Worksheet for identifying gerund and participial phrases in sentences.
Exercise 16 worksheet on Gerund and Participial Phrases with sentences for analysis and answers.
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Step-by-step solution for: Gerund Phrase worksheet
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Step-by-step solution for: Gerund Phrase worksheet
This exercise asks you to identify whether the underlined (or in this case, the bolded/italicized) phrase in each sentence is a Gerund Phrase or a Participial Phrase.
Let's break down the difference first:
* Gerund Phrase: A phrase that begins with a gerund (a verb ending in *-ing* that functions as a noun). The entire phrase acts as a subject, object, or complement.
* Example: `Swimming in the ocean` is fun. (`Swimming in the ocean` = subject, noun phrase)
* Example: I enjoy `reading books`. (`reading books` = object, noun phrase)
* Participial Phrase: A phrase that begins with a present participle (a verb ending in *-ing*) or a past participle (often ending in *-ed*, *-en*, *-t*) and functions as an adjective. It modifies a noun or pronoun.
* Example: `Running quickly`, the dog chased the ball. (`Running quickly` = describes "the dog", adjective phrase)
* Example: The man `wearing a hat` is my uncle. (`wearing a hat` = describes "the man", adjective phrase)
Now, let's analyze each sentence:
---
1. Being a gymnast, Tada knew the importance of exercise.
* Phrase: "Being a gymnast"
* Analysis: This phrase describes *who Tada is*. It modifies the subject "Tada". It tells us *what kind of person* Tada is. It functions as an adjective.
* Answer: Participial Phrase
---
2. Jonathan won the European Cup by scoring during extra time.
* Phrase: "scoring during extra time"
* Analysis: The phrase "by scoring..." explains *how* Jonathan won. It modifies the verb "won" (answering "How?"). However, the core of the phrase is "scoring", which is acting as the object of the preposition "by". Since "scoring" is functioning as a noun here (the thing he did *by*), it's a gerund.
* Answer: Gerund Phrase
---
3. Her great achievement was winning a Sudoku contest.
* Phrase: "winning a Sudoku contest"
* Analysis: This phrase is the subject complement (predicate nominative). It renames or describes the subject "Her great achievement". The whole phrase acts as a noun. "Winning" is the main word, functioning as a noun.
* Answer: Gerund Phrase
---
4. Dada, reading a classic poem collection, drifted in and out of sleep.
* Phrase: "reading a classic poem collection"
* Analysis: This phrase is set off by commas and describes *what Dada was doing* while drifting in and out of sleep. It modifies the subject "Dada". It functions as an adjective.
* Answer: Participial Phrase
---
5. Dan promised himself to quit getting up late.
* Phrase: "getting up late"
* Analysis: This phrase is the object of the verb "quit". "Quit" is followed by a gerund ("getting") because "quit" requires a noun-like object. "Getting up late" is the thing Dan promised to stop doing. It functions as a noun.
* Answer: Gerund Phrase
---
6. Removing his last piece of clothes, Jack found out that the weather is very cold.
* Phrase: "Removing his last piece of clothes"
* Analysis: This phrase describes *what Jack was doing* when he found out about the weather. It modifies the subject "Jack". It functions as an adjective, telling us the circumstance under which the main action happened.
* Answer: Participial Phrase
---
7. She pretended not to see her brother jumping into the river.
* Phrase: "jumping into the river"
* Analysis: This phrase modifies the noun "brother". It describes *what the brother was doing*. It functions as an adjective.
* Answer: Participial Phrase
---
8. Telling your father the secret was a mistake.
* Phrase: "Telling your father the secret"
* Analysis: This phrase is the subject of the sentence. It's the thing that "was a mistake". The whole phrase acts as a noun. "Telling" is the main word, functioning as a noun.
* Answer: Gerund Phrase
---
9. Talking to the nurse while walking hurriedly, the doctor caught his foot on a step.
* Phrase: "Talking to the nurse while walking hurriedly"
* Analysis: This phrase describes *what the doctor was doing* when he caught his foot. It modifies the subject "the doctor". It functions as an adjective, providing context for the main action.
* Answer: Participial Phrase
---
10. Fighting with the immortal enemy depressed the prince.
* Phrase: "Fighting with the immortal enemy"
* Analysis: This phrase is the subject of the sentence. It's the thing that "depressed the prince". The whole phrase acts as a noun. "Fighting" is the main word, functioning as a noun.
* Answer: Gerund Phrase
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1. Participial Phrase
2. Gerund Phrase
3. Gerund Phrase
4. Participial Phrase
5. Gerund Phrase
6. Participial Phrase
7. Participial Phrase
8. Gerund Phrase
9. Participial Phrase
10. Gerund Phrase
Let's break down the difference first:
* Gerund Phrase: A phrase that begins with a gerund (a verb ending in *-ing* that functions as a noun). The entire phrase acts as a subject, object, or complement.
* Example: `Swimming in the ocean` is fun. (`Swimming in the ocean` = subject, noun phrase)
* Example: I enjoy `reading books`. (`reading books` = object, noun phrase)
* Participial Phrase: A phrase that begins with a present participle (a verb ending in *-ing*) or a past participle (often ending in *-ed*, *-en*, *-t*) and functions as an adjective. It modifies a noun or pronoun.
* Example: `Running quickly`, the dog chased the ball. (`Running quickly` = describes "the dog", adjective phrase)
* Example: The man `wearing a hat` is my uncle. (`wearing a hat` = describes "the man", adjective phrase)
Now, let's analyze each sentence:
---
1. Being a gymnast, Tada knew the importance of exercise.
* Phrase: "Being a gymnast"
* Analysis: This phrase describes *who Tada is*. It modifies the subject "Tada". It tells us *what kind of person* Tada is. It functions as an adjective.
* Answer: Participial Phrase
---
2. Jonathan won the European Cup by scoring during extra time.
* Phrase: "scoring during extra time"
* Analysis: The phrase "by scoring..." explains *how* Jonathan won. It modifies the verb "won" (answering "How?"). However, the core of the phrase is "scoring", which is acting as the object of the preposition "by". Since "scoring" is functioning as a noun here (the thing he did *by*), it's a gerund.
* Answer: Gerund Phrase
---
3. Her great achievement was winning a Sudoku contest.
* Phrase: "winning a Sudoku contest"
* Analysis: This phrase is the subject complement (predicate nominative). It renames or describes the subject "Her great achievement". The whole phrase acts as a noun. "Winning" is the main word, functioning as a noun.
* Answer: Gerund Phrase
---
4. Dada, reading a classic poem collection, drifted in and out of sleep.
* Phrase: "reading a classic poem collection"
* Analysis: This phrase is set off by commas and describes *what Dada was doing* while drifting in and out of sleep. It modifies the subject "Dada". It functions as an adjective.
* Answer: Participial Phrase
---
5. Dan promised himself to quit getting up late.
* Phrase: "getting up late"
* Analysis: This phrase is the object of the verb "quit". "Quit" is followed by a gerund ("getting") because "quit" requires a noun-like object. "Getting up late" is the thing Dan promised to stop doing. It functions as a noun.
* Answer: Gerund Phrase
---
6. Removing his last piece of clothes, Jack found out that the weather is very cold.
* Phrase: "Removing his last piece of clothes"
* Analysis: This phrase describes *what Jack was doing* when he found out about the weather. It modifies the subject "Jack". It functions as an adjective, telling us the circumstance under which the main action happened.
* Answer: Participial Phrase
---
7. She pretended not to see her brother jumping into the river.
* Phrase: "jumping into the river"
* Analysis: This phrase modifies the noun "brother". It describes *what the brother was doing*. It functions as an adjective.
* Answer: Participial Phrase
---
8. Telling your father the secret was a mistake.
* Phrase: "Telling your father the secret"
* Analysis: This phrase is the subject of the sentence. It's the thing that "was a mistake". The whole phrase acts as a noun. "Telling" is the main word, functioning as a noun.
* Answer: Gerund Phrase
---
9. Talking to the nurse while walking hurriedly, the doctor caught his foot on a step.
* Phrase: "Talking to the nurse while walking hurriedly"
* Analysis: This phrase describes *what the doctor was doing* when he caught his foot. It modifies the subject "the doctor". It functions as an adjective, providing context for the main action.
* Answer: Participial Phrase
---
10. Fighting with the immortal enemy depressed the prince.
* Phrase: "Fighting with the immortal enemy"
* Analysis: This phrase is the subject of the sentence. It's the thing that "depressed the prince". The whole phrase acts as a noun. "Fighting" is the main word, functioning as a noun.
* Answer: Gerund Phrase
---
Final Answers:
1. Participial Phrase
2. Gerund Phrase
3. Gerund Phrase
4. Participial Phrase
5. Gerund Phrase
6. Participial Phrase
7. Participial Phrase
8. Gerund Phrase
9. Participial Phrase
10. Gerund Phrase
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of gerund phrases worksheet.
