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

What type of phrase acts as an adjective in a sentence?

1. Participial phrase

2. Infinitive phrase

3. Gerund phrase

4. Prepositional phrase

The correct answer is: Participial phrase

A participial phrase functions as an adjective in a sentence because it consists of a participle (a verb form that typically ends in -ing or -ed) along with any modifiers, objects, or complements. This construction describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, providing additional detail. For example, in the sentence "The cat sitting on the windowsill is mine," the participial phrase "sitting on the windowsill" describes the noun "cat." Other types of phrases, such as infinitive phrases, gerund phrases, and prepositional phrases, serve different grammatical roles. Infinitive phrases often function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs but do not primarily modify nouns. Gerund phrases always act as nouns, derived from verbs and ending in -ing. Prepositional phrases typically describe relationships between nouns and other elements in a sentence, often functioning as adjectives or adverbs but not modifying nouns in the same direct way as participial phrases do.