Clauses and Phrases Quiz JN

The sentence below contains underlined words. Choose whether the underlined words are a phrase or a clause. Free summer concerts are held at an amphitheater on an island in the park.

A. Phrase The correct answer is A: PHRASE. The words "on an island" are a prepositional phrase. "On" is a preposition, and "island" is the object of the preposition.

The sentence below contains underlined words. Choose whether the underlined words are a phrase or a clause. Many children who come to play in the water park end up staying to try their hand at painting, dancing or acting in a play.

A. Phrase (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is A: PHRASE. "To try their hand" is an infinitive phrase. "To try" is the infinitive, and "hand" is the object of the infinitive.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. There will be fewer drivers on U.S. roads this Memorial Day weekend for the first time in five years, and AAA is advising that motorists had better fill up soon if they want to save money on gas.

A. Independent clause (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is A: INDEPENDENT CLAUSE. The clause "AAA is advising that motorists had better fill up soon" is an independent clause because it could stand alone as its own sentence.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. Oil prices rose to over $150 a barrel on Tuesday, and motorists are worried.

A. Independent clause (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is A: INDEPENDENT CLAUSE. The clause "Oil prices rose to over $150 a barrel on Tuesday" is an independent clause because it could stand alone as a complete sentence.

A phrase is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what types of phrase it is. The meal, priced at only $5.99, also includes a choice of drink, an information brochure with professional advice on how to stay fit, and a free stepometer.

A. Prepositional phrase (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is A: PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE. "With professional advice" is a prepositional phrase that modifies the noun "brochure." "With" is the preposition, and "advice" is the object of the preposition.

The sentence below contains underlined words. Choose whether the underlined words are a phrase or a clause. The river that runs through downtown, once polluted with garbage, has been cleaned up.

B. Clause The correct answer is B: CLAUSE. The words "that runs through downtown" have to be a clause because they include a subject and verb. The subject is "that," and the verb is "runs."

The sentence below contains underlined words. Choose whether the underlined words are a phrase or a clause. The arts and cultural festival is thriving as city leaders attempt to restore a sense of community.

B. Clause (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is B: CLAUSE. "As city leaders attempt to restore a sense of community" is a dependent clause. "City leaders" is the subject, and "attempt" is the verb.

The sentence below contains underlined words. Choose whether the underlined words are a phrase or a clause. Many children who come to play in the park end up staying to try their hand at painting, dancing or acting in a play.

B. Clause (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is B: CLAUSE. "Who come to play in the park" is a dependent clause. "Who" is the subject of the clause, and "come" is the verb.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. According to a national survey, the number of drivers across the nation this holiday will be about 41 million, which is about 500,000 fewer drivers than last year.

B. Dependent clause (adjective clause) (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is B: DEPENDENT CLAUSE (ADJECTIVE CLAUSE). The clause "which is about 500,000 fewer drivers than last year" is a dependent clause because it can't stand alone. The clause acts as an adjective by telling us more about "41 million."

A phrase is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of phrase it is. To honor the spirit of the Olympic Games, customers can fasten the free stepometer around their waists and try to boost the amount of walking they do each day.

B. Infinitive phrase (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is B: INFINITIVE PHRASE. "To honor the spirit of the Olympic Games" is an infinitive phrase that modifies the verb "can fasten." The phrase tells why people would fasten the stepometer on their waists. "To honor" is the infinitive, and "spirit" is the object of the infinitive.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. There will be fewer drivers on U.S. roads this Memorial Day weekend for the first time in five years, and AAA is advising that motorists had better fill up soon if they want to save money on gas.

C. Dependent clause (adverb clause) (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is C: DEPENDENT CLAUSE (ADVERB CLAUSE). The clause "if they want to save money on gas" is an adverb clause that modifies the verb "fill." The clause tells why drivers had better fill up their tanks soon. Adverb clauses begin with a subordinating conjunction, which in this case is the word "if." The pronoun "they" is the subject of the clause, and "want" is the verb.

A phrase is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of phrase it is. There are many things people can do to stay fit. Using the stairs instead of an elevator is one simple idea.

C. Gerund phrase (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is C: GERUND PHRASE. "Using the stairs" is a gerund phrase that acts as the subject of the second sentence. It's the thing that is one simple idea. "Using" is the gerund, and "stairs" is the object of the gerund.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. Gary Isom of the American Automobile Association said that gas prices will spike again before Friday.

D. Dependent clause (noun clause) (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is D: DEPENDENT CLAUSE (NOUN CLAUSE). The clause "that gas prices will spike again before Friday" is a dependent clause because it can't stand alone as a complete sentence. And it's a noun clause acting as the direct object of the verb "said." The whole clause is the thing that was said.

Clauses can be independent or dependent. A dependent clause can act like a noun, an adjective or an adverb. A clause is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of clause it is. There will be fewer drivers on U.S. roads this Memorial Day weekend for the first time in five years, and AAA is advising that motorists had better fill up soon if they want to save money on gas. Type: Multiple Choice

D. Dependent clause (noun clause) (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is D: DEPENDENT CLAUSE (NOUN CLAUSE). The clause "that motorists had better fill up soon" is a dependent clause because it can't stand alone as a complete sentence. It's a noun clause because the clause acts as a direct object of the verb "is advising." The whole clause is the thing that AAA advises.

A phrase is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of phrase it is. BigBurger's new "Action Meal" includes a salad containing grilled chicken with a balsamic dressing.

D. Participle phrase (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is D: PARTICIPLE PHRASE. "Containing grilled chicken" is a participle phrase that modifies the noun "salad" (participles act like adjectives). "Containing" is the participle, and "chicken" is the object of the participle.

A phrase is underlined in the sentence below. Identify what type of phrase it is. The meal, priced at only $5.99, also includes a drink, an information brochure with professional advice on how to stay fit, and a free stepometer.

D. Participle phrase (correct) Rationale: The correct answer is D: PARTICIPLE PHRASE. "Priced at only $5.99" is a participle phrase that modifies the noun "meal." "Priced" is a past participle, and the rest of the phrase consists of the prepositional phrase "at only $5.99" (so there's a phrase within a phrase here).