Learning about Phrases
Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and end with the object of the preposition.
Short (______ words) introductory prepositional phrases do not have a comma at the end, unless the
reader could be confused. Long (______ words) introductory prepositional phrases must have a comma
at the end of the phrase.
An infinitive phrase usually begins with the word _______________ followed by _________________ .
Exercise 1:
Circle the prepositional phrases and underline the infinitive phrases. Place commas
where they are needed.
1. To maintain your health you should exercise on a regular basis.
2. Underneath the living room couch we found three dog bones and my homework from Monday.
3. The plan to have a fire drill was cancelled because of the rain.
4. With a sigh Nelda drove away from the high school for the last time.
5. My job at the arboretum was to trim the trees and to water the plants.
Appositive phrases identify, rename, or explain a noun or pronoun. They are placed immediately
before or after the noun or pronoun. If the appositive phrase is essential (restrictive) to the meaning
of the sentence, do not place commas around it. If the appositive phrase is nonessential
(nonrestrictive) to the meaning, place a comma before and after the appositive phrase.
Exercise 2: Underline the appositive or appositive phrase. Place commas where they are needed in
the following sentences:
1. Tom’s wife Molly decided to go back to college for her teaching degree.
2. The television show Under the Dome is one of my favorites.
3. Harvey Coleman a famous magician is coming to town this weekend.
4. I am doing a project about anatomy the study of the structure of one’s body.
5. The chef prepared a pita a Mediterranean sandwich.
Exercise 3:
correctly.
Combine each pair of sentences into one sentence with an appositive phrase. Punctuate
1. My brother graduated from Baylor University. Ben is my brother. Baylor University is an excellent
school.
(I have two brothers.)
2. The quarterback scrambled for a touchdown and won the game. The quarterback is Damon Timms.
3.
William Shakespeare wrote many plays that are still performed and studied today.
He is a famous author.
4. I chose dark green for the shutters on the house. Dark green is my favorite color.
Participles and participial phrases __________________ like verbs, but they are not. Instead they are
_________________________ that modify nouns and pronouns.
Exercise 4:
Underline the participles or participial phrases in these sentences.
Add commas as necessary.
1. Raising his arms in victory Jack sprinted across the finish line to the shouts of the excited crowd. (2)
2. Damaged by an earthquake the Washington Monument was closed for repairs ordered by a team of
engineers. (2)
3. Getting down on one knee Colton proposed to a startled Jessica. (2)
4. The tiny mouse crept into a tree hollowed out by decay. (1)
5. Keeping an eye on the casserole in the oven Mom mashed the steaming potatoes. (2)
Exercise 5:
Combine the two sentences into one sentence containing a participial phrase.
1.
Rob stood on the edge of the precipice. Rob stared at the crashing waves below.
2.
Maria glanced out the kitchen window. Maria was startled to see a policeman run by.
3.
The school bus driver turned down a road. The road was filled with deep potholes.
4.
The tow truck driver swerved in and out of traffic. The tow truck driver headed for the
accident scene.
5.
Les carried his little sister in his arms. Les escaped from the burning house.
6.
The canceled bank check was carried by the tornado.
The canceled bank check landed two hundred miles away.
7.
Sue wore a smile on her face. Sue greeted her guests.
8.
The words were worn by time and weather.
The words on the tombstone were barely readable.
9.
Al chose his words carefully. Al testified in the courtroom.
Learning about Phrases
Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and end with the
object of the preposition.
Short (______ words) introductory prepositional phrases do not have
a comma at the end, unless the reader could be confused.
Long (______ words) introductory prepositional phrases must have a
comma at the end of the phrase.
An infinitive phrase usually begins with the word _______________
followed by _________________ .
Exercise 1: Circle the prepositional phrases and underline the
infinitive phrases. Place commas where they are needed.
1. To maintain your health you should exercise on a regular basis.
2. Underneath the living room couch we found three dog bones and
my homework from Monday.
3. The plan to have a fire drill was cancelled because of the rain.
4. With a sigh Nelda drove away from the high school
for the last time.
5. My job at the arboretum was to trim the trees and
to water the plants.
Appositive phrases identify, rename, or explain a noun or pronoun.
They are placed immediately before or after the noun or pronoun.
If the appositive phrase is essential (restrictive) to the meaning of
the sentence, do not place commas around it. If the appositive
phrase is nonessential (nonrestrictive) to the meaning, place a
comma before and after the appositive phrase.
Exercise 2: Underline the appositive or appositive phrase. Place
commas where they are needed in the following sentences:
1. Tom’s wife Molly decided to go back to college for her teaching
degree.
2. The television show Under the Dome is one of my favorites.
3. Harvey Coleman a famous magician is coming to town this
weekend.
4. I am doing a project about anatomy the study of the structure of
one’s body.
5. The chef prepared a pita a Mediterranean sandwich.
Exercise 3: Combine each pair of sentences into one sentence
with an appositive phrase. Punctuate correctly.
1. My brother graduated from Baylor University.
Ben is my brother.
Baylor University is an excellent school.
(I have two brothers.)
2. The quarterback scrambled for a touchdown and won the game.
The quarterback is Damon Timms.
3.
William Shakespeare wrote many plays that are still performed
and studied today.
He is a famous author.
4. I chose dark green for the shutters on the house.
Dark green is my favorite color.
Participles and participial phrases __________________ like verbs,
but they are not. Instead they are _________________________ that
modify nouns and pronouns.
Exercise 4:
Underline the participles or participial phrases in
these sentences. Add commas as necessary.
1. Raising his arms in victory Jack sprinted across the finish line to
the shouts of the excited crowd. (2)
2. Damaged by an earthquake the Washington Monument was
closed for repairs ordered by a team of engineers. (2)
3. Getting down on one knee Colton proposed to a startled Jessica.
(2)
4. The tiny mouse crept into a tree hollowed out by decay. (1)
5. Keeping an eye on the casserole in the oven Mom mashed the
steaming potatoes. (2)
Exercise 5: Combine the two sentences into one sentence
containing a participial phrase.
1.
Rob stood on the edge of the precipice.
Rob stared at the crashing waves below.
2.
Maria glanced out the kitchen window.
Maria was startled to see a policeman run by.
3.
The school bus driver turned down a road.
The road was filled with deep potholes.
4.
The tow truck driver swerved in and out of traffic.
The tow truck driver headed for the accident scene.
5.
Les carried his little sister in his arms.
Les escaped from the burning house.
6.
The canceled bank check was carried by the tornado.
The canceled bank check landed two hundred miles away.
7.
Sue wore a smile on her face. Sue greeted her guests.
8.
The words were worn by time and weather.
The words on the tombstone were barely readable.
9.
Al chose his words carefully.
Al testified in the courtroom.