Phrases

Which of these is a prepositional phrase you might find in a sentence?

• The happy dog

• was barking loudly

• under the big oak tree

• my best friend, Alex

Answer explanation

A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition (like 'under') and ends with a noun or pronoun (like 'tree'). 'Under the big oak tree' fits this structure.

True or False: An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right next to it.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is the definition of an appositive. For example, in 'My dog, Fido...', 'Fido' is an appositive that renames 'dog'.

Complete the sentence with a noun phrase: _____ is my favorite thing to do on a Saturday.

• Playing outside with friends

• Is really fun

• Because I am free

• Sleepily

Answer explanation

A noun phrase acts as a noun. 'Playing outside with friends' is a gerund phrase that functions as the subject of the sentence.

In which sentence is the underlined part an absolute phrase?

• The movie finally over, we all stretched and stood up.

• My friend, an amazing artist, drew a picture of my cat.

• The girl singing on stage has a beautiful voice.

• We walked through the crowded hallway to get to class.

Answer explanation

An absolute phrase has its own noun ('movie') and a modifier ('over') and describes the whole sentence. The other options show an appositive, a participial phrase, and a prepositional phrase.

Choose the sentence that correctly uses commas with a nonessential (nonrestrictive) appositive.

• My brother, Leo is waiting for me.

• The planet, Mars, is often called the Red Planet.

• The book that I borrowed is on the table.

• My friend Jenna is in my math class.

Answer explanation

The appositive 'Mars' is extra information since there is only one planet being discussed, so it should be set off by commas. In 'My friend Jenna', the name is essential if you have more than one friend.

The prepositional phrase 'at night' acts as an adverb phrase in which sentence?

• The stars at night are incredibly bright.

• I love the sound of crickets at night.

• Owls are known to hunt for food at night.

• The moon's glow at night is very calming.

Answer explanation

In this sentence, 'at night' tells *when* the owls hunt, modifying the verb 'hunt', so it's an adverb phrase. In the other options, it describes a noun (stars, crickets, glow), making it an adjective phrase.

True or False: An absolute phrase modifies a single noun or verb, not the entire main clause of the sentence.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

An absolute phrase modifies the entire main clause, providing additional context or information about the whole situation.

Complete the sentence by selecting the entire verb phrase: She _____ for the bus for ten minutes.

• has been waiting

• been waiting

• waiting

• has waiting

Answer explanation

The verb phrase includes all helping verbs ('has,' 'been') and the main verb ('waiting'). The other options are incomplete or grammatically incorrect.

In the sentence, 'The winner of the race, a quiet girl from my class, seemed surprised,' what does the appositive phrase 'a quiet girl from my class' rename?

• race

• class

• winner

• girl

Answer explanation

The appositive phrase 'a quiet girl from my class' gives more information about the noun 'winner'.

Complete the sentence with the best absolute phrase: _____, the team celebrated their victory.

• The final whistle blowing

• Because the final whistle blew

• Blowing the final whistle

• The final whistle that blew

Answer explanation

This is a correctly formed absolute phrase with a noun ('whistle') and a present participle ('blowing'). The other options are a dependent clause, a misplaced participial phrase, and a clause fragment.