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NON-FI NI TE PHRASES - PRACTI CAL CLASSES 10

I I n each sentence, bracket every gerund phrase and state its function.

1. Painting still-life pictures taught Mike a lot about color.
2. Studying art also taught him about history.
3. His main goal is improving his brushwork.
4. Creating art is hard work but also lots of fun.
5. Martina started painting with oils this year.
6. People like visiting art galleries.
7. Painting made me appreciate how light affects color.
8. John prefers taking photos of people.
9. We encouraged his entering the competition.
10. Mom kept me from going without my jacket.
11. Dories best subject is acting in drama class.
12. Finding the right tool is half the job.
13. After jogging, Mr. Conway loves eating doughnuts.
14. The problem is thinking of a good topic.
15. Do you remember fingerpainting in kindergarten?
16. Jonathan got paid for sculpting the dolphin.
17. For a crisp texture, avoid overcooking the vegetables.
18. Omar preferred watching the hockey game.
20. For Joanna, making a papier-mch globe was a messy project.
21. Marcellos specialty is sculpting.
22. Collecting candy on Halloween still appeals to Del.
23. Noreen hates being left behind.
24. Aunt Frances started searching the attic for baby clothes.
2. My dogs only trick is singing.

I I Rewrite each sentence. Change the boldfaced word or words to a gerund or gerund phrase.
1. To paint landscapes well has always been Juans goal.
2. After he took lessons, Juan showed great improvement.
3. His goal for this year is to sell at least one of his works.
4. He feels that to make a sale will prove he has some ability.
5. We say he should be happy with his creation of a decent picture.

I I I Identify the prepositional gerund phrase and state its function:
1. The police arrested him for speeding.
2. You might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work.
3. The student gathered signatures for increasing the hours of the library.
4. He disapproves of mothers going out to work.
5. Jane had little time for making her own clothes.
6. She was deeply disappointed at her failing the exam.
7. On hearing the news, she started to laugh uncontrollably.
8. I'm afraid of travelling by plane.
9. He emphasized the importance of working hard.
10. Thank you for helping me solve the problem.

Participial phrases/clauses
I V Bracket the participial phrase in each sentence and identify its function:
1. Alfred Hitchcock, respected by his colleagues, earned an important place among film
directors.
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2. Known as the master of suspense, he created dark, suspenseful moods in his films.
3. Remaining faithful to this trademark tone, he directed movies throughout five decades.
4. Hitchcocks films, criticized by some, maintained a dramatic flair.
5. Some of the movies directed by Hitchcock are Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, and The
Birds.
6. Turning to the television format, Hitchcock also hosted a series for television.
7. The television show hosted by Hitchcock was Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
8. It was a mystery series featuring a different story and different actors each week.
9. Still airing as reruns, episodes feature actors such as Robert Redford.
10. Never honored with an Academy Award for best director, Hitchcock remains best director to
many fans.
11. The clown entertaining the children at the party was funny.
12. He had a surprised look on his face.
13. We were awakened last night by a barking dog.
14. Students participating in the event will meet after school.
15. The woman wandering down the street was wearing a red hat.
16. Surrounded by her closest friends, Jane enjoyed her birthday party.
17. As we entered the room, we noticed the broken vase on the floor.
18. Startled by the noise, the cat scrambled under the chair.
19. Finally, they could see the train approaching in the distance.
20. Everyone involved in the discussion expressed his or her opinion.
21. We were happy with the services provided by that company.
22. Damaged by the storm, the car no longer ran.
23. The school threw a huge party for the teacher retiring this year.
24. The man jogging up the hill is my grandfather.


V Replace the finite clauses in italics by non-finite clauses, using participles, and making any
necessary changes in the word order:
1. When the editor learned that his newspaper had been taken over by a rival publisher, he resigned
from his position.
2. When they had received their final medical check, the astronauts boarded their spacecraft.
3. Motorists who intend to take their cars with them to the Continent are advised to make early
reservations.
4. When he heard the noise, he went outside to see what is happening.
5. Now that I have heard your side of the question, I am more inclined to agree with you.

VI J oin the following sentences, using participles and making any necessary changes in word
order:
1. I was away at the time of the disastrous floods. I could, therefore, do nothing to help with salvage
work.
2. I found I had wasted my time going to the sale. The best bargains had already been snapped up
earlier in the day.
3. The rescue party decided that it would be hopeless to carry out a search while the fog persisted.
They put off their rescue bid until the next day.
4. He was brought up in the belief that pleasures were sinful. As a result, he now leads an ascetic life.
5. The children had a weeks holiday. The school had been closed because of an influenza epidemic.
6. One can allow for the fact that the orchestra was under-rehearsed. Even so, last nights concert
was extremely disappointing.
7. He was very angry when his car broke down. He had had it serviced only a week before.
8. No one was surprised at the change in Bank Rate. It had already been confidently expected by
investors.
9. We decided not to visit Oxford. It was then the time of the summer vacation. There were few
students in residence.
10. He had to put off buying a house. The bank was unable to lend him any money at that time.
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11. The police found the small boy. He was wandering about the docks. He was, apparently, looking
for somewhere to spend the night.
12. The criminal removed all traces of his crime. He left the building.
13. She didnt want to hear the story again. She had heard it all before.
14. She entered the room suddenly. She found them smoking.
15. We visited the museum. We decided to have lunch in the park.
16. He offered to show us the way home. He thought we were lost.
17. He found his revolver. He loaded it. He sat down facing the door.
18. I sat in the front row. I used opera glasses. I saw everything beautifully.
19. One evening you will be sitting by the fire. You will remember this day.
20. The government once tried to tax people according to the size of their houses. They put a tax on
windows.
21. I had heard the caves were dangerous. I didnt like to go any further without a light.
22. She wore extremely fashionable clothes. She was surrounded by photographers and pressmen. She
swept up to the microphone.

VII Correct the mistakes, if any, in the following sentences.
1. Leaning over the wall, a water rat caught my eye. 2. Walking through the park, the
daffodils made a lovely sight. 3. Lying under the table, the secretary found a large pile of
secret documents. 4. Even allowing for the strong feelings on both sides, the behaviour of
the demonstrators was indefensible.
VIII Replace the finite clauses in italics by non-finite clauses, using participles, and making any
necessary changes in word order.
1. As he had witnessed the crime, he was expected to give evidence in court.
2. I declined his offer of a loan and said that I didnt like owing people money.
3. The demonstrator, who protested violently, was led away by the police.
4. When I visit a strange city, I like to have a guide-book with me.
5. As he had been warned that bad weather lay ahead, the ships captain changed course.

IX a) I dentify the underlined constructions, b) What is the functional difference between them?
o Eating a good breakfast is very wise.
o Eating a good breakfast, he went out for a walk.
X Find the incorrect sentence and explain why it is incorrect:
o J ohn repairing the lamp was a surprise.
o J ohn repairing the lamp, Mary went out shopping.
o Johns repairing the lamp shocked everybody.
XI Change the adjective clauses to participial phrases. Keep the commas if they are used with the
adjective clauses:
1. The girl who is making the most noise is my daughter.
2. The leaflets which were printed last week will be distributed at tonights meeting.
3. The general, who had been warned of the enemys approaching attack, had all his men ready.
4. The movement, which was doomed from the beginning, came to a very inauspicious end.
5. The children, who had been instructed not to stay out too long, came back before dinner time.
6. The snow which is falling on the highway will make the roads icy before nightfall.
7. The children who were swimming too far from the shore were ordered back by the lifeguards.