Sentence Power Phrases

Question 1

The dog barking (in the apartment) kept me awake.

Answer 1

Adverbial prepositional phrase (nested into barking’s adjectival ppp)

Question 2

[Under the floor (of the porch)] remained off-limits to the children.

Answer 2

Nominative (prepositional) phrase

with nested adjectival prepositional phrase

Question 3

Bill awoke

relieved [from the stress (of the previous day)]) and (prepared [to meet his adversary]

Answer 3

(relieved) (prepared) adverbial prepositional phrases
[from the stress] adverbial prepositional phrase
(of the previous day) adjectival prepositional phrase
[to meet his adversary] adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 4

… grasshoppers (to jump into the air)

Answer 4

Adjectival infinitive phrase

with nested adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 5

The potential (for inventing a whole new self) is beginning to interest me.

Answer 5

Adjectival present participial phrase

Question 6

Questions ADVERBIAL prepositional phrases answer

Answer 6

Under what conditions does it operate?

how, when, why, where, when

Question 7

To test whether a present participle is part of a progressive tense construction

(The potential for inventing a whole new self is beginning to interest me)

Answer 7

Change the participle verb’s tense – does the sentence still work?

x: “is beginning” to begins or began still works, so part of the active verb, not a descriptive phrase

Question 8

A board [nailed (to the inside [of the kitchen door])]

Answer 8

Adjectival prepositional phrase (past participle)
with nested adverbial prepositional phrase
with nested adjectival prepositional phrase

Question 9

I could begin [to consider the problem (of the horse)].

Answer 9

Nominative infinitive phrase

Adjectival prepositional phrase

Question 10

(To see) a movie for the sake of a thrill does not interest me.

Answer 10

“Simple subject,” Nominative infinitive

Question 11

winds blow (with sudden gusts)

Answer 11

Adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 12

Top (of the line)

Answer 12

Adjectival prepositional phrase

Question 13

The picture (above the chair) contains four shades (of red).

Answer 13

Adjectival prepositional phrases (2)

Question 14

She (pointed to) the trees.

Answer 14

Phrasal verb

Question 15

Question to find direct object

Answer 15

(verb acted on) what? (who?)

Question 16

The dog buried the bone (under the porch).

Answer 16

Adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 17

(In the evenings), kerosene lamps threw subdued yellow light.

Answer 17

Adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 18

Tom went to the movies [to see something (that would give him a thrill )].

Answer 18

Adverbial infinitive phrase

with nested adjectival clause?

Question 19

Can you recommend a good book [to read (at the beach)].

Answer 19

Adjectival infinitive phrase

with nested adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 20

[Swimming (in the mountain stream)] remained a powerful memory

Answer 20

Nominative present participial phrase

with nested adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 21

Anne wanted to read the book [discussed (at the meeting last night].

Answer 21

Adjectival past participial phrase

with nested adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 22

It remained (off limits)

Answer 22

Adjectival prepositional phrase acting as subject complement

Question 23

(On the grass), it lay

Answer 23

Adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 24

The man drowned [swimming (in the ocean) (against the rip tide)] and [fighting a current (that could not be beaten)].

Answer 24

2 Adverbial present participial phrases

(swimming) w/2 adverbial prepositional phrases
(fighting) w/1 adjectival prepositional phrases

Question 25

The car (near the station) has a hood (with an antique ornament [on top (of it)]).

Answer 25

Adjectival prepositional phrases (3)

Question 26

The woman [swimming (in the ocean) (with her daughter’s inflatable wings)] looked like an angel.

Answer 26

Adjectival participial phrase

with nested 2 adverbial prepositional phrases

Question 27

Bill awoke (relieved [to be alive])

Answer 27

Adverbial past participial phrase

with nested adverbial infinitive phrase

Question 28

The dog (barking in the apartment) kept me awake.

Answer 28

Adjectival present participial phrase

Question 29

(In the evening), I like to sit [in front (of the fire)].

Answer 29

2 Adverbial prepositional phrases (for sit)

adjectival prepositional phrase (for front)

Question 30

The dog (in the neighbor’s yard) barked (at the moon).

Answer 30

Adjectival prepositional phrase (for dog)

adverbial prepositional phrase (for barked)

Question 31

(To see a movie for the sake of a thrill) does not interest me.

Answer 31

Nominative infinitive phrase with nested adverbial prepositional phrase with nested adjectival prepositional phrase nested)

Question 32

He made it his business [to take nothing (on trust)].

Answer 32

Adjectival infinitive phrase

with nested adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 33

(Excavating around the horse) was hard.

Answer 33

Present participle as subject noun

with nested adjectival phrase

Question 34

A brass knocker (on the front door) was a replica [of a gargoyle (at Notre Dame de Paris)].

Answer 34

Adjectival prepositional phrases (3)

Question 35

I like [to ski] (on snow-covered slopes).

Answer 35

Nominative infinitive phrase

Adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 36

The movie [to see (for a real thrill)] is Gravity.

Answer 36

Adjectival infinitive phrase

with nested adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 37

The man stole the box (of cereal) [to feed his hungry family].

Answer 37

Adjectival prepositional phrase
adverbial infinitive phrase
(feed is transitive verb, so takes an object)