Use these sentences to identify subjects, verbs, direct objects and infinitive and prepositional phrases. Prepositional phrases are marked by parentheses and infinitive phrases are marked by brackets. Simple subjects are in red, verbs are in blue, and direct objects are in green.
1. Sports historians readily agree that American football is a modified combination (of soccer and rugby).
2. Early colonists probably played some kind (of game) ( in the fields and village squares) ( of New England).
3. (As in England), college students began playing the game ( in the early 1800s).
4. The first football games were
more (like gang fights) than (like* games).
*This second "like" is understood.
5. Disturbed (by the violence), Harvard and Yale briefly banned the sport.
6. (In 1869), Rutgers and Princeton played the first true collegiate game.
7. There were twenty-five men (on each side).
8. Following soccer rules, the players could
not hold or run (with
the ball) but had [to kick it] or [to*strike
it] ( with their heads).
*The second "to" is understood.
9. (In 1874) McGill University was invited [to play Harvard].
10. (During practice), Harvard players were surprised [ to see the McGill players running (with the ball) ].
11. The Canadians were playing rugby, a sport unknown (in the United States).
12. [To create a fair game], the teams agreed [to follow soccer rules (in the first half) and rugby rules ( in the second half ) ].
13. This blended game introduced new elements (to the American form) ( of soccer).
14. Walter Camp published a book (about football) ( in 1891).
15. He established the eleven-man team and the scrimmage line.
16. (Over the years) other modifications were made.
17. College coaches played
a major role (in refining the game*).
"game" is the object of the gerund
"refining".
18. Knute Rockne emphasized the forward pass.
19. These changes helped [to* make American football a more organized and precise game].
20. Today's fans would probably find earlier versions (of football) tedious (by contrast).
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