Which term describes a verbal phrase that acts as an adjective?

Which term describes a verbal phrase that acts as an adjective?

• A. Participial phrase
• B. Gerund phrase
• C. Infinitive phrase
• D. Absolute phrase

Answer: (A)

A participial phrase is a verbal phrase formed from a participle that describes a noun, functioning like an adjective. It includes the participle (for example, the present participle ending in -ing or the past participle, often ending in -ed) and any accompanying words, and it directly adds information about the noun it modifies. For instance, in The running water cooled the room, the word running (a present participle) forms a phrase that describes water. Similarly, The broken window needs repair uses the past participle broken to describe window. Gerund phrases, by contrast, behave like nouns rather than adjectives. Infinitive phrases can sometimes describe a noun, but when a phrase is clearly used to describe a noun, the term most accurately describing that function is a participial phrase. Absolute phrases add information to the entire sentence rather than describing a single noun.

A participial phrase is a verbal phrase formed from a participle that describes a noun, functioning like an adjective. It includes the participle (for example, the present participle ending in -ing or the past participle, often ending in -ed) and any accompanying words, and it directly adds information about the noun it modifies. For instance, in The running water cooled the room, the word running (a present participle) forms a phrase that describes water. Similarly, The broken window needs repair uses the past participle broken to describe window.

Gerund phrases, by contrast, behave like nouns rather than adjectives. Infinitive phrases can sometimes describe a noun, but when a phrase is clearly used to describe a noun, the term most accurately describing that function is a participial phrase. Absolute phrases add information to the entire sentence rather than describing a single noun.