Phrases Grade8 Topic Assessment Mixed Grade 8 Assessment

Which of these is an absolute phrase?

• The sun setting, we walked home.

• She likes to swim.

• The dog barked loudly.

• The boy with the red hat.

Answer explanation

An absolute phrase modifies the entire sentence and usually contains a noun and a participle.

What does an absolute phrase modify?

• A noun only

• The entire sentence

• A verb only

• A prepositional phrase

Answer explanation

An absolute phrase provides additional context to the entire sentence.

Complete the sentence: Her voice _____, she calmed the baby.

• softening

• softened

• soften

• softly

Answer explanation

In this absolute phrase, 'softening' acts as a participle providing additional information to the main clause.

Which sentence correctly uses an absolute phrase?

• She walked quickly, her heart beating fast.

• She walked quickly because she was nervous.

• Her heart beating fast.

• She walked quickly, she was nervous.

Answer explanation

The absolute phrase 'her heart beating fast' provides additional context to the main clause.

Which part of speech does an absolute phrase usually contain?

• Noun + participle

• Verb + adverb

• Adjective + noun

• Conjunction + verb

Answer explanation

An absolute phrase typically includes a noun and a participle to modify the entire sentence.

True or False: An appositive provides additional information about a noun.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Appositives add extra information about a noun, often in the form of a noun or noun phrase.

Identify the appositive in the following sentence: The city of New York, a bustling metropolis, never sleeps.

• The city of New York

• a bustling metropolis

• never sleeps

• sleeps

Answer explanation

The appositive 'a bustling metropolis' gives more information about 'The city of New York'.

Which sentence has a correctly punctuated appositive phrase?

• My friend Jake loves to skateboard.

• Jake, my friend loves to skateboard.

• My friend, Jake loves to skateboard.

• My friend, Jake, loves to skateboard.

Answer explanation

The appositive 'Jake' is correctly punctuated with commas.

Complete the sentence: My brother, _____, is visiting next week.

• a talented musician

• he plays the guitar

• who is a talented musician

• playing the guitar

Answer explanation

An appositive phrase 'a talented musician' provides more information about 'my brother'.

Which phrase in the following sentence is an appositive phrase? 'The river, a vital water source, flows through the valley.'

• The river

• a vital water source

• flows through the valley

• the valley

Answer explanation

The appositive phrase 'a vital water source' describes 'the river'.