III Parts of Speech

Exercise 13b: Grammatical Function of Nouns

Underline each noun or noun phrase in the following sentences and determine
whether it is functioning as a subject, a direct object, an indirect object, an object of
a preposition, a subjective complement (predicate noun), an objective complement,
an appositive, or a possessive adjective.

1. Canada’s tenth province, Newfoundland, joined Confederation in 1949.

Canada’s: possessive adjective

province: subject
Newfoundland: appositive
Confederation: direct object
1949: object of a preposition (in)

2. The Queen was given a Canadian encyclopedia edited by a distinguished professor.

Queen: subject
encyclopedia: direct object
professor: object of a preposition (by)

3. Halifax’s mayor presented the speed skater the gold medal.

Halifax’s: possessive adjective

mayor: subject
skater: indirect object
medal: direct object

4. We often think back with pleasure on our childhood.

pleasure: object of a preposition (with)

childhood: object of a preposition (on)

5. Shakespeare wrote many plays, but Hamlet, a tragedy, is his best known work.

Shakespeare: subject
plays: direct object
Hamlet: subject
tragedy: appositive
work: subjective complement

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6. Pier 21 in Halifax is now a museum that recalls the days when most of Canada’s
immigrants arrived by sea.

Pier 21: subject

Halifax: object of a preposition
museum: direct object
days: direct object
immigrants: subject
sea: object of a preposition

Exercise 14: Pronouns

Identify the type of pronoun used in each of the following sentences.

1. Why is the defendant responding like that? (demonstrative pronoun)

2. One who aspires to write more engagingly and adventurously will find no shortage of
advice. (impersonal pronoun)
3. Businesses can help one another by placing combined orders. (reciprocal pronoun)
4. She aspires to become the mayor of Edmonton. (personal pronoun)
5. It’s estimated 14,000 Canadians live in Marseilles. (impersonal pronoun)
6. Lara and Elizabeth have been sending letters to each other since childhood. (reciprocal
pronoun)
7. The emperor commanded the citizens to build the aqueduct themselves. (reflexive
pronoun)
8. Who just shook hands with the Prime Minister? (interrogative pronoun)
9. Those are the main sources of evidence. (demonstrative pronoun)
10. I stayed up very late finishing a computer program. (personal pronoun)
11. To whom did the secretary direct the call? (relative pronoun)
12. Aaron will be at the library that has a moose statue in the foyer. (relative pronoun)
13. With slight trepidation Gurdishan started to eat the chili, which had been at the back of
the fridge for over two weeks. (relative pronoun)
14. Willard wrote himself a note to avoid forgetting the equipment tomorrow. (reflexive
pronoun)

Exercise 14e (1): Case

Underline the correct pronoun in each of the pairs in parentheses.

1. She and I will work on the project tonight.

2. There stood Eva, whom we had just said goodbye to.
3. Is Tomi the person who you think will do the best job?
4. This gift will please whoever receives it.
5. The coach advised Anwar and me not to miss any more practices.
6. Whom do you wish to see?

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7. Lydia, who was the best violinist in the orchestra, became ill and had to be replaced at
the last minute by Eric, who was her teacher.
8. When Markus received his scholarship, he thanked his faculty adviser whom he’d
worked with to prepare the application.

Exercise 14e (2): Case

Make up five sentences that use a personal pronoun in the subjective case (I, he, she,
they) after a form of the verb be, and five sentences using the pronoun whom or
whomever in a correct formal way. Then rewrite each sentence, keeping each one
formal but avoiding the possible stuffiness of these usages.

1. It is I who shall complete the project.

REVISION: I shall complete the project.

2. We knew that it would be he who would argue the case in court.

REVISION: We knew that he would argue the case in court.

3. It would be she who would meet the new mayor this morning.
REVISION: She would be the one to meet the new mayor in the morning.

4. Can you be sure it is they who will collaborate on the advertising campaign?
REVISION: Are you sure that they will collaborate on the advertising campaign?

5. It seems to be she who is implicated in the latest political scandal.

REVISION: She seems to be the one who is implicated in the latest political scandal.

6. The author whom we have been assigned to interview is incommunicative.

REVISION: The author we have been assigned to interview is uncommunicative.

7. You may write a short biographical piece about whomever you choose.
REVISION: You may write a short biographical piece about the author of your choice.

8. The character of whom you speak died at the end of the first act, while you were
napping in your seat.
REVISION: The character you are speaking of died at the end of the first act, while you
were napping in your seat.

9. Whomever you vote for will likely lose the election.

REVISION: The candidate that you vote for will likely lose the election.

10. Whom do you plan to invite to your wedding?

REVISION: Who will be invited to your wedding?

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Exercise 15: Agreement of Pronouns with Their Antecedents

In each of the following, correct any lack of agreement between pronouns and their
antecedents. Revise sentences as necessary to avoid gender bias.

1. Everybody is free to express his/her own opinion.

Everybody is free to express an opinion.
We are each free to express our own opinion.

2. Una or Gwendolyn will lend you her notebook.

3. Those who think for themselves will not be deceived by advertising.

Anyone who thinks for him/herself will not be deceived by advertising.

4. After studying his statements for over an hour, I still couldn’t understand them.

5. It is usually a good sign when a person starts caring about his/her appearance.

6. Everyone who wants to play the game will be provided with a pencil to write answers
with.

Everyone who wants to play the game will be provided with a pencil to write
his/her answers with.

7. In order to make sure each sentence is correct, check carefully during revision and
proofreading.

In order to make sure all sentences are correct, check them carefully during revision
and proofreading.

Exercise 16: Reference of Pronouns

Correct any faulty pronoun reference in the following:

1. Summer homes—for those who can afford them—make good retreats.

2. You cannot suppress truth, for to do so is morally wrong.

You cannot suppress truth, for doing so is morally wrong.
You cannot suppress truth, for that is morally wrong.

3. The deadline was a month away, but I failed to meet it, for something happened to
prevent me from completing my application on time.

4. The tone of the poem creates an atmosphere of romance.

The tone of the poem is such that it (the tone) creates an atmosphere of romance.

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5. Television usually shows regular commercials, but this kind of advertising is more and
more supplanted by product placement in movies.

6. Modern musicians are often disparaged by older listeners, but those older listeners
need to think back and remember that their parents didn’t like their popular music
either.

Exercise 17a (1): Kinds of Verbs: Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking

After each transitive verb in the following, supply an object; after each intransitive
verb, supply an adverb (or adverbial phrase) or a period. If a particular verb can be
either transitive or intransitive, do both.

1. Adriana expects results. (tr.)

2. Tony breathed the mountain air. (tr.)

Tony breathed deeply. (intr.)

3. Murray talks incessantly. (intr.)

4. Kamala knelt down. (intr.)

5. Yvonne believed the defendants testimony. (tr.)

Yvonne believed passionately. (intr.)

6. Ricardo bought the ingredients. (tr.)

7. They ordered the same entrée. (tr.)

They ordered carefully. (intr.)

8. Yukio learned sign language. (tr.)

Yukio learned in the workplace. (intr.)

9. Oliver performed the soliloquy. (tr.)

Oliver performed brilliantly. (intr.)

10. Brian responded sarcastically. (intr.)

11. Sonya teaches ethnobotany. (tr.)

Sonya teaches in the Botany Department. (intr.)

12. Xian sings ballads. (tr.)

Xian sings in the shower. (intr.)

13. Pierre repairs mountain bikes. (tr.)

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14. Council vetoed the proposed budget. (tr.)

15. Ann compromised reluctantly. (intr.)

16. Soolin flew a kite. (tr.)

Soolin flew to Yellowknife. (intr.)

Exercise 17a (2): Kinds of Verbs: Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking

In the following, first identify the complement of each italicized linking verb, and
second, indicate whether it is a predicate noun or a predicate adjective.

1. She was sorry that he felt so ill.

sorry: predicate adjective
ill: predicate adjective

2. Because he was a computer expert, he was confident that he could write a software
program for the system.
expert: predicate noun
confident: predicate adjective

3. The book became a best seller even though it was scholarly in its examination of black holes.
best seller: predicate noun
scholarly: predicate adjective

4. Since the house was well insulated, it stayed warm throughout the severe winter.
insulated: predicate adjective
warm: predicate adjective

5. Incredible as it seems, the casserole tasted as good as it looked odd.

incredible: predicate adjective
good: predicate adjective
odd: predicate adjective

Exercise 17a (3): Kinds of Verbs: Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking

After each linking verb, supply (a) a predicate noun and (b) a predicate adjective.

1. Erika is (a) a comedian.

(b) philosophical.

2. Priscilla became (a) an athlete.

(b) athletic.

3. Luigi remained (a) an optimistic.

(b) optimistic.

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4. The government had been (a) a theocracy.
(b) progressive.

Exercise 17a (4): Kinds of Verbs: Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking

Compose sentences using some common linking verbs other than be, become, seem,
and remain. Then compose other sentences using the same verbs as either transitive
or intransitive verbs, without complements. Can any of them function as all three
kinds? Try smell, for example, or act.

1. Linking: The music sounds vibrant.

Transitive: The captain sounded the alarm.

2. Linking: The casserole tastes delicious.

Transitive: Cautiously, the child tasted the caviar.

3. Linking: Our fruit salad smells fresh.

Transitive: The visitors smelled the brewing coffee.
Intransitive: This dog smells; he needs a bath.

4. Linking: She acts friendly enough.

Transitive: He acted the part of a clown.
Intransitive: She acted; her spouse reacted.

Exercise 17h (1): Sequence of Tenses

Choose a few fairly standard verbs, ones that you find yourself using often—say,
three regular verbs and three from the list of irregular verbs (see 17c in the text)—and
run them through their paces: that is, compose substantive sentences using them in
all the tenses illustrated in 17g and 17h.

Regular verbs: walk, play, laugh

Irregular verbs: write, eat, speak

Simple present: We walk around the lagoon every Saturday.

The pianist plays his compositions for a small audience.
We laugh at what shocks or surprises us.
She writes to her children every morning.
We eat together at least once every day.
That politician speaks with passion about change.

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Simple past: We walked around the lagoon every Saturday.
The pianist played his compositions for a small audience.
We laughed at what shocked or surprised us.
She wrote to her children every morning.
We ate together at least once every day.
That politician spoke with passion about change.

Simple future: We will walk around the lagoon every Saturday.

The pianist will play his compositions for a small audience.
We will laugh at what shocks or surprises us.
She will write to her children every morning.
We will eat together at least once every day.
That politician will speak with passion about change.

Present perfect: We have walked around the lagoon every Saturday since October.
The pianist has played his compositions for a small audience.
We have always laughed at what shocks or surprises us.
She has written to her children every morning since they left.
We have eaten together at least once every day this year.
That politician has spoken with passion about change.

Past perfect: We had walked around the lagoon every Saturday before running
the marathon.
The pianist has played his compositions for a small audience before
he performed them with a symphony orchestra.
As children, we had laughed at what shocked or surprised us.
She had written to her children every morning before she left for the
office.
We had eaten together at least once every day before we were
married.
That politician had spoken with passion about change long before
she ran for the party leadership.

Present progressive: We are walking around the lagoon this morning.

The pianist is playing his compositions for a small audience.
We are laughing at what shocks or surprises us.
She is writing to her children this morning.
We are eating together because we enjoy each others company.
That politician is speaking with passion about change.

Past progressive: We were walking around the lagoon that Saturday when we saw a
coyote.
The pianist was playing his compositions for a small audience.
We were laughing at what shocked and surprised us.
She was writing to her children when the doorbell rang.
We were eating together just before the fire broke out.
That politician was speaking with passion about change.

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Future progressive: We will be walking around the lagoon every Saturday next month.
The pianist will be playing his compositions for a small audience.
We will be laughing at whatever shocks or surprises us.
She will be writing to her children every morning during her trip.
We will be eating together at least once every day.
That politician will be speaking with passion about change.

Present perfect progressive: We have been walking around the lagoon every Saturday
since March.
The pianist has been playing his compositions for a small audience.
We have been laughing at whatever shocks or surprises us.
She has been writing to her children every morning during her
military service in Afghanistan.
We have been eating together at least once every day.
That politician has been speaking with passion about change since
he first entered politics.

Past perfect progressive: We had been walking around the lagoon every Saturday.
The pianist had been playing his compositions for a small audience
since his debut.
We had been laughing at what shocked or surprised us when the
action of the play turned tragic.
She had been writing to her children every morning when the news
of her leave from the army arrived.
We had been eating together at least once every day before we were
properly introduced.
That politician had been speaking with passion about change
before the other candidates jumped on the bandwagon.

Future perfect progressive: We will have been walking around the lagoon every Saturday
for a year.
The pianist will have been playing his compositions for a small
audience before releasing his first CD.
We will have been laughing at what shocks or surprises us long
before the film begins.
She will have been writing to her children every morning before
they reply.
We will have been eating together at least once every day by the
time we are married.
That politician will have been speaking with passion about change
before the campaign even begins.

Exercise 17h (2): Sequence of Tenses

Select ten or so of the sentences you wrote for the preceding exercise and try using do
and some of the modal auxillaries (see 17e) with them to produce different meanings.

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We do walk around the lagoon every Saturday.
The pianist did play his compositions for a small audience.
We must laugh at what shocks or surprises us.
She may have written to her children every morning.
We should be eating together at least once every day.
That politician would speak with passion about change.
Should we walk around the lagoon every Saturday?
The pianist may be playing his compositions for a small audience.
We may laugh at what shocks or surprises us.
Did we eat together at least once every day?

Exercise 17k: Mood

Suppose that you are giving a friend some advice about how to deal with noisy
neighbours. Compose ten sentences using a variety of subjunctive forms. One
sentence may start “If I were you, I would . . .”

Then try to revise each so that it uses a modal auxiliary or an infinitive instead of a
subjunctive. You should be able to change most if not all of them.

1. If I were you, I would wear ear plugs when your neighbours turn up their stereo.
REVISION: You could wear ear plugs when your neighbours turn up their stereo.

2. I suggest that you approach your neighbours with your concerns.

REVISION: You should approach your neighbours with your concerns.

3. I recommend that you lodge a formal complaint with your landlord.

REVISION: You ought to lodge a formal complaint with your landlord.

4. You could look as if you were going to cry and thus appeal to their sympathy.
REVISION: You ought to cry and appeal to their sympathy.

5. I recommend that you soundproof your apartment and send the bill to your neighbours.
REVISION: You can soundproof your apartment and send the bill to your neighbours.

6. I suggest that they be contacted by your lawyer, who will advise them of the bylaws
against excessive noise.
REVISION: They should be contacted by your lawyer, who will advise them of the
bylaws against excessive noise.

7. You could request that noise be kept to a minimum after 9:00 pm and before 8:00 am.
REVISION: Ask them to keep noise to a minimum between 9:00 pm and 8:00 am.

8. If I were you, I would consider moving to another, quieter part of the building.
REVISION: You ought to consider moving to another, quieter part of the building.

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9. You could ask that they be moved to another part of the building.
REVISION: Ask your landlord to move them to another part of the building.

10. I recommend that you learn to live with a little extra noise.
REVISION: You could learn to live with a little extra noise.

Exercise 17-l: Voice: Active and Passive

In the following, change passive voice to active voice wherever you think the revision
improves the sentence. Retain the passive wherever you think it is preferable.

1. By planning a trip carefully, you can avoid time-wasting mistakes.

2. Denise drove the car, while Yves acted as map-reader.
3. Retain the passive voice in this sentence.
4. Some went swimming, some went on short hikes, some just lay around, and others
played volleyball.
5. Scientists hope that the turbulence of the water will clean up the oil spill.

Exercise 18 (1): Agreement between Subject and Verb

Underline the correct form in each pair of verbs:

1. Neither Jason nor Melinda is interested in moving in.

2. There is fresh coffee and muffins on the kitchen table.
3. The committee intends to table its report today.
4. Unexplained natural phenomena fascinate the scientific community.
5. Most critics agree that Timothy Findley’s The Wars is an important Canadian novel.
6. The music that the orchestra and singers performed for the parents and children was all
written by Canadian composers.
7. The team members were grateful for the help of all the volunteers. The team also was
happy to finish the year with a successful event.
8. Dr Henderson is one of those professors who have published a book based on years of
diligent research.

Exercise 18 (2): Agreement between Subject and Verb

Revise the following sentences to correct any lack of agreement between subject and
verb.

1. Recent studies of the earth’s atmosphere indicate that there is more than one hole in
the ozone layer.
2. Juliet’s love and courage are evident in this scene.
3. Post-modern architecture in North America and Europe has been changing urban
skylines.

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4. In Canada, the media are largely based in Ottawa and Toronto.
5. This economist writes of the virtue of selfishness, but it seems to me that she, along with
those who share her view, is forgetting the importance of cooperation.
6. Everything in this speech—the metre, the repetition of vowels, and the vibrant
imagery—leads us to believe that this is the high point of Othellos love and, as far as we
know from this play, of his life.
7. The migration of whales attracts many tourists to this coastal community.
8. Indeed, the exercise of careful thought and careful planning seems to be necessary for
the successful completion of the project.
9. But scandal, unfair politics, and the ‘big business’ of politics have led to the corruption
of the system
10. With innovation come a few risks.

Exercise 19–20 (1): Adjectives/Adverbs

Underline all the single-word adverbs and circle all the single-word adjectives
(including articles) in the following sentences:

1. It was hard work, so he decided to work hard.

hard work: hard is an adjective
to work hard: hard is an adverb

2. Although she felt happy in her job, she decided, reluctantly, to express very forcefully
her growing concern about office politics.
adjectives: happy, growing, office
adverbs: reluctantly, very, forcefully

3. The fireplace screen was too hot to touch.

adjectives: the, fireplace, hot
adverbs: too

4. When the hikers were fully rested, they cheerfully resumed the leisurely pace of their climb.
adjectives: the, rested, the, leisurely adverbs: fully, cheerfully

5. Surely the government can find some way to raise the necessary revenues fairly.
adjectives: the, some, the, necessary
adverbs: surely, fairly

6. When she was at the bookstore, Jill couldn’t decide which book to choose for her little
sister’s birthday present.
adjectives: the, which, her, little, sister’s, birthday
adverbs: When she was at the bookstore

7. Parker’s roommate is very fond of hamburgers and often eats them for breakfast.
adjectives: Parker’s, fond,
adverbs: very, often, for breakfast

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8. Yesterday, Hakim had to leave history class quickly in order to catch the last bus.
adjectives: history, the, last,
adverbs: yesterday, quickly, in order to catch the last bus

Exercise 19–20 (2): Adjectives/Adverbs

Correct any errors in the use of adjectives and adverbs in the following sentences:

1. She concentrated so hard that she got a headache.

2. The promotion usually goes to the most determined and the most skilful employee.
3. The temperature had risen considerably by noon.
4. We enjoyed a very good vacation in the Gatineau Hills.
5. He preferred to wear his old blue denim jacket.
6. Nira isn’t writing as well as she usually does.
7. Condos are more costly this year than they were last.
8. The slower you drive, the less fuel you use.
9. He treats his closest friends worst of all.
10. Which member of the opposition party is the most ambitious politician?

Exercise 19–20 (3): Adjectives/Adverbs

Enrich and elaborate each of the following basic sentences by adding a variety of
adjectival and adverbial modifiers. Use phrases and clauses as well as single words.
Try several versions of each and experiment with placement. (Change tenses of verbs if
you wish, and add auxiliaries.) Label the elements you add as adjectives or adverbs.

The buskers who work in the subway system sing exuberantly.

who work in the subway system: adjectival relative clause modifying buskers
exuberantly: single-word adverb modifying the verb sing

Politicians opposing tax cuts inevitably lose federal elections.

opposing tax cuts: adjectival phrase modifying politicians
inevitably: single-word adverb modifying the verb lose
federal: single-word adjective modifying the noun elections

The goalie playing during the shoot out was suddenly hit by the puck.
playing during the shoot out: adjectival phrase modifying the noun goalie
suddenly: single-word adverb modifying the verb was hit

MP3 players, which are used to store music and podcasts, are tools.
which are used to store music and podcasts: relative adjectival clause
modifying the noun players

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There are countless lessons to be learned in childhood.
Countless: single-word adjective modifying the noun lessons
to be learned: adjectival phrase modifying the noun lessons

Exercise 19–20 (4): Adjectives/Adverbs

Make a list of ten adjectives (other than those listed or discussed above) that can also
serve as or be changed into adverbs. Use each adjective in a sentence; then make
each an adverb and use it in a sentence. Finally, choose two of the words and
compose sentences using them in their comparative and superlative forms as both
adjectives and adverbs.

Adjective Adverb form

happy happily
joyful joyfully
determined determinedly
cold coldly
complete completely
loud loudly
fierce fiercely
humble humbly
drastic drastically
impressive impressively

Sentences using adjective forms

The child was happy just entertaining herself.
Their wedding day was a joyful celebration.
The athletes are determined to make the Olympic ski team.
This cold weather is especially dangerous for homeless people.
You will find the complete manuscript in the National Library.
This music is so loud that it is giving me a headache.
Joan of Arc was said to be a fierce defender of her nation.
Do you think that his humble beginnings have affected his attitudes about class?
We need to take drastic action to counter the effects of global warming.
Your performance of the monologue was impressive.

Sentences using adverb forms

The child entertained herself quite happily.
They celebrated the couple’s wedding joyfully.
She approached her training regimen determinedly.
They responded coldly to our request for a discount.
The manuscript is completely protected within a glass case.
The couple behind us argued loudly as the movie began.
The debaters competed fiercely to prove their respective claims.
They reacted humbly when advised that they had been awarded the Nobel Prize.
The Bank of Canada has drastically reduced the interest rate.
His presentation was impressively concise.

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Sentences using adjectives and adverbs in comparative form
This child is happier than her twin brother seems to be.
They played together more happily than their siblings did.

Sentences using adjectives and adverbs in superlative form

This child is the happiest member of her day care group.
They played together most happily.

Exercise 19b: Comparison of Descriptive Adjectives

Come up with five exceptions for adjectives that don’t fit neatly into the guidelines.
For example, would you use er and est with pat, chic, prone, and lost? Or with
sudden, thorough, malign, and sanguine? Do er and est work with slippery? Do some
longer adjectives take est comfortably, but not er? Think of some descriptive
adjectives (other than unique, etc.) that for some reason don’t lend themselves to
comparisons at all. (Try some past-participial forms, for example, or words that
function primarily as nouns or other parts of speech.)

For example, would you use er and est with pat, chic, prone, and lost?
No.

pat more/less pat most/least pat

chic more/less chic most/least chic

prone more/less prone most/least prone

lost more/less lost most/least lost

Or with sudden, thorough, malign, and sanguine?

No.

sudden more/less sudden most/least sudden

thorough more/less thorough most/least thorough

malign more/less malign most/least malign

sanguine more/less sanguine most/least sanguine

Do er and est work with slippery?

Not particularly well, no.

slippery more/less slippery most/least slippery

Do some longer adjectives take est comfortably, but not er?

Yes.

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Exercise 19c: Articles: a, an, and the

In each blank, place a, an, or the; or put O if no article is needed. If two articles could
be used, put a slash (/) between them. If an article could be used, but need not, put
parentheses around it. Some of the answers will be debatable—please debate them!

1. In O Canadian society, everyone is considered (an) equal.

2. After five years in O business, she decided to enroll in O International Relations.
3. My sister got an/the award for her work in O genetics.
4. There was a controversial documentary about O drug addiction on O television last
night.
5. I think you should put an onion in the stew.
6. The art books were worth a small fortune, but there was no space for them in the Centre.
7. At the/a climactic moment of the violin solo, a/the man in the audience started to
have a coughing fit.
8. Currently, the city council is divided on its decision whether to bid for the Olympics or
to invest its energies in (a) clean water policy.
9. In his usual exuberant style, the scantily clad chef smashed (the) various condiments and
spices on the counter in front of the hungry and curious studio audience.
10. O true happiness is found within us and not in O external objects, circumstances, or
relationships.

Exercise 21 (1): Verbals: Infinitives, Participles, and Gerunds

Identify each verbal in the following sentences as an infinitive, a past or present

participle, or a gerund:

1. Coming as he did from the prairies, he found the coastal scenery to be stunning.
coming – present participle
to be – infinitive
stunning – present participle

2. She wanted to snowboard, and learning was easier than she expected.
to snowboard – infinitive
learning – gerund

3. Trying to study hard on an empty stomach is usually not very rewarding.

trying – gerund
to study – infinitive
rewarding – present participle

4. The party was certain to last until midnight, permitting everyone to eat and drink too much.
to last – infinitive
permitting – present participle
to eat – infinitive
(to) drink – infinitive

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5. Sent as she had been from one office to another, Cindy was tired of running back and
forth and up and down; she was resolved to go straight to the top.
sent – past participle
been – past participle
tired – past participle
running – gerund
resolved – past participle
to go – infinitive

6. Becoming a firefighter had been Hannah’s chief ambition since starting high school,
and she was prepared to work hard to achieve her goal.
becoming – gerund
been – past participle
starting – gerund
to work – infinitive
to achieve – infinitive

7. Watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon in 1969 inspired Chris Hatfield to become
an astronaut and have a very fulfilling career.
watching – gerund
to become – infinitive
fulfilling – present participle

8. Surprised, Helmut stood up and hurried to the podium to accept his reward.
surprised – past participle
to accept – infinitive

Exercise 21 (2): Verbals: Infinitives, Participles, and Gerunds

Here are some exercises to help you become familiar with verbals and recognize
some of the things you can do with them.

A. In short sentences, use three infinitives as nouns, adjectives, and, if possible,

adverbs (they are less common). Then use each in three longer sentences, again
as noun, adjective, and adverb, but expanded into infinitive phrases. You needn’t
simply build on the short sentences, but you may.

1. to read

noun: To read is educational. (subject)

I love to read. (object)
One path to intellectual enlightenment is to read. (predicate noun)

adjective: I am looking for a good book to read.

adverb: You require patience in order to read.

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 noun phrase: To read, curled up in a big stuffed chair, is one of my favourite
pastimes.

2. to listen

noun: To listen is essential. (subject)

You need to listen. (object)
One part of learning is to read. (predicate noun)

adjective: I am looking for a good spot to listen.

adverb: You are required to stay awake in order to listen.

noun phrase: To listen, silent and thoughtful, is one of his most impressive gifts.

3. to laugh

noun: To laugh is essential to good health. (subject)

I love to laugh. (object)
One way to express yourself is to laugh. (predicate noun)

adjective: I want to laugh.

adverb: You require a good sense of humour in order to laugh.

noun phrase: To laugh, head back and eyes alight with mischief, is one of the
important requirements of this role.

B. Compose ten sentences using present and past participles to modify different
kinds of nouns—subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, objects of prepositions,
predicate nouns, objective complements, appositives.

The singing chef prepared three entrees at once. (present participle modifying the
subject chef)

She chided the jaded reporter. (past participle modifying the direct object reporter)

We gave the waiting children a box of building blocks. (present participle modifying the
indirect object children)

The purpose of debating clubs is to practise oral argument. (present participle modifying
the clubs, the object of the preposition of)

This piece of music is an undoubted masterpiece. (past participle modifying the predicate
noun masterpiece)

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 We declared the candidate an emerging leader. (present participle modifying the objective
complement leader)

Madeleine Thien, an accomplished novelist, has also published short stories and a
picture book for children. (past participle modifying the appositive noun novelist)

The doctor treated the coughing patient. (present participle modifying the direct object
patient)

The newspaper article has been reprinted in this celebrated book. (past participle
modifying book, the object of the preposition in)

The seasoned broadcaster conducted the interview with the new prime minister.
(past participle modifying the subject broadcaster)

Exercise 21 (3): Verbals: Infinitives, Participles, and Gerunds

By reducing clauses to phrases, you can often get rid of unnecessary heaviness and
wordiness. Practise by reducing each italicized clause in the following sentences to
an infinitive phrase that conveys basically the same meaning. Change or rearrange
words as necessary.

1. Remember to be at the computer lab by 3:30.

2. The quarterbacks problem was to decide what play to use next.
3. My charismatic cousin gestured to us to follow him into the restaurant.
4. The time to worry about is the hour before the race.
5. After the motorbike came to a grinding halt, Abigail pondered what to do next.

Exercise 21 (4): Verbals: Infinitives, Participles, and Gerunds

This time, reduce each italicized clause to the kind of phrase specified in
parentheses after each sentence.

1. Sometimes the best part of a vacation is planning it.

2. Earning the respect of children is something to be proud of.
3. Feeling foolish, they decided to leave early.
4. Winning the contest came as something of a shock to her.
5. The bank manager wearing the colourful wig started doing the samba.

Exercise 21 (5): Verbals: Infinitives, Participles, and Gerunds

Absolute phrases are useful for expressing cause–effect relationships or for providing
vivid descriptive details. Since they considerably heighten style, don’t use them
often. But do use them sometimes. For practise, combine each of the following pairs

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of sentences by reducing one of them (usually the first) to an absolute phrase
consisting of a noun and a participle (along with any modifiers). Remember that if
the participle is being, it can sometimes be omitted (see 12r).

1. The toddler being very sleepy, her father carried her upstairs to her bedroom.
2. Nose running and eyes watering, he sat down, hoping he had chopped enough
onions.
3. Lights flickering and computer groaning, the 100-page report disappeared from the
screen.
4. The day breezy yet warm, they decided to take their golden retriever for a walk in
Hyde Park.
5. Extra money being hard to come by, he was forced to curtail his marathon shopping
trips to New York City.
6. The thunderstorm raging, Jim drove very slowly down the country lane.
7. The crowd cheering and applauding, the athletes entered the Olympic stadium.

Exercise 21d–e: Participles/Tense and Voice of Participles

Compose sentences using—as single-word adjectives—the present and the past

participles of each of the verbs below. Then add auxiliaries and use them as finite
verbs.

1. interest – interesting – interested

This novel proved interesting. It was an interesting novel.

The interested parties attended the trial. We stood on the sidelines, interested.

She is interesting us in the subject.

Documentaries have interested us for many years now.
We should be interested in the election results.

2. love – loving – loved

She described her parents as loving. She is a loving parent.

The much-loved child excelled in school. Loved and protected, she thrived.

They will be loving in their devotion to their elderly parents.

He has loved his partner since the moment they first met.
A child must be loved to be happy.

3. trouble – troubling – troubled

Gun violence seems troubling. The troubling data caused controversy.

He works with troubled youth. Troubled by war, we marched for peace.

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 The moderator will be troubling you to keep your comments brief.
Unregulated development has troubled community leaders for some time now.
Her behaviour indicates that she may be troubled by insomnia.

4. grow – growing – grown

The growing city lacks some essential services.

Grown children often distance themselves from younger siblings.
He arrived home from his year abroad, grown and changed.

The program will be growing significantly because of its larger budget.

Your baby has grown by three inches in the last six months.
You will be grown up the next time you visit.

5. change – changing – changed

Canada has a changing economy.

She is a changed woman.
Changed by her experiences, she found it difficult to resume her routine.

Technology has been changing the ways that we work.

The government policies have changed very little despite widespread protests.
Can this plan be changed before it is implemented?

6. ride – riding – ridden

The riding school has just opened.

This is a well-ridden horse.
Ridden twice around the track, the vehicle suddenly broke down.

The jockey will be riding a prizewinning horse.

They have ridden these paths on their mountain bikes.
That horse should not be ridden by inexperienced children.

7. excite – exciting – excited

The election race became exciting.

It became an exciting election race.
The reporter seemed excited and breathless.
Excited and breathless, the reporter went on the air with her story.

The actor will be exciting the audience with his dazzling swordplay.
The clown has excited that audience of children with his pratfalls.
A dedicated scientist can be excited by the sight of a test tube.

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8. dry – drying -dried

The drying canvas stood on the artist’s easel.

Dried fruits are a popular item sold at this shop.
Dried out, the parched landscape showed the effects of the drought.

After swimming in the ocean, we were drying out on the beach.

Have you been drying your wet hair in the warm spring sunshine?
The wet paint can be dried with a high-powered fan.

9. bake – baking –baked

This recipe calls for the use of baking powder.

Baked goods are often high in carbohydrates.
Baked and packaged, the cupcakes were offered for sale.

She is baking her own wedding cake.

The wedding cake had been baked a week before it was iced.
You can bake in the desert sun if you’re not careful.

Exercise 22a–c (1): Functions of Prepositions and Prepositional

Phrases/Placement of Prepositions/Common Prepositions

Identify each prepositional phrase in the following sentences and note whether each
is adjectival or adverbial:

1. Josh went into town to buy some back bacon for his breakfast.
into town – adverbial
for his breakfast – adjectival

2. There stood the famous pianist of about thirty, in the hot sunshine, wearing a heavy
jacket with the collar turned up.
of about thirty – adjectival
in the hot sunshine – adverbial
with the collar – adjectival

3. In the morning the president called her assistant on the telephone and told her to come
to the office without delay.
in the morning – adverbial
on the telephone – adverbial
to the office – adverbial
without delay – adverbial

4. The bulk of the presents was sent ahead in trunks.

of the presents – adjectival
in trunks – adverbial

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5. The Siamese cat looked under the table for the ball of yarn that had fallen from the
chair.
under the table – adverbial
for the ball – adverbial
of yarn – adjectival
from the chair – adverbial

Exercise 22a–c (2): Functions of Prepositions and Prepositional

Phrases/Placement of Prepositions/Common Prepositions

Prepositional phrases are essential components of writing, but they can be overdone.
These exercises will give you practise both in using them and in avoiding their
overuse.

A. REDUCING CLAUSES TO PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

1. With enough stamina, you can take part in the triathlon.

2. Because of her great self-confidence, she entered every race.
3. Students with part-time jobs must budget their time carefully.
4. We need the advice of a grandmother.
5. The best time to eat is three hours before you go to sleep.

B. REDUCING CLAUSES TO PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES USING GERUNDS

1. After running only half a block, I felt exhausted.

2. Despite having trained rigorously, she didn’t get past the preliminaries.
3. You can’t hope to understand without attending all the classes.
4. After checking the luggage carefully, they found nothing but a pair of toe nail
clippers. [ or, Upon checking the luggage carefully, …]
5. He deserves some credit for trying so hard.

C. GETTING RID OF EXCESSIVE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

1. Sarah reached the mountaintop first when she used several trails unknown to her
competitors in the race celebrating the centennial of the provinces entering
confederation. (9 prepositional phrases reduced to 3)

2. Most people attending the meeting felt that the committee chair spoke stridently and
lengthily on topics he did not fully understand. (7 prepositional phrases reduced to
1)

3. The irritated ghost who haunted the old house stood atop the staircase and shouted,
“Get away from the door—and hurry!” (6 prepositional phrases reduced to 1)

4. The highly respected modern historian has some odd ideas about how the First
World War, which started in early August 1914 and had such devastating

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 consequences for European and other nations, began. (8 prepositional phrases
reduced to 3)

5. Economists predict rising and falling interest rates quite accurately, but principally
within three or four week periods; even then, you should view their forecasts
cautiously or skeptically. (10 prepositional phrases reduced to 1)

Exercise 22d: Two-Part Verbs; Verb Idioms

A.

come about: turn in a new direction

come at: approach
come away: leave with me
come off: appear
come upon: discover

go about: undertake, approach, tackle

go off: get angry at
go over: review
go with: accompany

put off: delay

put out: insulted, aggrieved
put over: deceive
put upon: burdened

take out: eliminate

take over: assume responsibility for
take up: begin, start, consider

get about: go out

get at: uncover
get down: dance

set about: start

set off: irritate, make angry
set up: arrange, trick

B.

When we came upon our friends in the library, we found them going over the notes
for the upcoming midterm exam. As we had been putting off the inevitable moment
when we would have to take up the task of studying hundreds of pages of texts and
notes, we set about asking them for help. This set off James, who had taken over the
session in an effort to get at key concepts and likely questions. He seemed put out by

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 our casual assumption that we could join the group and benefit from their work. Did he
think we were setting him up? Did he seem put upon by our presence? He said we
were trying to put one over on the group—that we were coming off as opportunists
who weren’t willing to do our fair share.

C.

When we discovered our friends in the library, we found them reviewing the notes for
the upcoming midterm exam. As we had been delaying the inevitable moment when we
would have to begin the task of studying hundreds of pages of texts and notes, we
started to ask them for help. This angered James, who had taken responsibility for
the session in an effort to uncover key concepts and likely questions. He seemed
insulted by our casual assumption that we could join the group and benefit from their
work. Did he think we were tricking him into doing our work for us? Did he seem
burdened by our presence? He said we were trying to deceive the group—that we
appeared as opportunists who weren’t willing to do our fair share.

Exercise 23a: Coordinating Conjunctions

Put an appropriate coordinating conjunction in each blank. If more than one is

possible, indicate that.

1. Uma was late for the meeting, but she had a good excuse.
2. There is only one solution to this problem, and I know what it is.
3. No one likes noise pollution, yet (but) some people insist that we have to live with it.
4. Her brother is not cynical, nor is he insensitive.
5. We were puzzled by the professor’s humorous comments, for we had expected her to
speak seriously on the subject.
6. The tuba solo came as a surprise, for Tomas and Uli were expecting an organ concerto.

Exercise 23c (1): Subordinating Conjunctions

Identify the subordinate clauses in the following passage and indicate how each is
functioning: as adjective, adverb, or noun. (Remember that sometimes relative
pronouns are omitted; see 14d and 48a.) What words do the adjectival and adverbial
clauses modify? How does each noun clause function? (You might begin by
identifying the independent clauses.)

acting as an adverb
when he was only eight
modifying the verb ‘decided’
SENTENCE 1
(that) he wanted to be a marine acting as a noun clause
biologist direct object of the verb ‘decided’
where his family stayed every acting as an adjective
SENTENCE 2
summer modifying the noun ‘cabin’

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 acting as an adverb
as he grew older
modifying the verb ‘discovered’
noun clause
SENTENCE 3 that in order to become a marine
direct object of the verb
biologist
‘discovered’
that seemed far removed from ocean acting as an adjective
life modifying the noun ‘subjects’
whenever he worked on his math,
acting as an adverb
SENTENCE 4 statistics, or computer problems in
modifying the verb ‘kept’ (longing)
stuffy rooms
That he became a successful field
noun clause
SENTENCE 5 scientist and expert on the
acting as the subject of ‘is’
microorganisms found in tide pools
noun clause
what most people don’t know
subject of the verb ‘is’
that when Selwyn became a full noun clause
professor, he didn’t need to worry subjective complement of the verb
about doing analysis anymore ‘is’
when Selwyn became a full acting as an adverb modifying the
professor verb ‘didn’t need’
SENTENCE 6 acting as an adverb
because he had graduate students
modifying the verb ‘didn’t need to
worry’
acting as an adjective
who enjoyed working with numbers
modifying the noun ‘students’
who derived satisfaction from
acting as an adjective
developing new approaches to data
modifying the noun ‘students’
analysis
acting as an adverb
SENTENCE 7 while they crunched numbers
modifying the verb ‘puttered’

Exercise 23c (2): Subordinating Conjunctions

Combine each of the following pairs of simple sentences into a single complex
sentence by subordinating one clause and attaching it to the other with one of the
subordinators listed below. You may want to change, delete, or add some words,
reverse the clauses, or otherwise rearrange words. Experiment with different
subordinators.

1. As the art gallery won’t open until next week, the leak in the roof hasn’t been repaired yet.

2. As long as (while) Canada’s gun laws are still stricter than those in the United States, we should
defend this.

3. Because some students may not have paid all their fees, they would not yet be considered
officially registered.

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4. You should master the simple sentence before you work on rhyming couplets.

5. Because (after) the children ate most of their Halloween candy, they were bouncing off the walls.

Review Exercises Part III: Recognizing and Using Parts of Speech

A. RECOGNIZING PARTS OF SPEECH

the – article, modifying the noun skyline

skyline – noun, subject of ‘provides’
of – preposition
modern – adjective, modifying ‘Toronto’
Toronto – noun, object of the preposition ‘of’
provides – verb
a – article, modifying the noun ‘example’
striking – adjective modifying the noun ‘example’
example – noun, direct object of ‘provides’
of – preposition
what – relative pronoun, subordinate conjunction
modern – adjective modifying the noun ‘architecture’
architecture – noun, object of the preposition ‘of’
can – modal auxiliary verb
do – main verb
to – preposition (part of the infinitive verb ‘to distinguish’)
distinguish – verbal (infinitive verb form)
a – article modifying the noun ‘city’
major – adjective modifying the noun ‘city’

The sentence is declarative and complex.

waiter – noun
theres – there (expletive) + is (linking verb)
a – article, modifying the noun ‘fly’
fly – fly, noun, subjective complement of the verb ‘is’
doing – present participle
the – article, modifying the noun ‘crawl’
back – adjective modifying the noun ‘crawl’
crawl – noun, object of the verbal ‘doing’
in – preposition
my – possessive adjective, modifying the noun ‘soup’
soup – noun, object of the preposition ‘in’

The sentence is exclamatory and simple.

well – interjection

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to – preposition, marking the infinitive verb ‘tell’
tell – verb in its infinitive form
the – article, modifying the noun ‘truth’
truth – noun, object of the infinitive ‘to tell’
I – pronoun, subject of the verb ‘did not have’
just – adverb, modifying the verb ‘did not have’
did – modal auxiliary verb
not – adverb, modifying the verb ‘did have’
have – main verb
the – article, modifying the noun ‘patience’
necessary – adjective, modifying the noun ‘patience’
patience – noun, direct object of ‘did not have’

The sentence is exclamatory and simple.

why – interrogative adverb

should – modal auxiliary verb
anyone – indefinite pronoun
be – main verb
unhappy – predicate adjective, modifying the pronoun ‘anyone’
about – preposition
paying – gerund, object of the preposition ‘about’
a – article, modifying the noun ‘tax’
fair – adjective, modifying the noun ‘tax’
tax – noun, object of the gerund ‘paying’

The sentence is interrogative and simple.

neither – correlative conjunction

the – article, modifying the noun ‘captain’
captain – noun, subject of ‘could be blamed’
nor – correlative conjunction
the – article, modifying the noun ‘crew’
crew – noun, subject of ‘could be blamed’
could – modal auxiliary verb
be – auxiliary verb
blamed – main verb, past participle form
for - preposition
the – article, modifying the noun ‘accident’
terribly – adverb, modifying the adjective ‘costly’
costly – adjective, modifying the noun ‘accident’
ferry – adjective, modifying the noun ‘accident’
accident – noun, object of the preposition ‘for’
the – article, modifying the noun ‘business’
elevator – adjective, modifying the noun ‘business’
business – noun, subject of the verb ‘has been said’
has – auxiliary verb
been – auxiliary verb, past participle form

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said – main verb, past participle form
to – preposition, introducing the infinitive verb ‘have’
have – infinitive verb form
its – possessive adjective, modifying ‘ups’ and ‘downs’
ups – noun, direct object of the infinitive verb ‘to have’
and – coordinating conjunction
downs – noun, direct object of the infinitive verb ‘to have’

The sentence is indicative and simple.

Don – noun of direct address

please
put – verb
back – adverb, particle in the two-part verb ‘put back’
the – article, modifying the noun ‘cake’
chocolate – adjective, modifying the noun ‘cake’
cake – noun, direct object of the verb ‘put [back]’

The sentence is imperative and simple.

while – adverb
abroad – adverb
I – personal pronoun, subject of the verb ‘learned’
learned – verb
to – preposition, introducing the infinitive verb ‘make’
make – verb, infinitive form
do
with – preposition
only – adverb, modifying the adjective ‘three’
three – adjective, modifying the noun ‘suitcases’
large – adjective, modifying the noun ‘suitcases’
suitcases – noun, object of the preposition ‘with’
and – coordinating conjunction
one – adjective, modifying the noun ‘chauffeur’
full-time – adjective, modifying the noun ‘chauffeur’
chauffeur – noun, object of the preposition ‘with’

The sentence is indicative and simple.

in – preposition
a – article, modifying the noun ‘seconds’
few – adjective, modifying the noun ‘seconds’
seconds – noun, object of the preposition ‘in’
the – article, modifying the noun ‘computer’
computer – noun, subject of the verb ‘told’
told – verb
us – personal pronoun, indirect object of the verb ‘told’
much
more

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 than
we – personal pronoun, subject of the verb ‘needed’
needed – verb
to – preposition, introducing the infinitive verb ‘know’
know – verb in infinitive form

The sentence is indicative and complex.

help – verb

The sentence is exclamatory and simple.

B. USING DIFFERENT PARTS OF SPEECH

They shed their parkas in the mid-day sunshine. [verb]

You’ll find the gardening tools in the shed. [noun]

This book is the best source on the topic of workplace stress. [adjective]
Our aim is to best the opposing team in our defensive performance. [verb]

She made a left turn at the wrong traffic light. [adjective]

We left the party after the guest of honour made his speech. [verb]

The company moved its new plant from Hamilton to Peterborough. [noun]
The team decided to plant the flag at the North Pole. [verb]

Before the first intermission, members of the audience fell asleep. [preposition]
The candidates shook hands before they began the debate. [subordinate conjunction]

This scientific study is based on five years of clinical trials. [noun]

He hopes to study at the Sorbonne during his year away in France. [verb]

We still aim to spend the summer in the mountains. [adverb]

The still life hanging in the gallery is the object of a bidding war. [adjective]

The train wound its way across the prairie. [noun]

These athletes train at the aquatic centre every morning. [verb]

The cover image is vivid and disturbing. [adjective]

The chef will cover the dish with a spicy sauce. [verb]
What is on the cover of the magazine this month. [noun]

Without a map, we were bound to take a wrong turn on our journey. [adjective]
We exhausted ourselves in debating the right and the wrong of the issue. [noun]

How long will this blizzard last? [verb]

The students caught the last bus to Mont Tremblant. [adjective]

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Now that I’ve had a nap, I feel fine. [adjective]
The judge ordered the defendant to pay a fine. [noun]
The judged will fine you if you fail to prove your case. [verb]

As we round the corner, we will see the monument. [verb]

The sixth round of the competition ended in a tie. [noun]
The square peg will not fit in the round hole. [adjective]

I won the second set, but I lost the match to a superior tennis player. [noun]
Please set the table when you have a moment. [verb]

The rose is a symbol of love and beauty. [noun]

The defendant rose to hear the jury’s verdict. [verb]
She is knitting a rose scarf. [adjective]

Do they plan to cross the border at the Peace Arch Crossing? [verb]
When the legislators disagree, they are at cross purposes. [adjectives]
The cross is an important symbol of Christianity. [noun]

The children played near the soccer field. [preposition]

We travelled near and far. [adverb]

She bought a down jacket for her trip to Antarctica. [adjective]

He can down a milkshake in 15 seconds. [verb]
The shy child looked down. [adverb]
We walked down the stairs. [preposition]

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