, our
parrot said, “Hello!”
Why It Matters
STUDENT MODEL
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
REVISION
Coming home with
the trophy, our
parrot said, “Hello!”
Coming home with the
trophy, we heard our
parrot say, “Hello!”
Practice and Apply
Identify the participle and the word it
modifies.
6. Smiling, John began to photograph
the butterflies.
Practice and Apply
Identify the participial phrase and
the word it modifies.
7. Visiting gardens, the butterflies fly
among the flowers.
Practice and Apply
Identify the participial phrase and
the word it modifies.
8. Butterflies, driven by instinct, use
the flowers as meal stops.
Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence to eliminate the
dangling or misplaced participial phrase.
9. Hovering quietly, Jane saw a
hummingbird at the feeder.
Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence to eliminate the
dangling or misplaced participial phrase.
10. The bird ate from the feeder
swooping in gracefully.
Here’s the Idea
Gerunds
A gerund is a verbal that ends in
-- ing and acts as a noun.
A gerund phrase consists of a
gerund plus its modifiers and
Complements.
Here’s the Idea
Gerunds
Function
Example
Subject
Using the bow and arrow made
Predicate Nominative
My goal is becoming a competent
archer.
Direct Object
The teacher demonstrates holding
the bow correctly.
Object of a Preposition
Daily practice helps in developing
archery skills.
Indirect Object
I wanted to give using the bow and
arrow a chance.
William Tell famous.
Why It Matters
A gerund or gerund phrase is an essential
part of the sentence.
To distinguish between gerunds and
participles, see what it is doing in the
sentence.
Participles can be removed;
gerunds can not be removed.
Practice and Apply
Identify the gerund/gerund phrase and
what part of the sentence it is.
Skiing is an extremely popular
sport in many countries.
Practice and Apply
Identify the gerund/gerund phrase and
what part of the sentence it is.
The sport consists of gliding
over snow on runners called
skis.
Practice and Apply
Identify the gerund/gerund phrase and
what part of the sentence it is.
Many fans enjoy watching ski
competitions.
Practice and Apply
Identify the gerund/gerund phrase and
what part of the sentence it is.
Speeding down mountain slopes
thrills many skiers.
Here’s the Idea
Infinitives
An infinitive is a verbal that
begins with the word “to” is
followed by a verb
to + verb
An infinitive phrase consists of an
infinitive plus its modifiers and
complements.
Here’s the Idea
Infinitives
Function
Noun
Adverb
Adjective
Example
To find the lost child was
everyone’s goal.
To find the lost child, we
combed the woods.
Our efforts to find the lost
child ended in success.
The only problem with infinitives and infinitive
phrases is that they can be confused with
prepositional phrases.
•to + verb = infinitive
•to + noun/pronoun= preposition
Practice and Apply
Identify the infinitive phrase.
The tourists asked the bus driver
to go slower.
Practice and Apply
Identify the infinitive phrase.
Their purpose for taking the tour
was to see the countryside.
Practice and Apply
Identify the infinitive phrase.
The earliest attempts to fly
ended in embarrassment, if not
injury.
Identify the infinitive phrase.
We went to the store to buy groceries.
Identify the infinitive phrase.
I would like to go to the movies
this weekend.