LESSONS 5-6

DARTS:

1. I can understand the role a participial plays in a sentence.

2. I can understand that, because gerunds always act as nouns, they are placed where a noun would be placed in a diagram.

PARTICIPLES AND PARTICIPIAL PHRASES:

  1. Participial Phrase

Place a participial phrase on a bent line, like that of a prepositional phrase. The form of the diagram helps us see that the phrase is a modifier.

--Write the participle in a curve along the line.

--As an adjective, a participle or a participial phrase is placed directly below the noun or pronoun it modifies.

EXAMPLE: Stopping suddenly, I almost fell.

  1. Participle with a Complement

A participial phrase may have a complement, just like a sentence or a prepositional phrase, and it is diagrammed in a similar way.

--When a participle has a direct object, place the object after a vertical line.

--When a participle has a predicate adjective or predicate nominative, place that complement after a line that slants to the left.

EXAMPLE: Carefully reviewing books for children, Russell stays busy.

GERUND PHRASES:

  1. Gerund Phrase

The basic diagram for a gerund phrase is a line similar to that of a prepositional phrase or participle.

--However, draw a stair step, rather than a slanted line, at the left side.

--Curve the gerund around the stair step.

--When a gerund acts as a subject, direct object, object of a preposition, or predicate nominative, place the stair step on a pedestal where it would go if it were simply a noun.

EXAMPLE: The lease forbids keeping any pets on the premises.

  1. Gerund Phrases as Indirect Objects

When a gerund acts as an indirect object, place the stair step diagram under the verb, joined to the main line by a slanted line.

EXAMPLE: His lecture gave traveling to South America new dimensions.

  1. Gerund Phrases as Appositives

When a gerund or gerund phrase acts as an appositive, place it on a pedestal to the right of the noun or pronoun it identifies, renames, or explains. Place parentheses around the bottom of the pedestal.

EXAMPLE: We mastered one sport, playing tennis.

EXERCISE 3:

  1. Turning away, the exhausted runner cried.
  2. He held a basket brimming with fruit.
  3. Going without sleep, many volunteers worked into the night.
  4. This deserted island offers peace and tranquility.
  5. From the beehive came a loud buzzing noise.
  6. Paul loved working in the garden.
  7. His favorite activity was hiking through the woods.
  8. Achieving the position of senator will be very difficult.
  9. Clark’s fear, injuring his elbow, kept him on the bench.
  10. All of Jill’s friends like helping her with the projects.