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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Can You Spot Participial Phrases? Take the Quiz Now!

Which participial phrase is placed correctly? Test your skills with examples and answers!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art open book pencils notebook on golden yellow background inviting participial phrase quiz challenge

This quiz helps you spot the participial phrase in each question. You'll get quick feedback to find gaps before a test or quiz and learn to fix common mistakes; for more practice, try the quiz on correct placement in sentences .

Which of the following is a participial phrase?
Walking to the store
Quickly running
After the movie
The tall building
A participial phrase begins with a present or past participle and acts as an adjective. "Walking to the store" starts with the present participle "walking" and modifies an implied subject. The other choices are a noun phrase, an adverb phrase, and a prepositional phrase, none of which are participial phrases. For more details on participial phrases, see .
Which phrase functions as a participial phrase in the sentence: "Burned by the sun, the hiker looked for shade."?
Looked for shade
Burned by the sun
By the sun
The hiker
The phrase "Burned by the sun" starts with the past participle "burned" and describes the hiker, making it a participial phrase. "By the sun" is a prepositional phrase, and the others are not adjectival participles. Participial phrases like this one function to add descriptive detail. Learn more at .
Which phrase is a participial phrase?
Having finished the test
The final exam
In the library
To study
"Having finished the test" begins with the perfect participle "having finished" and modifies a noun, which qualifies it as a participial phrase. "The final exam" is a noun phrase, "to study" is an infinitive, and "in the library" is a prepositional phrase. Participial phrases enhance sentences by adding concise description. More guidance is available at .
Which phrase in the list is a participial phrase?
The dusty book
Covered with dust
On the shelf
Very old
"Covered with dust" begins with the past participle "covered" and describes a noun, so it is a participial phrase. "The dusty book" is a noun phrase with an adjective, "on the shelf" is prepositional, and "very old" is an adjective phrase. Recognizing participial phrases improves clarity and style. See for more examples.
Which sentence contains a participial phrase?
Running down the aisle, she grabbed the book.
She quickly ran down the aisle to grab the book.
She had run down the aisle before.
She will run down the aisle soon.
The first sentence includes the participial phrase "Running down the aisle," which starts with the present participle "running" and modifies the subject. The other sentences use verb forms but not participial phrases. Identifying participial phrases helps in understanding how modifiers work. Visit for more clarity.
Identify the participial phrase modifying a noun in this sentence: "The houses built after the flood were repaired last month."
Last month
Built after the flood
Were repaired
After the flood
The phrase "built after the flood" starts with the past participle "built" and modifies "houses," making it a participial phrase. "After the flood" is prepositional, "were repaired" is a verb phrase, and "last month" is an adverbial. Recognizing past participles as modifiers is key to parsing complex sentences. More examples are at .
Which of the following is a past participial phrase?
Driving enthusiastically
Driven by ambition
To drive carefully
Having drive the car
"Driven by ambition" begins with the past participle "driven" and functions as an adjective, making it a past participial phrase. "Driving enthusiastically" is a present participial phrase, and the others are not participial phrases. Understanding the difference between present and past participles refines grammatical precision. For more, see .
In which sentence is the participial phrase correctly punctuated?
The man wearing, a red hat strolled down the street.
The man, wearing a red hat strolled down the street.
The man wearing a red hat, strolled down the street.
Wearing a red hat, the man strolled down the street.
The correct sentence uses a comma after the participial phrase: "Wearing a red hat, the man strolled down the street." The phrase "wearing a red hat" modifies "the man" and must be set off by a comma. The other options misplace or omit commas, leading to errors. Proper punctuation of participial phrases avoids confusion. See .
Which sentence contains a dangling participial phrase?
Barking all night, the dog kept us awake.
Shivering in the cold, the fireplace crackled loudly.
Running down the street, the squirrel darted across my path.
Since winning the lottery, my life has changed.
A dangling participle occurs when the participial phrase doesn't modify the correct noun. In the third sentence, "Shivering in the cold" illogically modifies "the fireplace," which cannot shiver. The other sentences correctly attach the participial phrases to the intended nouns. Identifying danglers prevents ambiguous meaning. For more guidance, visit .
Which revision corrects the dangling participial phrase: "Turning down the offer, the company's policy was strict."?
By turning down the offer, the company showed a strict policy.
Turning down the offer, the company enforced a strict policy.
The company's policy turning down the offer was strict.
Turning down the offer, he followed the company's strict policy.
The correct revision uses "he" as the participle's logical subject: "Turning down the offer, he followed the company's strict policy." This fixes the dangling modifier by attaching it to the proper noun. The other revisions either retain the error or create new grammatical issues. Clear placement of participle phrases ensures correct meaning. For more examples, see .
Identify the participial phrase in the sentence and specify whether it's present or past participle: "Encouraged by the coach, the players practiced tirelessly."
"Practiced tirelessly" - present participle phrase
"Encouraged by the coach" - present participle phrase
"Practiced tirelessly" - past participle phrase
"Encouraged by the coach" - past participle phrase
The phrase "Encouraged by the coach" starts with the past participle "encouraged" and modifies "the players," making it a past participle phrase. "Practiced tirelessly" is a verb phrase, not a participial modifier. Distinguishing between present and past participles is essential for accurate grammar. Learn more at .
Identify the participial phrase in the complex sentence: "The manuscript, having been edited several times, still contained errors."
The manuscript
Having been edited several times
Still contained errors
Having been edited
The phrase "having been edited several times" begins with the perfect participle construction and modifies "the manuscript." It provides background detail. The other options are either the main clause or incomplete modifiers. Mastery of complex participial constructions enhances advanced writing. For further study, visit .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Participial Phrases -

    Recognize which phrase is a participial phrase by distinguishing verbs ending in - ing or - ed that function as adjectives in a sentence.

  2. Analyze Correct Placement -

    Determine which sentence contains a participial phrase that is placed correctly, ensuring modifiers are close to the words they describe.

  3. Differentiate Phrase Functions -

    Distinguish between participial phrases and other types of verbals or clauses to avoid common grammar errors.

  4. Apply Correct Usage -

    Use participial phrase examples with answers to practice inserting these phrases accurately in your own sentences.

  5. Self-Assess with Instant Feedback -

    Reinforce your understanding of participial phrases by testing your answers and learning from immediate explanations.

  6. Enhance Writing Clarity -

    Integrate participial phrases effectively to add descriptive detail and variety to your writing style.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Defining Participial Phrases -

    A participial phrase begins with a present participle ( - ing) or past participle ( - ed, - en) and functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun. For instance, "Glistening in the sunlight" in "Glistening in the sunlight, the dewdrops sparkled" describes "dewdrops." Understanding this definition is key to answering which phrase is a participial phrase.

  2. Present vs. Past Participles -

    Present participles end in - ing (e.g., "laughing loudly"), while past participles typically end in - ed or irregular forms (e.g., "broken glass"). According to Purdue OWL, recognizing these endings helps you spot participial phrase examples with answers more quickly. Keep a list of common irregular past participles nearby for your participial phrase worksheet.

  3. Placement and Dangling Phrases -

    For clarity, place the participial phrase next to the noun it modifies to avoid misplacement or dangling participles (e.g., "Flying over the hill, the view was breathtaking" incorrectly suggests the view is flying). Practice spotting which sentence contains a participial phrase that is placed correctly by ensuring the subject follows immediately after the phrase. This tip comes from guidelines at the University of North Carolina's Writing Center.

  4. Using Commas with Participial Phrases -

    Introductory participial phrases should be set off by commas (e.g., "Exhausted from the hike, we rested under a tree"). If the phrase is essential to the meaning, omit the commas (e.g., "Students studying late scored higher"). The Chicago Manual of Style recommends this punctuation rule to maintain readability.

  5. Reinforcement through Practice -

    Regularly complete quizzes and exercises - like our free participial phrase quiz - to reinforce your skills and boost confidence. Use examples drawn from academic articles or reputable grammar sites to ensure accuracy. Tracking your progress on each participial phrase worksheet will help you master which phrase is a participial phrase every time.

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