A detailed quiz on phrases

Explanation: A group of words (more than one) that does not have both the subject and its verb or verb phrase is called a phrase in English. It may have one of the two things though.

Explanation: It is a noun phrase. Every phrase in English has a function to perform in a sentence. If it does not work as a noun, adjective, adverb, verb, conjunction, interjection, or preposition, it is usually not a phrase. It can be a part of a phrase or a clause, but not a phrase.

Explanation: It is an adjective phrase. It has an adverb (very) and an adjective (smart). The first two options are clauses and the last one is a part of a phrase, not a phrase.

Explanation: It is an adjective phrase. The headword of the phrase is an adjective: talented. The other phrases are noun phrases. They all have a noun heading the phrase.

Explanation: It is an infinitive phrase. An infinitive phrase works as a noun, adjective, or adverb. A verb phrase is a combination of an auxiliary verb and a main verb.

Explanation: It is a present participle phrase, working as an adjective by modifying the noun ‘man’.

Explanation: A participle phrase starts with a participle (a past participle or present participle form of a verb) and functions as an adjective or an adverb. It does not function as a noun.

Explanation: A gerund phrase always functions as a noun in a sentence. It starts with a gerund (present participle form of a verb) and is followed by its object, modifier, or both.

Ex – Teaching English is my passion

‘Teaching English’ is a gerund phrase in this sentence. It works as a noun, the subject of the sentence.

Explanation: An infinitive phrase starts with an infinitive (TO V1) and functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.

Ex – The right thing to do now is to do nothing.

The infinitive phrase ‘to do now’ works as an adjective in the sentence, modifying the noun ‘thing’ and giving information about it. The other infinitive phrase ‘to do nothing’ works as a noun (subject complement).

Explanation: A gerund phrase can’t function as an adverb, but the other ones can.

1. Jon died last night. (Noun phrase working as an adverb of time)
2. I am calling you to check on you. (Infinitive phrase working as an adverb of reason)
3. Put the phone on the table. (Prepositional phrase working as an adverb of place)
4. Looking at my father getting emotional, I broke down in tears. (Present participle phrase working as an adverb of reason)

Explanation: The 4 phrases in the sentence are the following:

the meeting = noun phrase
will happen = verb phrase
at the same time = prepositional phrase
in room number 5 = prepositional phrase

Explanation: ‘Very sad’ is an adjective phrase in the sentence.

Explanation: ‘Very fast’ is an adverb phrase in the sentence. It has a head adverb ‘fast’ and its modifier ‘very’.

Explanation: ‘Near my house’ is a prepositional phrase in the sentence. ‘Near is the preposition, and ‘my house’ is its object.

Explanation: The verb phrase in the sentence is ‘do have’. The other sentences have main verbs in them, not verb phrases. The first sentence has ‘make’ as the main verb, and the second has ‘was’ as the main verb.

Explanation: A verb phrase always comes after its subject or the subject of the sentence. It can’t come at the beginning of the sentence.

Explanation: A participle phrase can come at the following positions in a sentence:

• At the beginning
• In the middle
• At the end

Examples:

1. Wanting to apologize for my behavior, I went to Simi’s place in the wee hours.
2. I, wanting to apologize for my behavior, went to Simi’s place in the wee hours.
3. I went to Simi’s place in the wee hours, wanting to apologize for my behavior.

Explanation: When a noun phrase sits next to the subject of a sentence and renames it, it is called an appositive phrase.

Explanation: It is an infinitive phrase that functions as an adverb in the sentence. It tells us the reason for the action as to why they gave me the pills.

To subside = Infinitive
The pain = the object of the infinitive

Explanation: It is a gerund phrase that functions as the object of the verb ‘regret’.