NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

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What is defined as a phrase that begins with a gerund?

Infinitive phrase
Participle phrase
Gerund phrase
Prepositional phrase

The correct answer is: Gerund phrase

A phrase that begins with a gerund is identified as a gerund phrase. Gerunds are verb forms that end in "-ing" and function as nouns in a sentence. When a gerund is combined with other words or modifiers, it forms a gerund phrase. For example, in the sentence "Swimming in the ocean is refreshing," "Swimming in the ocean" is the gerund phrase, with "swimming" serving as the gerund and "in the ocean" providing additional context. The other options involve different grammatical constructions not centered on the gerund form. Infinitive phrases start with the base form of a verb preceded by "to," while participle phrases generally consist of a participle (past or present) and function as adjectives. Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and often contain a noun or pronoun along with any associated modifiers. Thus, the definition directly aligns with the structure and function of a gerund phrase.