Transforming and Expanding the Sentence, Nominals, Adverbials, and Adjectivals

Part I

Directions: In a separate Word document, identify the adverbials in the following sentences.Your three choices are: adverbials that begin with prepositions (prep-adv), adverbials that begin with infinitive verbs (inf-adv), and nominal clauses that begin with infinitive verbs (nom-inf).

Remember: Some prepositional phrases will function as adjectivals, and they should not be labeled in this exercise. See the "Prepositional Phrases" section of Lecture 6 for details.

Example

Jack's business partner went to the hardware store to purchase supplies.

                                               Prep-adv                      inf-adv

1. After the halftime show, disappointed fans began to leave the stadium.

2. When my wife and I go shopping at the mall, we often want to visit the furniture store.

3. On Easter morning, the children woke up excited to attend Chapel.

4. On our recent ski trip to Colorado, we passed through the city of Denver to get to the town of Vail.

5. According to my English professor, one of the most important characteristics of good writing is the development of ideas.

6. When the banking crisis hit in 2008, many analysts feared the country would sink into another Great Depression.

7. Employers say that they are most interested in graduates who have had internships, according to a recent study on National Public Radio.

8. He passed away before his time.

9. Never in my life have I been so humiliated.

10. Many people use social media regularly, but some wish to disconnect for a little while each day to relax.

Part II

Directions: In a separate Word document, identify each of the underlined elements according to both its form and its function. Form refers to word categories (noun, verb, preposition, etc.), names of phrases (prepositional phrase, noun phrase, gerund phrase, etc.), and clauses. Function refers to the specific role the word or word group plays in the sentence: subject, direct object, indirect object, adverbial, etc.

Example:

I find that eating fruit is a good alternative to eating candy.    

Form: nominal clause             Function: direct object

1. My two kittens love napping. 

2. Napping gives them abundant energy.

3. Climbing is their main pastime.

4. What they do while I am at work is no small mystery.

5. Stacy is planning to read for exams all summer.

6. To read all summer long takes patience.

7. Stacy is planning to read all her materials during the summer.

8. Her uncle thinks that being a teacher would be intellectually stimulating.

9. Students occasionally visit their teachers during office hours.

10. Students occasionally visit their teachers during office hours.

11. Students usually find office visits helpful.

12. Students usually find office visits helpful.

13. Most teachers believe student success is exciting.

14. Most teachers believe student success is exciting.

15. Beth's cousin from Idaho ate with us last evening.

16. She wondered if she would see the rest of the family.

17. Hurrying leads to mistakes.

18. Hurrying causes mistakes.

19. Graveyards give many people the creeps.

20. The man explained that he had been robbed.