The McGraw-Hill Handbook  Ex. 4.12     page 116: Identifying Phrases

 

  1. The sheriff strode into the bar, his hands hovering over his pistols.

 

Kind of phrase: absolute

 

  1. “Where is that cat?” he shouted, his eyes darting around the room.

 

Kind of phrase: absolute

 

  1. Whispered softly and urgently, the question rippled down the bar.

 

Kind of phrase: participial

 

  1. Opening the door softly, the cat slinked into the room.

 

Kind of phrase: participial

 

  1. Over the barroom a great rush fell as the sheriff and the cat stared at each other.

 

Kind of phrase: adverbial prepositional phrase

 

  1. The sheriff wiped his eyes to see better.

 

Kind of phrase: adverbial infinitive phrase

 

  1. “Time’s up for you, cat,” the sheriff shouted in the great, expectant silence.

 

Kind of phrase: adverbial prepositional phrase

 

  1. Licking his fur indifferently and sitting down, the cat seemed to nod behind the 

sheriff.

 

Kind of phrase: participial

 

  1. Frightened and dismayed, the sheriff looked behind him.

 

Kind of phrase: participial

 

  1. A thousand cats were softly padding through the open door.

 

Kind of phrase: adverbial prepositional phrase

 

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