Phrases -1

 Identify the verb phrases in the following sentences. State whether they are main verb phrases, present participle phrases, past participle phrases or gerunds. 

 

1. Encouraged by her coach’s praise, Melody repeated her routine on the balance beam. 

encouraged by her coach’s praise: past participle phrase, modifies Melody repeated her routine on the balance beam: Main verb phrase, past tense verb form.

 2. Barbara has persuaded the ticket agent to let her on the plane scheduled to depart immediately. 

has persuaded the ticket agent to let her on the plane (main verb phrase, past tense verb form) Note: the ticket agent is a noun phrase, the direct object of persuaded, and it is followed by a string of modifiers. In the sentences below, I will point out direct objects and treat them as parts of the verb phrase. However, if you don’t include them in the verb phrase at this stage, it’s OK. 

3. Though bitten by mosquitoes, the hikers smiled as they neared the peak. bitten by mosquitoes: 

Past participle phrase modifying the hikers. smiled as they neared the peak: Main verb phrase, past tense verb form. As they neared the peak is an adverb clause which modifies smiled, but we haven’t studied clauses yet, so you don’t need to worry about this too much at this stage. neared the peak: Main verb phrase, past tense verb form. The peak is the direct object of neared. 

4. Described as almost a saint by his mother, Ernesto tried to live up to her expectations. 

described as almost a saint by his mother: Past participle phrase modifying Ernesto. tried to live up to her expectations: Main verb phrase, past tense verb form. To live up to her expectations is an infinitive phrase modifying live up; technically it is a verb phrase, but I did not ask you to identify infinitive phrases for this exercise. 

5. The jade Buddha reclining in the hall was one of three gifts sent by Sri Lankan monks.

 reclining in the hall: Present participle phrase modifying the jade Buddha. was: Main verb phrase, past tense verb form. sent by Sri Lankan monks: Past participle phrase modifying gifts. 

6. Daydreaming about wooden boats was occupying more of Antonio’s time. 

Daydreaming about wooden boats: Gerund phrase—it looks like a past participle phrase, but it is functioning as a noun phrase, the subject of the sentence. was occupying more of Antonio’s time: Main verb phrase, the auxiliary + the main verb = present progressive. More of Antonio’s time is the direct object of was occupying. 

7. Buried in a mud slide, their Jaguar presented a pathetic sight. buried in a mud slide: 

Past participle phrase, modifying their Jaguar. presented a pathetic sight: Main verb phrase, past tense verb form. A pathetic sight is the direct object of presented.

 8. Jane found the family cabin occupied by strangers. found: 

Main verb phrase, past tense verb form. The family cabin is the direct object of found. occupied by strangers: Past participle phrase modifying the family cabin.

 9. Allegedly haunted by ghosts, the Victorian mansion was on the market for years. 

allegedly haunted by ghosts: Past participle phrase modifying the Victorian mansion. was on the market for years: Main verb phrase, past tense verb form. 

10. Divers searching for pearls discovered the underwater ruins mistakenly believed by some to be part of Atlantis. 

searching for pearls: Present participle phrase modifying divers. discovered the underwater ruins mistakenly believed by some to be part of Atlantis: Main verb phrase,   past tense verb form. Everything after discovered is its direct object of discovered. mistakenly believed by some to be part of Atlantis: Past participle phrase modifying ruins. Everything after believed is part of a prepositional phrase modifying believed. To be part of Atlantis is an infinitive phrase modifying believed, but I did not ask you to identify infinitive phrases for this exercise. 

11. Leaving for his night job, Harry saw a UFO in the sky. leaving for his night job:

 Present participle phrase modifying Harry. saw a UFO in the sky: Main verb phrase, past tense verb form. A UFO in the sky is the direct object of saw. 

12. The piano technician finally began tuning the piano designated for the student. finally began tuning the piano designated for the student: 

Main verb phrase, past tense form. tuning the piano designated for the student: Either a present participle phrase modifying began or a gerund phrase as the direct object of began—this one’s ambiguous. designated for the student:  Past participle phrase modifying the piano. 

13. Sharon spends many weekends searching for the perfect beach. spends many weekends searching for the perfect beach: 

 Main verb phrase, present tense form. Many weekends and its modifiers are the direct object of spends. searching for the perfect beach:  Present participle phrase, probably modifying spends. 

14. Everyone attending the ethnic festival commented on the intense drumming. attending the ethnic festival: 

Present participle phrase. commented on the intense drumming: Main verb phrase, past tense verb form. drumming: Gerund. The intense drumming is the object of the preposition on. Objects of prepositions must be noun phrases. 

15. The vegetable soup cooking on the stove is for dinner. cooking on the stove: 

Present participle phrase modifying the vegetable soup. is for dinner: Main verb phrase, present tense form.

 

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