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Distinguishing between Adverbials, Adjectivals, and Nominals - Exercise 3
 
Directions:  Each sentence contains an underlined item. In the box below each sentence, identify the item as an adjectival, adverbial or nominal. Then identify it as clause or phrase. If it is a phrase, identify it as a prepositional or verbal phrase. If it is a verbal phrase, identify it as a present participle, past participle, gerund or infinitive. When you are finished, click the "Check My Work" button at the bottom of the page to check your answers.

Example:   The crowd clapped for the actor portraying King Lear.
Answer:  adjectival,  verbal phrase,  present participle

1.  They couldn't decide what they wanted for breakfast.



2.  Bill knows a great deal about playing cricket.



3.  Distinguished by his long white beard, the man was hard to miss in the crowd.



4.  Whom the judges choose will depend upon the number of contestants.



5.  Reginald will mow the grass before sundown.



6.   In my study, there is barely enough room to store my books.



7.  Marilyn thoroughly dislikes checking her email each day.



8.   The dress that Melissa is wearing was designed in Paris.



9.  Later, on that very same trip, the truck driver pulled over onto the shoulder of the road.



10.  After several tries, Mac finally learned to pronounce the new word.



11.  The strange little man was in a very good mood.



12.  To keep yourself steady, you must hold onto the rope.



13.  Wearing only his short-sleeved shirt and shorts, Malcolm trudged through the snow.



14.  Braxton, who rarely spoke in public, offered his views on the subject.



15.  Hackers breaking into accounts can cause serious harm to one's email files.



16.  Dave's best hope is to win a bronze medal.



17.  When he picked up his glass, Jim accidentally spilled milk all over the table.



18.  The company has just put out a new set of of kitchen gadgets.



19.  The audience sat patiently while the stage manager repaired the scenery.



20.  Unearthing ancient civilizations takes the archeologist all over the world.



           

 

For further information on these resources, contact
Margaret L. Benner
benner@towson.edu

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