Parts of Speech: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives

Read this passage, and highlight any participial phrases. "The alarm clock, dented from too many tumbles off the nightstand, buzzed insistently. Akiko hit the snooze button. Stretching her arms above her head, Akiko yawned. She didn't want to get up, but Mom expected her to get breakfast ready. " Which phrases from the passage are participial phrases? Check all that apply

-"dented from too many tumbles off the nightstand" -"stretching her arms above her head"

Which are true about participles? Check all that apply.

-Participles modify nouns. -Participles modify pronouns.

Which sentence contains a gerund?

-With all the walking, you must be tired. -Watching television is my favorite way to relax. -Yawning can be contagious.

Read the sentence. "The teenagers went to town to muse over whether going to college or to university was the better choice." Which part of the sentence is an infinitive?

to muse

Choose the best phrase to complete the sentence. During the summer, she likes _________ her soccer skills so that she is ready to play in the fall.

to practice

Present participle

-the blushing bride -a wilting rose

past participle

-the broken glass -the sifted flour

not a participle

-the kitchen timer -pale blue sweater

Read the sentence. "Materializing from the mist, the alarm warned the ship to steer quickly to the right of the rocks." Why is the sentence grammatically incorrect?

It places the participial phrase in the wrong place.

When a sentence includes a participial phrase, the phrase functions as a(n)

adjective

To avoid confusion from a misplaced modifier, a participial phrase should be placed

next to the noun it describes

Read the sentence. "Scheduled too hectically, the misbegotten tour zigzagging from state to state left the reporter weary from the road." Which part of the sentence is a participial phrase?

scheduled too hectically

Ravi quickly reads MYSTERY novels

this adjective describes a person, place, or thing

Ravi QUICKLY reads mystery novels

this adverb describes how an action is completed

RAVI quickly reads mystery novels

this noun is a person, place, or thing

Ravi quickly READS mystery novels

this verb expresses an action