Participial/Gerund Phrases Review

Going to the beach this summer will be a lot of fun.

• Participial phrase

• Gerund phrase

Answer explanation

Going to the beach this summer is the subject of the verb "will be."

Helpful Hint: A gerund phrase that starts a sentence is never followed by a comma.

Smiling proudly, the little boy pointed to his new toys.

• Participial phrase

• Gerund phrase

Answer explanation

Smiling proudly modifies the noun "boy."

Helpful Hint: A participial phrase that starts a sentence is always followed by a comma.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

The dog, wagging his tail wildly, bounded out to meet us.

• Participial phrase

• Gerund phrase

Answer explanation

Wagging his tail wildly modifies the noun "dog."

Helpful Hint: If a participial phrase does not start the sentence, it usually follows right after the noun it modifies.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

The team has a slim chance of finishing in the top four.

• Participial phrase

• Gerund phrase

Answer explanation

Finishing in the top four is the object of the preposition in the prepositional phrase "of finishing in the top four."

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

The little boy stomped into his room, slamming the door behind him.

• Participial phrase

• Gerund phrase

Answer explanation

Slamming the door behind him modifies the noun "boy."

Caution: While modifiers should generally be as close as possible to the words they modify, some participial phrases are not right next to the words they modify.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

My least favorite part of this job is scraping the paint off the woodwork.

• Participial phrase

• Gerund phrase

Answer explanation

Scraping the paint off the woodwork is the predicate nominative. It completes the linking verb "is" and renames the subject, "part."

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Searching for an answer, I looked in a current dictionary.

• Participial phrase

• Gerund phrase

Answer explanation

Searching for an answer modifies the pronoun "I."

Helpful Hint: A participial phrase that starts a sentence is always followed by a comma.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

News reported by the tabloids is often fictitious.

• Participial phrase

• Gerund phrase

Answer explanation

Reported by the tabloids modifies the noun "news."

Helpful Hint: If a participial phrase does not start the sentence, it usually follows right after the noun it modifies.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

The growling of the chained dogs made me uneasy.

• Participial phrase

• Gerund phrase

Answer explanation

Growling of the chained dogs is the subject of the verb made.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Campfires built with your own hands give you a sense of accomplishment.

• Participial phrase

• Gerund phrase

Answer explanation

Built with your own hands modifies the noun "campfire."

Helpful Hint: If a participial phrase does not start the sentence, it usually follows right after the noun it modifies.

Caution: Some past tense participles, such as "built," are irregular.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.1B