University of Batna Department of English Second-Year Classes

Module: Grammar Teacher:N.Kissoum

Phrases (Exercises)

Infinitive Phrases

Exercise 1 :Say what function the infinitive phrase fulfils in each of the following
sentences.

1. I expect to be there this evening.

2. I expect everyone to be punctual this evening.
3. I promise you not to be late.
4. The plan is for us all to meet outside at night.
5. To speak in public for the first time can be a terrifying experience.
6. For Osbert to appear in public at such a time was rather courageous.

Exercise 2: Convert the infinitive phrases in each of these sentences into a

relative clause.

1. The next train to arrive is from Edinburgh.

2. The first man to fly non-stop across the Atlantic was John Alcock.
3. Was Cortes the first European ever to see the Pacific Ocean?
4. The best man to see for your eye trouble is the Professor of Ophthalmology.
5. The man for John to speak to first is the Director of the Museum.
6. The cheapest place to eat at is the cafeteria.
7. Will you buy me a magazine to read on the journey?
8. The last problem to be considered at our next meeting is how to invest the money.

Exercise 3: Underline the infinitives in the sentences below then give their
functions.

1. Clay goes to his grandmother’s house to eat homemade sweets.

2. The purpose of the class was to teach children how to swim.
3. The hostess asked Jill to refill the punch bowl.
4. To clean the house seemed like an impossible task.
5. Doris was asked to host the baby shower.
6. To finish her shift without spilling another pizza into a customer’s lap is Michelle’s
only goal tonight.
7. Lakesha hopes to win the approval of her mother by switching her major from fine
arts to pre-med.
8. Kelvin is taking Anatomy and Physiology this semester to understand the interplay
of muscles and bone in the human body.

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9. Language to suit the occasion is best.
10. I want to go home.
11. To swim is fun.
12. I nodded to show respect.

Verbals: mixed forms

Exercise 4: a) Underline the verbal in each sentence and indicate whether it is a

gerund (G), a participial (P) or an infinitive (I).
B) Give the function of each verbal.

1. Jennifer’s goal was to graduate from the university.

2. John’s favourite outdoor activity is skiing.
3. Going on a cruise and climbing Mt. Rushmore were Rachel’s summer vacation
plans.
4. Dancing with the famous instructor, Dillon felt like a star.
5. Animals dumped in the streets often become a menace.
6. The girls love to swim at Julie’s house.
7. Watching the birds is one of Mr.Martin’s hobbies.
8. Janice, baking ten cakes for the festival, accidently burned one of them.
9. Working out daily should be an essential part of our life.
10. I have a book to return to the library.

Prepositional Phrases

Exercise 5: Give the functions of the underline prepositional phrases in the

sentences below.

1. The northern right whale wins prize for the most endangered whale.
2. The right whale faces a high likelihood of extinction.
3. Florida takes a special interest in right whales.
4. Their only known calving grounds is found off Georgia and Florida.
5. The western North Atlantic population of northern right whales includes a mere
300 to 350animals.
6. Whalers labeled these animals as ‘right whales’.
7. The reasons for this name revolve around the bund.
8. The right whales swim poorly in coastal waters.
9. When harvested, the whales float on the water.
10. Consequently, right whales were hunted to near extinction.
11. At that time, the United States banned men from hunting the whales.
12. Now, thirty per cent of all right whale deaths occur from shipping vessel
collisions.
13. Sometimes the right whales get entangled in fishing gear, nets, or long lines.
14. Their V-shaped blow is visible from a distance.

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Exercise 6: List the functions of the prepositional phrases in this exercise. After
each one, tell whether it is used as an adjective or an adverb.

1. The men on the roof worked for two hours in the heat.
2. During the night, the rest of the water drained from the basement.
3. He lived near the mall which was located to the north of the city limits.
4. The women in the kitchen looked under the tables and in the closet.
5. The old lady with the big hat cut into the line in front of me at the store.
6. On Fridays, all of the staff at the radio station eats lunch at the old mill.
7. In the middle of a big spacious lawn, the designer placed a beautiful statue.
8. Because of the storm, the volunteers did not hear about the revised forms.
9. Since his return, the children from the day care at the church have walked around
the block every day.
10. After his graduation in 2010, he answered an ad for a job in Manitoba.

Exercise 7: Identify functions of the prepositional phrases in the following

sentences (adjectives, adverbs, or nouns).

1. The man by the bookshelf teaches at the university.

2. The technician with his hands in his pockets works in a factory in the morning and
in a bookshop at night.
3. Some children from our town found the money under some stones.
4. Her house is across the street.
5. The book on Egypt has been sold.
6. His bicycle was leaning against the fence.
7. The shop at the corner sells stamps.
8. I must fill my pen with ink
9. The play was originally written in English.
10. During the summer, I think I’ll go to Florida.
11. Inside the house is much warmer.
12. Between Tuesday and Thursday comes Wednesday.

N.Kissoum