Identifying Participial Phrases

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

Yawning widely, the student struggled to stay awake in class.

• in class

• struggled to stay

• yawning widely

• to stay awake

Answer explanation

The participial phrase "yawning widely" describes the student and provides context for the action. It functions as an adjective, modifying the noun "student" in the sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

Opening the book to the last page, Sally read the ending first.

• opening the book

• read the ending

• ending first

• opening the book to the last page

Answer explanation

The participial phrase "opening the book to the last page" describes what Sally was doing while reading. It provides context to the action and includes the participle "opening" along with its object and modifiers.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

Sweeping across the night sky, the bats hunted their prey.

• sweeping across

• hunted their prey

• sweeping across the night sky

• across the night sky

Answer explanation

The participial phrase in the sentence is "sweeping across the night sky". It describes the action of the bats and provides context, functioning as an adjective to modify the subject.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

The horse trotting up to the fence hopes that you have an apple or carrot.

• trotting up

• trotting up to the fence

• hopes that you have

• have an apple or carrot

Answer explanation

The participial phrase describes the horse's action. "Trotting up to the fence" modifies "the horse" and provides more detail about what it is doing, making it the correct choice.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

Catching the stick in mid-air, my dog Spot trotted proudly back to me.

(a)  

Answer explanation

The participial phrase in the sentence is "Catching the stick in mid-air". It describes the action of the subject (my dog Spot) and provides context for the main clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

The girl wearing the blue shirt ran down the hallway.

• ran down the hallway

• wearing the blue shirt

• down the hallway

• the girl wearing

Answer explanation

The participial phrase modifies 'the girl' and describes her. 'Wearing the blue shirt' provides additional information about the girl, making it the correct choice. The other options do not function as participial phrases.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

Before she left, my mom told us about the new library planned for this neighborhood.

• told us about

• about the new library

• planned for this neighborhood

• Before she left

Answer explanation

The participial phrase "planned for this neighborhood" describes the new library and contains a past participle. It provides additional information about the library, distinguishing it from the other options.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

Startled by the number of competitors, Carlos became nervous as reviewed his notes for the debate.

• reviewed his notes

• Startled by the number of competitors

• for the debate

• Startled by the number

Answer explanation

The participial phrase "Startled by the number of competitors" describes Carlos and provides context for his nervousness. It begins with the participle "Startled" and includes its modifiers, making it the correct choice.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

The children playing in the park belong to the school next door.

• playing in the park

• school next door

• belong to the school

• in the park

Answer explanation

The participial phrase "playing in the park" describes the children and provides additional information about them. It functions as an adjective, modifying the noun 'children'.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A

Identify the participial phrase in the following sentence:

That juice, derived from the leaves of the aloe plant, is used to treat burns.

(a)  

Answer explanation

The participial phrase in the sentence is 'derived from the leaves of the aloe plant.' It describes the noun 'juice' and provides additional information about its origin.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.8.1A