The practice exercises on this page are designed to help you understand the concepts in this chapter more fully. These include both interactive exercises and more complex exercises. The list below offers a variety of interactive practice exercises for Chapter 5, covering the key concepts.
The English language is messy, and many times analyzing for grammatical elements is not always as obvious as the simple examples that we use on the content pages. So to assist your ability to analyze all the different texts you may encounter as you read, we want to offer a few more sample analyses of more difficult texts. For these more complicated examples, we review some or all of the key features discussed in Chapter 5. Please review these examples closely, trying to understand the choices made for the analysis. As always, if you have any questions, please ask your instructor or start a conversation in your work group. Analyzing for Prepositional Phrases – Example #1Adapted from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: His house had never seemed so enormous to me as it did that night when we hunted through the great rooms for cigarettes. We pushed aside curtains that were like pavilions, and felt over innumerable feet of dark wall for electric light switches—once I tumbled with a sort of splash upon the keys of a ghostly piano. There was an inexplicable amount of dust everywhere, and the rooms were musty, as though they hadn’t been aired for many days. I found the humidor on an unfamiliar table, with two stale, dry cigarettes inside. Throwing open the French windows of the drawing-room, we sat smoking out into the darkness. For this example, we’ll analyze how each of the prepositional phrases are functioning in the context of the sentence. Begin by identifying the prepositions, verifying it is followed by a nominal only, then determining who the words are “hanging out with”: Prepositional Phrases
Analyzing for Prepositional Phrases – Example #2Adapted from The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie: I took an early opportunity of testing that statement by stationing my friend Monsieur Hastings in the left wing of the building, just outside Mrs. Cavendish’s door. I myself, in company with the police, went to the deceased’s room, and whilst there I, apparently accidentally, knocked over the table in question, but found that, as I had expected, Monsieur Hastings had heard no sound at all. For this example, we’ll analyze how each of the prepositional phrases are functioning in the context of the sentence. Begin by identifying the prepositions, verifying it is followed by a nominal only, then determining who the words are “hanging out with”: Prepositional Phrases
Note on Other Elements
Prepositions are structure-class words that, in a prepositional phrase, precede a nominal, which is the object of the preposition. Together, the preposition and its object form a unit that can modify words, phrases, clauses, or whole sentences. To repeat from an earlier discussion, simple prepositions consist of one word. Common simple prepositions include
Many of these words can also do double duty as subordinators, so be sure you can tell the difference.
Phrasal prepositions consist of two or more words. Common phrasal prepositions include
Prepositions occur before a nominal (in the “pre-position”): under the blanketover the toptogether with the green shirt
Most commonly, prepositional phrases function adjectivally or adverbially, but only rarely do they function nominally. You can use the following flow charts to help guide your analysis:
Prepositional phrases can modify words, phrases, clauses, or whole sentences:
We hurried to the store.Preposition to + nominal the store = prepositional phrase. It is functioning adverbially to modify HURRIED. The book with the green cover looks interesting.Preposition with + nominal the green cover = prepositional phrase. It is functioning adjectivally to modify BOOK. Here are some other examples from Tarzan of the Apes: The fact is that in the telling of it to you I have taken fictitious names for the principal characters.
While we normally analyze prepositional phrases individually, we can also see the first three prepositional phrases as a single adverbial because we can remove it or move it around and the sentence will still make sense:
So I give you the story as I painstakingly pieced it out from these several various agencies.
We can test this analysis by removing it or moving it around:
Also, while AS is oftentimes a preposition, in this case it is a subordinator, preceding a clause and marking it as a subordinate clause From the records, we learn that a certain young English nobleman was commissioned to make an inquiry.
Introductory phrases, prepositional phrases or non-finite verb phrases, are most often adverbial. That placement in a sentence is a KEY MARKER. Finally, you should be able to distinguish between the preposition TO and the infinitive marker TO: Jane ran to first base.Jane tried to run towards first base. Don’t confuse an infinitive with a prepositional phrase beginning with to:Infinitives (TO + VERB in its base form):
Prepositional Phrases (TO + NOMINAL):
Because some words can by used as either nouns or verbs, you may encounter ambiguous constructions: Mom leaves estate to murder defendant. You should be able to analyze the above headline and describe all the ambiguities, especially the problem of to as an infinitive or to as a preposition.
This chapter will further explore the complexity of our language by introducing a second set of key phrasal modifiers: prepositional phrases. Prepositional phrases include a preposition and a nominal object of the preposition.
Prepositional phrases function primarily adjectivally or adverbially and fit into these FUNCTION SLOTS as phrases.
The English language is messy, and many times analyzing for grammatical elements is not always as obvious as the simple examples that we use on the content pages. So to assist your ability to analyze all the different texts you may encounter as you read, we want to offer a few more sample analyses of more difficult texts. For these more complicated examples, we review some or all of the key features discussed in Chapter 4. Please review these examples closely, trying to understand the choices made for the analysis. As always, if you have any questions, please ask your instructor or start a conversation in your work group. Analyzing for Nonfinite Verb Phrases – Example #1Adapted from Walden by Henry David Thoreau: After a still winter night I awoke with the impression that some question had been put to me, which I had been endeavoring in vain to answer in my sleep, as what—how—when—where? But there was dawning Nature, in whom all creatures live, looking in at my broad windows with serene and satisfied face, and no question on her lips. I awoke to an answered question, to Nature and daylight. The snow lying deep on the earth dotted with young pines, and the very slope of the hill on which my house is placed, seemed to say, Forward! Nature puts no question and answers none which we mortals ask. She has long ago taken her resolution. “O Prince, our eyes contemplate with admiration and transmit to the soul the wonderful and varied spectacle of this universe. The night veils without doubt a part of this glorious creation; but day comes to reveal to us this great work, which extends from earth even into the plains of the ether.” For this example, we’ll analyze the form and function of the nonfinite verb phrases in the passage. Begin by identifying the key markers for nonfinite verb phrases (TO infinitive marker; -ing inflection; -en inflection; -ed inflection) without tense. And remember to pay attention to context, to who the words are “hanging out with”:
After a still winter night I awoke with the impression that some question had been put to me, which I had been endeavoring in vain to answer in my sleep, as what—how—when—where? But there was dawning Nature, in whom all creatures live, looking in at my broad windows with serene and satisfied face, and no question on her lips. I awoke to an answered question, to Nature and daylight. The snow lying deep on the earth dotted with young pines, and the very slope of the hill on which my house is placed, seemed to say, Forward! Nature puts no question and answers none which we mortals ask. She has long ago taken her resolution. “O Prince, our eyes contemplate with admiration and transmit to the soul the wonderful and varied spectacle of this universe. The night veils without doubt a part of this glorious creation; but day comes to reveal to us this great work, which extends from earth even into the plains of the ether.”
Nonfinite Verb Phrases
Analyzing for Nonfinite Verb Phrases – Example #2Adapted from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, but Charlotte’s kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; its object was nothing else than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins’s addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such was Miss Lucas’s scheme; and appearances were so favourable, that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost secure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon. But here she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success might be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. For this example, we’ll analyze the form and function of the nonfinite verb phrases in the passage. Begin by identifying the key markers for nonfinite verb phrases (TO infinitive marker; -ing inflection; -en inflection; -ed inflection) without tense. And remember to pay attention to context, to who the words are “hanging out with”: Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, but Charlotte’s kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; its object was nothing else than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins’s addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such was Miss Lucas’s scheme; and appearances were so favourable, that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost secure of success if he had not been about to leave Hertfordshire so very soon. But here she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success might be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. Nonfinite Verb Phrases
A gerund phrase begins with a participle verb that has an -ing inflection but functions as a nominal only. Remember, a gerund phrase is NOT a main verb phrase if an auxiliary does not precede the gerund, and the headword is the gerund itself. Since gerunds are always nominal, a gerund phrase can occupy any noun position (nominal FUNCTION SLOT) in a clause. The most common are subject, direct object, and object of preposition. SubjectEating my lunch is the best part of my day.SOMETHING is the best part of my day. Direct ObjectI hope that you appreciate my offering you this opportunity.I hope that you appreciate SOMETHING. Object of the PrepositionYou might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work.You might get in trouble for SOMETHING. Gerunds appear in the noun positions of sentences, but because they are not really nouns, they cannot take noun inflections. Eating too many green apples made her sick.*Eatings too many green apples made her sick. On the other hand, some gerunds have become true nouns: Meeting with Henry made her sick.Meetings with Henry made her sick. You should also be able to recognize and tell the difference between a participle and a gerund: Untold numbers of students have succeeded searching online for a way of understanding difficult material in their courses. searching = Adverbial participle phrase, modifying HAVE SUCCEEDEDunderstanding = Gerund (nominal): object of the preposition OF Remember, while they may look the same, Present Participle Phrases always function adjectivally or adverbially, and Gerund Phrases always function nominally.
REMEMBER: non-finite verbs play functional roles in our language (nominal, adjectival, or adverbial). In this respect, nonfinite verbs are never main verb phrases because nonfinite verbs do not have a tense marker. Always keep this in mind as you analyze in context.
A participle phrase is a adjectival or adverbial modifier that begins with a participle verb that has an -ing or -ed inflection. Remember, a participle phrase is NOT a main verb phrase if an auxiliary does not precede the participle, and the headword is the participle itself. A present participle phrase is a verb with the [-ing] morpheme. A verb with an -ing ending at the beginning of a phrase (without an auxiliary) is the KEY MARKER for a present participle phrase. A past participle phrase is a verb with the [-en] or [-ed] morpheme. A verb with an -en or -ed ending at the beginning of a phrase (without an auxiliary) is the KEY MARKER for a past participle phrase. Each of these words can include the complements normally associated with a predicate. The important thing to remember is that the present or past participle is the first word (or headword), or it is the only word, in the phrase, which means that it is NOT preceded by an auxiliary. That is how you recognize it as a present or past participle phrase. The word has the participle inflection, but is not preceded by an auxiliary. If an auxiliary precedes the participle, then it is probably a main verb phrase.
Participle phrases are ALWAYS adverbial or adjectival.
When analyzing for participle phrases, you can test whether or not it is a phrase by substituting a single adjective or adverb which supplies similar information. This substitution test can also help you determine how a participle phrase is functioning in the context of the sentence. As usual, identifying the function of participle phrases begins with proximity: who is the phrase hanging out with? A participle phrase will most often be adjectival if it is a single word and precedes a noun (or is a single word located between a determiner and a noun). A participle phrase, often of more than one word, is adjectival if it follows immediately after and modifies a nominal. And a participle phrase will most often be adverbial if it provides extra information about time or place, but the key tests for determining if a participle phrases is adverbial is always movement and deletion. Participle phrases can modify words, phrases, clauses, or whole sentences:
You can use the following flowcharts to help guide your analysis:
An infinitive is the unmarked base form of the verb, or the form of the verb listed in a dictionary entry. An infinitive phrase is an infinitive verb (usually) preceded by the infinitive marker TO (which is the KEY MARKER) and can include the predicate and its attendant complements from which it is derived. You should be able to locate an infinitive phrase by its key marker: to + verb (in its base form) An infinitive phrase can function as nominal, adjectival, or adverbial:
You should be able to identify all infinitive phrases you see in a sentence: People were amused to watch the monkeys climbing in the trees.
You should be able to identify the function of an infinitive phrase: He even found a place on the board to put his flyer.
NOTE: While it is not a common practice, keep in mind that an infinitive phrase does not require the infinitive marker TO, so you might suspect an infinitive without the marker if a base verb does not have a subject and it is functioning as a modifier. Again, the key is to recognize a verb in its base form, then determining if it has a subject and is serving as the action of that subject. If not, suspect an infinitive phrase with a deleted TO.
Finally, you should be able to distinguish between the preposition TO and the infinitive marker TO.
A nonfinite verb is a verb without tense. There are three forms of nonfinite verb phrase:
Nonfinite Verb Phrases DO NOT occur as part of a main verb phrase and function nominally, adjectivally, or adverbially. Because infinitives, participles, and gerunds are transformed main verbs, they can have all of the same elements in a predicate, such as a direct object, object complement, or other modifiers. Since our goal is to analyze these phrases in the context of their sentence, you need to be able to identify all parts of a nonfinite verb phrase, whether it’s a single word or a much longer phrase:
As you can see, nonfinite verb phrases function either nominally, adjectivally, or adverbially. Therefore they can fit in any of these FUNCTION SLOTS as phrases.