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.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.1A

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.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

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.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

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.8.1A

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.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

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.8.1A

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.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

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.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

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.8.1A

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.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A