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Choose the correct answer:
Which of the following sentences contains a gerund phrase functioning as the subject?
A. She enjoys swimming in the ocean.
B. Swimming in the ocean is her favorite activity.
C. The ocean is calm today.
D. She is swimming in the ocean.
The answer is B.
Choose the correct answer:
Identify the participial phrase in the sentence:
“Exhausted from the climb, the hikers rested by the stream.”
A. Exhausted from the climb
B. The hikers rested
C. By the stream
D. None
The answer is A.
Choose the correct answer:
Which sentence contains an appositive phrase?
A. My brother, a skilled guitarist, plays in a band.
B. My brother plays in a band.
C. The skilled guitarist played beautifully.
D. My brother plays guitar well.
The correct answer is A.
Choose the correct answer:
In the sentence “Reading ancient myths helps students understand culture,” what is the function of “Reading ancient myths”?
A. Adjective phrase
B. Gerund phrase acting as subject
C. Participial phrase
D. Appositive phrase
The answer is B.
Choose the correct answer:
Which sentence contains a participial phrase modifying the subject?
A. To win the prize was her goal.
B. Swimming is a great exercise.
C. The book, an ancient manuscript, was fragile.
D. Laughing loudly, the children ran outside.
The answer is D.
“Seeing the results, she smiled in relief.”
Participial Phrase
Mr. Thompson, our new principal, greeted the students.
Appositive Phrase
Running every morning improves your stamina.
Gerund Phrase
The student, eager to impress, volunteered first.
Participial Phrase
Painting landscapes relaxes her.
Gerund Phrase
Rewrite using a gerund phrase as the subject:
“It helps when you practice daily.”
Practicing daily helps a lot.
Combine: “The boy was terrified. He hid under the bed.”
→ Use a participial phrase.
Terrified, the boy hid under the bed.
Combine: “My friend is an artist. She paints portraits.”
→ Use an appositive phrase.
My friend, an artist, paints portraits.
Rewrite using a gerund phrase as direct object:
“She enjoys ____.”
She enjoys reading mystery novels.
“Reading mystery novels” = gerund phrase as an object.
Combine: “The athlete won the race. She collapsed from exhaustion.”
→ Use a participial phrase.
Winning the race, the athlete collapsed from exhaustion.
“Winning the race” = participial phrase.
Running down the street, the rain began to fall heavily.
Running down the street, I saw the rain begin to fall.
Covered with snow, the children built a snowman.
Correct use of participial phrase.
My sister the doctor, is visiting us soon.
Comma misuse (appositive): “My sister, the doctor, is visiting us soon.”
Winning the game, skill was shown.
Winning the game, we showed.
Reading the novel, the plot was confusing.
Reading the novel, I was confused by the plot.
Write a sentence using a gerund phrase as subject.
Swimming is my best daily practice.
Write a sentence using a participial phrase at the beginning.
Climbing the tree, the boy hurt his knee.
Write a sentence using an appositive phrase in the middle.
Our teacher Mrs. Heba Hamdy is absent today.
Write a sentence with a gerund phrase as an object of a preposition.
She is passionate about helping other students.
Write a sentence containing two different phrase types (gerund + participial or appositive + participial).
Running through the park, my friend, an athlete, waved at me.