Sorry about the multiple question posts I’m just trying to prepare for an upcoming test and I figured the best way to do so is to practice.
In each sentence below, find a participle or participial phrase that modifies the word in parenthesis.
1. Increased demand for food is the result of the growth in the world’s population. (demand)
Answer=food
2. The popular comedian bowed to the laughing audience. (audience)
Answer=laughing
3. The doctor examining me ordered a blood test. (doctor)
Answer=examining me
4. Soothed by the music, Kevin fell asleep in his chair. (Kevin)
Answer= Soothed by the music
5. In the film about endangered species, I saw a bald eagle. (species)
Answer= endangered
Find the participle or participial phrase and the word they modify in the following sentences.
1. Taken for granted by most of us, paper is an essential part of our lives.
PP= Taken for granted by most of us, WM= Paper
2. The paper used today has developed over many centuries.
P= used, WM=Paper
3. Ancient Egyptians wrote on a sheet formed from stalks of a reed.
PP= formed from stalks of a reed, WM=Paper
4. The reed, called papyrus, grew along the Nile River.
P=grew along the Nile River, WM=Papyrus
5. Cut down, the reed stalks were sliced into thin strips.
PP= sliced into thin strips, WM=Reed Stalks
I was so confused by this lesson. I had no clue how to do this!!
In the first section, all of your answers are correct except # 1.
In the second section, only 1 and 3 are correct.
#2 is mostly right, except the participial phrase is "used today."
You're doing well. I'll be glad to check your corrections to the three wrong answers.
Understanding how to identify participles and participial phrases can be challenging, but with practice, you can become more familiar with them.
Participles are verb forms that can function as adjectives, describing or modifying nouns or pronouns. They often end in "-ed" (past participle) or "-ing" (present participle). Participial phrases are phrases that include a participle along with its modifiers and objects.
To find a participle or participial phrase, you can follow these steps:
1. Identify the verb in the sentence.
2. Look for verb forms that end in "-ed" or "-ing" related to the main verb.
3. Determine if the participle or participial phrase is modifying a noun or pronoun in the sentence.
Let's go through the examples you provided to see how to apply this process:
1. Increased demand for food is the result of the growth in the world’s population. (demand)
- The participle here is "increased," which modifies the noun "demand."
2. The popular comedian bowed to the laughing audience. (audience)
- The participial phrase is "laughing audience," where "laughing" describes the noun "audience."
3. The doctor examining me ordered a blood test. (doctor)
- The participial phrase is "examining me," modifying the noun "doctor."
4. Soothed by the music, Kevin fell asleep in his chair. (Kevin)
- The participial phrase here is "soothed by the music," which describes the noun "Kevin."
5. In the film about endangered species, I saw a bald eagle. (species)
- The participle is "endangered," modifying the noun "species."
For the second set of examples, let's apply the same steps:
1. Taken for granted by most of us, paper is an essential part of our lives.
- The participial phrase is "taken for granted by most of us," modifying the noun "paper."
2. The paper used today has developed over many centuries.
- The participle "used" describes the noun "paper."
3. Ancient Egyptians wrote on a sheet formed from stalks of a reed.
- The participial phrase is "formed from stalks of a reed," modifying the noun "sheet."
4. The reed, called papyrus, grew along the Nile River.
- The participle "grew along the Nile River" describes the noun "reed."
5. Cut down, the reed stalks were sliced into thin strips.
- The participial phrase "sliced into thin strips" modifies the noun phrase "reed stalks."
Remember, identifying participles and participial phrases takes practice. By understanding the structure and context of sentences, you'll become better at recognizing these grammar elements.