prepositional phrase? Appositive phrase? Participial phrase? Gerund phrase? infinitive phrase? Absolute phrase?
Cape Code, a heavily settled peninsula southeast of Boston, has an interesting history.
What is “a heavily settled peninsula southeast of Boston”?
The seventeenth-century Pilgrims were the first Europeans to arrive on Cape Cod.
What is “to arrive on Cape Cod”?
Leaving their native land to colonize America, they expected to land in the colony of Virginia.
What is “Leaving their native land to colonize America”?
Steering a northerly course, the captain sailed the ship to the rocky coast of New England instead.
What is “Steering a northerly course”?
Landing in New England caused much disappointment among the Pilgrims.
What is “Landing in New England”?
Today, homes on Cape Cod still display this famous "weathered" look.
Study these and then let us know what you think about each one above. And please number them, so no one gets confused about which one is which.
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/prepositionalphrase.htm
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/appositive.htm
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/participlephrase.htm
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/gerundphrase.htm
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/infinitivephrase.htm
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/absolutephrase.htm
In the given sentences:
1. Cape Cod, a heavily settled peninsula southeast of Boston, has an interesting history.
The phrase "a heavily settled peninsula southeast of Boston" is an appositive phrase. An appositive phrase is a noun phrase that provides additional information about another noun in the sentence.
2. The seventeenth-century Pilgrims were the first Europeans to arrive on Cape Cod.
The phrase "to arrive on Cape Cod" is an infinitive phrase. An infinitive phrase includes an infinitive verb (in this case, "to arrive") along with any modifiers or complements.
3. Leaving their native land to colonize America, they expected to land in the colony of Virginia.
The phrase "Leaving their native land to colonize America" is a gerund phrase. A gerund phrase begins with a gerund verb form (in this case, "Leaving") and functions as a noun.
4. Steering a northerly course, the captain sailed the ship to the rocky coast of New England instead.
The phrase "Steering a northerly course" is a participial phrase. A participial phrase begins with a participle verb form (in this case, "Steering") and functions as an adjective.
5. Landing in New England caused much disappointment among the Pilgrims.
The phrase "Landing in New England" is a gerund phrase. Similar to sentence 3, it begins with a gerund verb form (in this case, "Landing") and functions as a noun.
6. Today, homes on Cape Cod still display this famous "weathered" look.
There is no phrase in this sentence that matches the given options (prepositional phrase, appositive phrase, participial phrase, gerund phrase, infinitive phrase, absolute phrase).