Verbal Phrases, Prepositional Phrases, and Appositives

What is the definition of an appositive phrase?

• An appositive phrase is a noun phrase identifying a person, place, or thing named in the sentence. It is the "identifier."

• An appositive phrase is a verb phrase.

• An appositive phrase works like a verb.

What is a participial phrase?

• A person, place, thing or idea.

• A verbal ending in -ing or -ed used to describe. It acts like an adjective describing a noun. It is "the describer."

• A verbal ending in -ing or -ed that acts like a noun.

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence: Blinded by the blaze of spells that had blasted from every direction, Harry blinked and looked down at the floor. (J.K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.)

• Harry blinked

• looked down at the floor

• Blinded by the blaze of spells that had blasted from every direction

• no participial phrase

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

Feeling slightly more cheerful, Harry helped himself to sausages and fried tomatoes. (J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.)

• helped himself to sausages and fried tomatoes.

• Feeling slightly more cheerful

• Harry

• No participial phrase.

Identify the appositive phrase (the identifier) in the following sentence:

Once they were in her office, a small room with a large welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned to Harry and Hermione to sit down. (J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.)

• Once they were in her office

• a small room with a large welcoming fire

• motioned to Harry and Hermione to sit down

• Professor McGonagall motioned

Identify the appositive phrase (the identifier) in the following sentence:

Don Gross was a tough guy, an ex-Marine who had never lost his military manner. (Michael Crichton, Prey)

• Don Gross was a tough guy

• a tough guy

• an ex-Marine who had never lost his military manner

• No appositive phrase

Is the underlined phrase an appositive phrase or a participial phrase?

Feeling so much better after the nap, Gunster dressed and went out.

• appositive phrase

• participial phrase

• neither

Is the underlined phrase an appositive phrase or a participial phrase?

The crocodile, pretending to be a harmless log, glided silently toward her until, without the slightest warning, it intended to snap its powerful jaws over her head. (Rani Manicka, The Rice Mother.)

• participial phrase

• appositive phrase

• neither

Is the underlined phrase an appositive phrase or a participial phrase?

The writer, an old man with a white mustache, had some difficulty getting out of bed. (Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio.)

• participial phrase

• appositive phrase

• neither

Is the underlined phrase an appositive phrase or a participial phrase?

Lou Epstein, the oldest, shortest, and baldest of the three Epstein brothers, barely looked up from the cash register when Alfred entered the store. (Robert Lipsyte, The Contender.)

• appositive phrase

• participial phrase

• neither