ref – https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/gerund_phrase.htm

A gerund phrase is a phrase that consists of a gerund, its object, and any modifiers.

Removing the bug quickly is the way.

Here are the parts of the gerund phrase:

gerund: “removing”
direct object: “the bug”
modifier: “quickly”

I like singing songs in the shower.

Here are the parts of the gerund phrase:

gerund: “singing”
direct object: “songs”
modifier: “in the shower” // prepositions are simply called ‘modifiers’

Try to serve the soup without dropping the tray this time.
Here are the parts of the gerund phrase:
gerund: “dropping”
direct object: “the tray”
modifier: “this time”

Gerund with no direct objects

Here is an example without an object:

Moving quickly is the key to survival.

Here are the parts of the gerund phrase:
gerund: “moving”
modifier: “quickly”

Without modifier

I want to talk to you about buying those magic beans.

Here are the parts of the gerund phrase:
gerund: “buying”
direct object: “those magic beans”

[Eating blackberries quickly] will make you ill.

In the gerund phrase above:

“Eating” is the gerund.
(A gerund phrase always starts with the gerund.)

The word “blackberries” is the direct object of the gerund.
(The object of a gerund is also called the gerund complement.)

“Quickly” is a modifier (an adverb).

Same as above, but with an adverbial phrase

[Eating blackberries (without washing them)] will make you ill.

Gerund – “Eating”
direct object – blackberries
modifier is the phrase “without washing them.”

Just like “quickly” in the first example, it is an adverb.

In fact, “without washing them” is an adverbial phrase, where “without” is a preposition:

gerund phrase (“washing them”)
gerund (“washing”)
its direct object (“them”).

[Eating blackberries [without washing them]].

Gerund Phrase and Adverbial Phrase

How does adverbial phrases use gerund phrase?

Like all nouns, a gerund phrase can function as a subject, an object, or a complement within a sentence.

She hates waiting(ger) [for trains] modifiers.
(The gerund phrase is the direct object of the verb “hates.”)

She knew a lot about growing(gerund) tomatoes (gerund’s dir obj).
(The gerund phrase is the object of the preposition “about.”)

Her biggest mistake was caring(n) [too much] modifiers.
(The gerund phrase is a subject complement that completes the linking verb “was.”)

Purpose

Verb + ing Continuous form is used to show an action that is continuous or in general.

describe an ongoing action
描述 正在 进行 的行动

run + ing = running

Situation 1 (正在做的动作) – I am (helping verb) running(main verb). (This is used as a present participle to denote a continuous action now)

Situation 2 (形容词) – The running water is cold (present participle used as an adjective)

Situation 3 (现在进行时 作为名词 –> 动名词) – Sandy loves running. (running is used as a noun (gerund) at the object position. Its to describe the general continuous action that Sany likes to do)

Provide clarity and shorten the sentence

Ted serves the soup, and he does not drop the tray while he serves. (14)
Ted serves the soup without dropping the tray (8).

If you eat blackberries that have not been washed, they will make you sick. (14)
Eating blackberries without washing then will make you sick. (9)

Additional Information

Gerund phrases, which are groups of words built around a gerund (a verb ending in “-ing” that functions as a noun), are incredibly versatile and can be used in various grammatical roles within a sentence. Here’s a comprehensive list of their common uses:

1. Subject of a Sentence:

* [Swimming] is my favorite exercise.
* [(Taking) a break] is important for productivity.
* [(Learning) a new language] can be challenging but rewarding.

2. Direct Object

* He enjoys [(playing) the guitar].
* She loves [(reading) mystery novels].
* They avoided [(making) eye contact].

3. Indirect Object

* He gave [singing in the choir] a try.
* She dedicated her time to [(helping) others].
* They offered [(donating) their time) to the cause.

4. Subject Complement

* Her passion is [dancing].
* His hobby is [(collecting) stamps].
* The hardest part was [(saying) goodbye].

5. Object of a Preposition:

* She is good [{at} (solving) puzzles].
* He is interested [{in} (learning) to code].
* They are tired [{of} (waiting) in line].

6. Appositive:

* His favorite activity, [(hiking) in the mountains], always brings him joy.
* Her dream, [(becoming) a pilot], motivated her to study hard.
* My biggest fear, [(speaking) in public], held me back for years.

ref – https://www.stylemanual.gov.au/grammar-punctuation-and-conventions/punctuation/commas

Put a comma after the close of any letter (personal or business).

Put a comma after the greeting of a friendly letter.

Examples:

Dear Aunt JoAnne,

Sincerely,

Use commas to set off a noun of direct address.

Examples:

Peter, please come over here.
Please come over here, Peter.
Please, Peter, come over here.

Use a comma in front of a direct quotation that is not at the beginning of a sentence.

Use a comma to separate information about the speaker in a direct quotation.

Examples:

Mrs. Scotto said softly, “The math test tomorrow consists of one thousand problems. Class dismissed.”

“The math test tomorrow,” Mrs. Scotto said softly, “has a thousand problems on it.”

Note: Commas (and periods) always go inside quotation marks.

Use commas to separate parts of addresses and places when they are written in a sentence.

Example:

She lived at 20 Joyce Road, Peabody, Massachusetts, until she moved to 51 Grove Street, Lynn, Massachusetts.

Put a comma after the day of the week, after the number of the day, and after the year when a date is within a sentence.

No comma is needed if only the month and year are in the sentence. (Never put a comma between the month and the number of the day.)

Examples:

They were married on Saturday, July 31, 1999, under stormy skies.
He was born in July 1976.

Use a comma before and after words and abbreviations when they are used to introduce an example or series.

Use a comma to set off etc.

Note: i.e. and e.g. are the abbreviations of Latin phrases.

i.e. means “that is to say” (Latin: id est)

e.g. means “for example” (Latin: exempli gratia)

Example:

There are a lot of science subjects one can take at the college, e.g., molecular biology, cosmology, advanced chemistry, quantum physics, etc.

Note: Do not use the phrase “and etc.” Et cetera already means “and so on,” so this is redundant.

ref – http://www.brainfuse.com/curriculumupload//1185321789404.html

Put a comma after an adverbial phrase at the beginning of a sentence.

An adverbial phrase is a group of words (without a subject or a verb) that does the work of an adverb. It modifies the verb and answers questions like how? where? when?)

Standard Form: Adverbial phrase, rest of sentence.

Example: In the distant future, we may all be driving electric cars.

Exception 1: If the opening adverbial phrase is very short the comma is optional.

Example: Before dawn we should prepare for our trip.

Exception 2: If the word after the adverbial phrase is a verb, do not use a comma after the phrase.

Example: In the depths of the wilderness lives a ferocious lion.

Use commas to set off nonrestrictive phrases and clauses

These phrases and clauses give information but are not really essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Sample Form: Subject, nonrestrictive clause, predicate.

Example: Katelyn, who is an only child, demands a lot of attention.

Do not use commas around restrictive clauses.

Restrictive clauses provide information essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Sample Form: Subject restrictive clause predicate.

Example: The boy [who broke the window] is at the door.

Use commas to set off nonrestrictive appositives.

An appositive is a noun that comes after another noun and gives additional information about it. An appositive can come in the middle or end of a sentence.

Examples:

Dr. Sogohan, the headmaster of our school, never shouts.
One person who never shouts is Dr. Sogohan, the headmaster of our school.

Do not use commas around restrictive appositives.

Restrictive appositives provide information crucial to the understanding of the sentence and should not be set apart with commas.
Example: The musician Bobby Groffman visited our town.

Put a comma after words like oh, yes, and no at the beginning of a sentence.

Form: Interjection, independent clause.

Example: Yes, I do have what you’re looking for.

ref – http://www.brainfuse.com/curriculumupload//1185318888766.html

Put a comma between independent clauses of equal value when there are three or more, and they themselves don’t have commas in them.

Form: First independent clause, second independent clause, and third independent clause.

An independent clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb that could stand alone as a sentence. If your sentence contains multiple independent clauses, separate them with commas.

Example:

Aliens was a great movie, the people loved its originality, and I’m sure there will be more fans in the future.

Put a comma in front of a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses in a compound sentence.

Form: Independent clause, [conjunction] independent clause.

Example: I wanted to go swimming today, but the weather had other ideas.

Note: You don’t need a comma if the clauses are very short.

Example: You pitch and I’ll catch.

Do not put a comma in a compound verb. Use a comma only if the second verb has its own subject.

Example (no comma): David loves computers and got a job as a computer artist.

Example (with comma): David loves computers, and he got a job as a computer artist.

Put a comma after a dependent clause that comes before an independent clause in a complex sentence.

Do not put a comma if the independent clause comes first.

A dependent clause is a group of words containing a subject and verb that can’t stand alone as a complete sentence. A dependent clause typically begins with words like after, although, because, if, since when, while, etc.

Form: Dependent clause, independent clause.

Example: Whenever I see a rainbow, I think about my favorite movie.

Form: Independent clause dependent clause.

Example: I think about my favorite movie whenever I see a rainbow.

Put a comma between two adjectives–

1. when they describe the same noun, and

2. the word “and” could be put between the adjectives without changing the meaning.

Example (with comma): the fat, colorful parrot (fat and colorful parrot)

Do not use a comma between two adjectives if the second adjective and the noun go together as one item. If the word “and” doesn’t sound right between the adjectives, leave the comma out.

Example (no comma): white wedding gown

Use a comma to separate three or more items in a series.

Example: Pa bought potatoes, peaches, and peppers.

*Some writers don’t put a comma in front of the conjunction before the last item in the series. This is known as the Oxford comma, and while its use is becoming more popular, it’s still considered an optional addition.

Adverbial phrases can use gerund phrases to provide information about how, when, why, or where an action takes place. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund (a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun) along with any modifiers or objects that accompany it.

When a gerund phrase functions as an adverbial phrase, it modifies a verb by answering questions such as “how?” “when?” “why?” or “where?”

Here’s how this works in practice:

How: The gerund phrase can describe the manner in which an action is performed.

Example: “He improved his skills [by practicing daily].”

In this sentence, “by practicing daily” is a gerund phrase that tells us how he improved his skills.

When: It can indicate the time of the action.

Example: “She sings [while studying].”

Here, “while studying” is a gerund phrase that specifies when she sings.

Why: It may provide a reason for the action.

Example: “She took the class [to learn dancing].”

In this case, “to learn dancing” expresses the purpose behind why she took the class.

Where: Although less common, gerund phrases can also describe a location related to the action.

Example: “He loves [running in the park].”

In this sentence, “in the park” modifies the action of running by specifying where he loves to run.

By including gerund phrases in a sentence, you create adverbial phrases that help convey additional context and details about the actions being described.

Usage issues

He (subj) glides (v)
[through the water] // where?
[like an eel] // how?
[to catch the freshest fish]. // why? note: fish is plural

There is no strict grammatical limit to the number of prepositional phrases you can combine for a subject in English, but practical considerations apply. While theoretically, you could construct a subject with numerous prepositional phrases, doing so can lead to sentences that are overly complex and difficult to read.

For example, you could say:

“The book on the table in the corner of the room under the window with the beautiful curtains belongs to my friend.”

In this example, there are multiple prepositional phrases used to specify the noun “book.” However, clarity and readability can suffer as you add more phrases.

In formal writing and communication, it’s generally advisable to keep sentences concise and clear. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your audience can easily follow your meaning. If a sentence becomes too convoluted, it may be better to break it into shorter, clearer sentences.

How do I break convoluted phrases into shorter clearer sentences?

Breaking convoluted prepositional phrases into shorter, clearer sentences involves identifying the core ideas and rearranging them for improved clarity. Here’s a step-by-step approach to help you:

Identify the Main Idea: Look for the main subject and verb in the original sentence. Understand what the sentence is trying to convey.

Isolate Prepositional Phrases: Find the prepositional phrases that are making the sentence lengthy or complex. Prepositional phrases often begin with words like “in,” “on,” “at,” “around,” “with,” “for,” etc.

Extract Key Information: Break down the information in the prepositional phrases into simpler parts. Consider what each phrase adds to the overall meaning.

Create Shorter Sentences: Rewrite the ideas using shorter sentences. Focus on clarity and ensure that each sentence conveys one main idea.

Use Clear Vocabulary: Opt for straightforward vocabulary that will enhance understanding without sacrificing meaning.

Check for Flow: When you write multiple sentences, ensure there’s a logical flow between them that makes it easy for the reader to follow.

Example
Original Sentence:
The proposal submitted by the committee in response to the recent changes in regulations put forth by the board of directors was unanimously accepted.

Breaking It Down:

Identify the Main Idea: The proposal was accepted.

Isolate Prepositional Phrases:

“submitted by the committee”
“in response to recent changes”
“in regulations”
“put forth by the board of directors”
Extract Key Information:

The committee submitted a proposal.
The proposal addressed recent regulatory changes.
The board of directors introduced the changes.
Create Shorter Sentences:

The committee submitted a proposal.
The proposal addressed recent changes in regulations.
The board of directors introduced these changes.
It was unanimously accepted.
Put it all together:

The committee submitted a proposal. This proposal addressed recent changes in regulations introduced by the board of directors. It was unanimously accepted.
By following these steps, you can effectively break down convoluted sentences into clearer, more concise statements.

Removing Ambiguity with prepositional phrases

Joe fed the shark in the cage.

(Does the prepositional phrase tell us where Joe was when he fed the shark, or does it tell us which shark Joe fed? In other words, is “in the cage” functioning as an adverb modifying “fed”

Joe (fed) the shark [in the cage]. // Joe went into the cage and fed that shark.

or an adjective modifying “shark?

Joe fed (the shark) [in the cage]. // so…there are sharks elsewhere ‘outside’ of the cage.

1) If you read it as an adverb (i.e., telling us where Joe was), you might assume there was just one shark.

2) If you read it as an adjective (i.e., “the shark that was in the cage”), you would assume there were other sharks.)

You can usually eliminate ambiguity by rewording your sentence with a relative clause:

• Joe was in the cage when he fed the shark. √
• Joe fed the shark that was in the cage. √

If your prepositional phrase is ambiguous, move it next to (usually immediately to the right of) whatever it’s meant to be modifying.

Ambiguous:

[is glass bottles] is meant to function as an adverb and modify ‘sell’?
or function as adjective and modify noun ‘anyone’?

We will not sell paraffin to anyone in glass bottles. X

Correct:

Move it after what you’re trying to modify.
We will not sell paraffin in glass bottles to anyone. √

Ambiguous:
Simon and his mother were reunited after 52 years in McDonald’s. X

[in McDonald’s] was meant to modify “reunited” but when we put it at the end it reads as if after 52 years in McDonald’s, they reunited.

This is not what we’re. trying to say. Hence, we want to put prepositional phrase “in McDonald’s” AFTER what we’re trying to modify: reunited. We want to say they were reunited in McDonald’s, so we move the location McDonald’s after ‘reunited’.

Correct:

Simon and his mother were reunited [in McDonald’s] after 52 years.

ref – https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/adverb-phrases

An Adverb Phrase consists of an adverb (The adverb is the head of the phrase) and can appear alone or it can be modified by other words.

Adverb phrases modifies verbs

We use adverb phrases most commonly to modify verbs. In the examples the adverb phrases are in bold. The verbs that they modify are underlined:

I [exercise] very regularly
I [eat] quite healthily
Children [grow] up.

Adverb phrases modifies ‘am/is/are’

We use adverb phrases with be. This is especially typical of adverbs of place:

I [am] upstairs. // upstairs modify ‘am’

It is (linking verb) only(adv)a spider. // only modifies ‘is’

I am (linking verb) too(adv) smart.

She is (linking verb) very (adv) silly.

Adverb phrases modifies adjectives/adverbs

We use adverb phrases (adv) to modify adjectives and other adverbs:

I found it extremely (adv) difficult (adj) to talk to her.

He drives really (adv) carefully (adv).

Adverb phrases modify noun/prepositional phrases

We use adverb phrases (adv) to:

1) modify noun phrases (np)

quite – to the utmost or most absolute extent or degree; absolutely; completely

That is quite (adv) [a tree] (noun phrase). (it’s a tree that is special in some way, e.g. it’s very big)
There is even (adv) [a place for shoes] (noun phrase).
There is hardly/barely (adv) any food. (noun phrase).
I peer over (adv) [the cliff] (noun phrase).
She lean over (adv) [the railing] (noun phrase).

Yes, adverbs can modify prepositional phrases. An adverb can provide additional information about the relationship expressed by the preposition and its object. For example:

She ran quickly up the stairs.
The cat jumped high onto the table.
He spoke softly with the visiting professor.
In these sentences, the adverbs “quickly”, “high”, and “softly” modify the prepositional phrases “up the stairs”, “onto the table”, and “with the visiting professor” respectively, providing more detail about the manner or degree of the action expressed in the prepositional phrase.

2) prepositional phrases:

I (s)
peer (v)
over (adv)
[at the funny old man.] (prepositional phrase)

I (subj)
run (verb)
daily (adv)
[at the park.] (prepositional phrase)

We (subj)
climb (verb)
right (adv)
[over the sofa.] (prepositional phrase)

Our budget (subj)
runs (verb)
well (adv)
[into six digits] (prepositional phrase).

Adverb phrases modify determiners

We use adverb phrases to modify determiners, especially words like:
– all
– some
– half
– many (quantifiers):

Only(adv) half(determiner) of my friends could come to my party.
Only(adv) some(determiner) of the survivors reached the shelter.

Very (adv) few (determiner) people have heard of my city.
[Nearly (adv) all (determiner) of the cookies] = subject
have been (present perfect verb)
eaten.

A monster lives [in] a cave. (3)

subject = A monster (with three eyes) adjective prepositional phrase
verb = lives
preposition = in
adjective phrase = a very comfortable
noun = cave.

subject = The cave
verb = sits
preposition = on
prepositional noun = top
adjective prepositional phrase = of a mountain Used as adjective to describe the noun ‘top’

subject = The [very friendly] monster adjective phrase
verb = loves
object = animals.

One day,

subject = the animals
verb = come
adverb = over
preposition = for
preposition object = dinner

subject = The monster
verb = cooks
object = a big pot
prepositional phrase as adjective to describe ‘big pot’ = of delicious soup

He uses onions, potatoes, and tomatoes.
He uses fresh onions [from Gansu], sturdy potatoes [from Shandong], and juicy tomatoes [from Xinjiang].

subject = The [very hungry] animals adjective phrase
verb = wait
preposition = for
prepositional object = [the hot, delicious soup] adjective phrase is series of adjectives ‘hot, delicious’ to describe prep obj ‘soup’

subject = Each (deter) animal
verb = gets
object = one bowlful (noun – bowl full amount of food).

subject = They
verb = eat
preposition = until
prepositional object = [their stomachs are full] (prep obj).

The prepositional object

“their stomachs are full” is a noun clause.
An object can take noun clauses.

ref – https://www.examples.com/english/adjective/adjective-prepositional-phrase.html

Begins with a preposition and functions as an adjective.

[The cat with green eyes] is my favorite.

[The dishes in the glass cabinet] are antique.

[The girl with curly hair] won the competition.

I love the [paintings from the Renaissance period].

[The book by the famous author] was sold out.

[People without tickets] were asked to leave.

[The building with tall spires] is a cathedral.

[The dog with a shiny coat] is well-groomed.

I prefer [the room with a balcony view].

[The chocolates from Belgium] are delicious.

The man with the top hat is a magician.

Trees with pink blossoms line the street.

The car without a sunroof is cheaper.

The tea from the high mountains tastes fresh.

The woman with red lipstick is a celebrity.

The laptop with higher RAM performs better.

The shoes from the luxury brand are on sale.

The songs from the 80s are nostalgic.

The phone with a larger battery lasts longer.

The park with a lake is peaceful.

The shirt with stripes is in fashion.

The movie by that director won many awards.

The house with the blue door is haunted.

The cake with cherry toppings is sweet.

I bought the plant with fragrant flowers.

The bag from the top shelf is expensive.

The boy with a guitar is a musician.

The museum with ancient artifacts is renowned.

The pizza with extra cheese is popular.

The novel about vampires is a bestseller.

The island with white sandy beaches is a tourist attraction.

The shop on the corner street sells vintage items.

The dish with spicy seasoning was flavorful.

The city with historic monuments attracts tourists.

The garden with colorful butterflies is beautiful.

The necklace with a diamond pendant is exquisite.

The teacher with a PhD is knowledgeable.

The hotel near the airport is convenient.

The bird with bright feathers is exotic.

The coffee from Colombia is strong.

The show by the popular network is trending.

The stadium with larger capacity hosted the finals.

The festival during the summer was fun.

The bicycle with gear system is advanced.

The workshop for beginners was informative.

The forest with dense trees is mysterious.

The cafe by the riverside offers a scenic view.

The story about aliens was intriguing.

The valley with snow-capped peaks is picturesque.

The game for kids is educational.

[The meal with vegan ingredients] was wholesome.

[The castle atop the hill] is ancient.

[The jacket made of leather] is stylish.

[The song from the latest album] is catchy.

[The park with a playground] is children’s favorite.

[The sculpture of the dancing lady] is mesmerizing.

T[he town near the coastline] has a maritime climate.

[The dish without any spices] is bland.

[The festival during winter] is a cultural highlight.

[The hotel with a swimming pool] is in high demand.

[The forest full of wildlife] is a biodiversity hotspot.

[The artist with a unique style] held an exhibition.

[The team from the southern region] won the championship.

[The river with crystal-clear water] is pristine.

[The book about time travel] is a page-turner.

The school beside the lake has a tranquil setting.

The bakery with gluten-free options is health-conscious.

The mountain with treacherous trails is a challenge for trekkers.

The shop selling antiques has rare collections.

The movie set in the 1920s is a period drama.

The street lined with maple trees turns golden in autumn.

The car with a sunroof is a premium model.

The bridge over the wide river is an architectural marvel.

The instrument from the classical era is precious.

The painting depicting a sunset is evocative.

The pastry filled with cream is delectable.

The island without any inhabitants is remote.

The building with green architecture is eco-friendly.

The course for advanced learners is intensive.

The bird with a melodious call is sought by birdwatchers.

The market during the festive season is bustling.

The dessert topped with nuts is crunchy.

The region known for its wines is a must-visit for connoisseurs.

The shoes with cushioned soles offer comfort.

The beach with golden sands is serene.

The seminar for entrepreneurs was enlightening.

The journey through dense forests was adventurous.

The computer with high processing speed is efficient.

The concert featuring international artists was grand.

The village with traditional huts preserves its heritage.

The theme park with thrilling rides attracts many visitors.

The tea with aromatic herbs is refreshing.

The bookshelf made of oak wood is sturdy.

The camera with a high-resolution lens captures sharp images.

The gallery showcasing abstract art is avant-garde.

The tree with fragrant blossoms is a spring delight.

The phone with a long battery life is reliable.

The cafe offering organic brews is health-centric.

The game with virtual reality offers immersive experience.

The fabric dyed in natural colors is eco-conscious.