IDENTIFYING PHRASES

LESSON OUTLINE
The Phrase : Definition

Types & Functions of Phrases

- Noun Phrases

- Verb Phrases

- Prepositional Phrases

- Verbal Phrases : Gerund Phrases

Participial Phrases

Infinitive Phrases

- Appositive Phrases

- Absolute Phrases
 PHRASES PRACTCE EXERCISES

NOUN PHRASES

Identify each noun phrase in the following sentences by circling the

determiner and underlining the headword.

1. My relatives have many odd habits.

2. Aunt Flo has an extensive collection of old umbrellas.
3. Aunt Flo’s umbrella collection decorates her front porch.
4. Her oldest son keeps a pet mongoose in the garage.
5. My older brother built a geodesic dome for his second wife.
6. Our cousins from Atlanta make an annual pilgrimage to the Mojave Desert.
7. Their maternal grandmother dresses her three small dogs in colorful sweaters.
8. Uncle Silas’s son plays the kazoo in a marching band.
9. This eccentric behavior rarely causes problems with the neighbors.
10. Some members of the family never attend the annual family reunion.

Read the sentences below and identify which sentences have noun
phrases and which do not. Put a tick or a cross , and then indicate
the function of each phrase.

1. The People's Palace is in the Queen's Building.

2. The teacher told the students to be quiet.
3. The James Mason Lecture Theatre is in the Francis Bancroft building.
4. The Cultural and Social Anthropology Department deals with the many aspects of
the social lives of people around the world.
5. The English for Academic Purposes Modules run by the highly qualified teachers
in the language and learning unit, are available to all students of Queen Mary
University of London.
6. Science and Engineering degrees are run by the school of Science and
Engineering.

Underline each noun phrase in the following paragraph. Then, circle "head
noun"

A private jet offers luxury services to travelers who can afford it. A variety of
comforts and special features are on board. The well-designed interiors have
comfortable seats, work tables, and Internet access. The wide aisles leave enough
space to walk around. Some private jet services include a chef. Gourmet breakfasts,
lunches and dinners are prepared in the galley of the aircraft.
 Tired passengers can nap in their seats or they can sleep in one of the on-
board bedrooms. A relaxing shower in the spa will allow a passenger to arrive fresh
and ready to greet people. Such conveniences are the result of new technology and
creative thinking. In so many ways, luxury jets are like flying luxury hotels.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

Directions: Underline the prepositional phrases in the following sentences

and identify them as adjectival (adj) or adverbial (adv).
1. Many paths lead to the top of the mountain.
2. Byron Scott became the new coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010.
3. On a cold November afternoon, the new coach met me at his office.
4. According to Mark Twain life on a riverboat was an opportunity for adventure.
5. The students from my study group take long walks around the campus on sunny
days.
6. In spite of an aversion to public appearances, the candidate held regular press
conferences throughout the campaign.
7. The student assistant in our botany class made a presentation about wild
turkeys.
8. During the night our dog cornered a skunk behind the garage.
9. The passengers with stand-by tickets waited by the gate for an hour.
10. Because of a computer error, your refund will not arrive until next month.
11. During spring break , friends from my hometown and I went to Sunset Beach.
12. One of my best friends is a computer programmer.
13. Koala bears are found only in certain parts of Australia.
14. Leaves from our neighbor’s tree covered our lawn.
15. I mailed the rest of my invitations for Cory's birthday party at the post office.
16. The teacher gave directions for the exam and then sat down at the back of
the room.
17. The length of a football field is a hundred and twenty yards.
18. Our grandparents always go to the Rocky Mountains for their vacation.
19. Maria's expensive mountain bike needed new parts after an accident on a
rugged trail.
20. The large waves of the incoming tide are washing away my sandcastle.
 VERBALS
Distinguishing between Participles and Gerunds
Identify the verbal as a present participle or gerund. If the verbal is a
participle, write the noun that it is modifying. If the verbal is a gerund,
write its function.
1. He has ruined his lungs by 12. After resting for an hour, you will
smoking. feel much better.
2. Asking questions is easier than 13. Reading a good novel always gives
answering them. me pleasure.
3. We saw a clown standing on his 14. They enjoyed taking long walks on
head. the trail.
4. He hates spending money. 15. We won't eat any of the turkey
5. Waving their hands, the spectators roasting in your oven.
cheered the runners. 16. The judges, talking at length
6. We are confident of winning the among themselves, finally gave the
election. award to the Beagle.
7. The boy cried thinking that he 17. Mary's downfall is eating snacks
would be whipped. between meals.
8. Can you teach me painting? 18. Choosing the right major is a
9. Barking dogs seldom bite. tough job for a lot of students.
10. Smoking is injurious to health. 19. He switched to smoking electronic
11. The candidate getting the most cigarettes.
votes wins the election. 20. The girl eating the chocolate bar
is going to gain weight.
Underline the participial and gerund phrases in each of the following
sentences. Indicate the function of gerund phrases.
1. I hope that you appreciate my 11. Having come out in the cool
offering you this opportunity. night air, Mr. Troy looked up at the
2. Having been on the road for four sky.
days, the Todds were exhausted. 12. Working hard all day, the boys
3. That hymn, sung by many finished the job by dinner time.
generations, is my favorite. 13. Driven from their homelands,
4. Climbing slowly, we approached many people each year seek
the top of the hill. refuge in the United States.
5. Phil, worn out by his long trip, slept 14. Jumping up and down, the
for twelve hours. cheerleaders urged the team on.
6. Staring out the window at the rain, 15. You might get in trouble for
Bob became more and more faking an illness to avoid work.
impatient. 16. The basketball team,
7. Having been hurt in the first game, encouraged by its performance in
Al sat on the bench for the rest of the semifinals, went on to the
the season. finals.
8. The plates, brought from Denmark 17. Having recorded the results of
by my grandmother, are on display the experiment, Kate closed her
in the dining room. notebook.
9. The cookies, baked this morning, 18. Finding a needle in a haystack
were all gone by five o'clock. would be easier than what we're
10. Newt's favorite tactic has been trying to do.
lying to his constituents. 19. Being the boss made Jeff feel
uneasy.

Underline the infinitive, gerund and participle phrases in each of the

following sentences, and then indicate their function.
1. Does Joan have enough change to make a phone call?
2. Staring out the window at the rain, Bob became more and more impatient.
3. The plates, brought from Denmark by my grandmother, are on display in the
dining room.
4. His greatest asset, typing two hundred words per minute, has earned him a
better position at the company.
5. The students didn't want to bring the speaker to the meeting of the student
council.
6. Megan is trying to practice the piano an hour a day.
7. Watching me closely, the dog came toward me.
8. My job is making reservations for overnight guests at the hotel.
9. After saving the dog's life, the young man was given an award.
10. I was happy to give you a ride home.
 THE INFINITIVE PHRASE
Underline the infinitive phrase in each of the following sentences, and
then indicate its function.

1. To be objective in my decision is 9. Did you have time to feed the

hard. kitten?
2. Does Joan have enough change to 10. The mayor decided to call a press
make a phone call? conference.
3. Always try to proofread your paper 11. Dick always tries to do his best.
before you turn it in. 12. Sarah tried to paint the ceiling of
4. Ellen is able to swim six lengths of her room.
the pool. 13. The lecturer was asked to speak for
5. I was happy to give you a ride home. half an hour.
6. To move to a larger house would be 14. Our plan is to go to Tennessee in
unwise for us now. October.
7. Fred was frightened to be alone in 15. To play tennis every day is Jim's
the old house. ambition for the summer.
8. Megan is trying to practice the piano
an hour a day.

THE APPOSITIVE PHRASE

Identify and underline the appositive phrase found in each sentence.
1. The monkey, a nimble animal, is often found in the jungle.
2. Dave Lewis, a teacher at Lawson, works with many aspiring musicians.
3. Before you trash BoBo, your last childhood stuffed animal, consider saving it.
4. The coast of Africa, one of the world's largest continents, is a prosperous trading
region.
5. Mr. Sonntag hired two new teachers, Mr. Davies and Ms. Parker.
6. Our family visited The Smithsonian Institution, a vast network of galleries in
Washington, D.C.
7. Our neighbor and his daughters, Parvi and Sonya, take walks every evening.
8. The flashlight should be returned to Mark, the owner.

Combine the following sentences using appositive phrases. Punctuate and

underline the appositives .
1. A. The California coastline is the longest of all the states.
B. The California coastline is a national treasure.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. A. The sick elephant attacked its trainer.

B. The sick elephant is the one in the third cage.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. A. The careless man shot a condor.

B. The condor is the rarest bird in California.
___________________________________________________________________________________

4. A. The basketball players make millions of dollars a year.

B. Kobe makes millions of dollars a year. (Hint: Use a connective word.)
C. Shaq makes millions of dollars a year.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Place parenthesis around the prepositional and verbal phrases, and then,
identify their type and function.

Type Function
1. In just a minute, the concert will begin.
___________ __________
2. Our hotel is in the French Quarter, a neighborhood.
___________ __________
3. The walls have not been painted in six years.
___________ __________
4. A tiny deer was prancing in the field.
___________ __________
5. Vermeer, a famous artist, had trouble earning a living.
___________ __________
6. The prices on the menu are really expensive.
___________ __________
7. Helen placed candles around the room.
___________ __________
8. Bobcats, large cats in the wild, sometimes attack deer.
___________ __________
9. The snow fell steadily on the lawn.
___________ __________
10. The winter sport skiing requires warm clothing.
___________ __________

Directions: Highlight the absolute phrase in the following sentences:

1. Her suspicions confirmed, the police officer made the arrest.
2. The quarterback, sweat streaming from his face, called a timeout.
3. Rob thanked the Academy for the award, his voice breaking with emotion.
 4. We were finally ready to visit the pet shelter, our family dog having died six mo
nths ago. 5. The car rusted and worthless, I left it at the junkyard.

Directions: Add an absolute phrase to complete each sentence. Remembe

r that you
can create an absolute phrase by having a noun + ing verb OR a noun + ed
verb.
1. ___________________________________, I made it to the airport on time.
2. Susan, ________________________________, rose to her feet and began talking
to the audience.
3. She ran all the way to the playground, ___________________________________