Entry 3: Noun Group – The Naming Tools Subtitle: Previewing the Noun Tools

Identify if the following is a Gerund (1), Infinitive (2) or Appositive (3). 1. Shining a light down the dark alley, I found myself staring right into the glittering green eyes of the black cat. 2. I found myself staring right into the glittering green eyes of the black cat, a ferocious creature with heinous teeth. 3. I found myself staring right into the glittering green eyes of the black cat, to back out now was impossible.

Write down the following sentences, underline the noun phrase and then label it as Gerund, Infinitive or Appositive. Label the subject and predicate. 1. The chicken looked suddenly up and to the left to get a better view of the cat prowling in the corner. 2. Sunning herself lazily only a moment before, the chicken looked up suddenly up and to the left. 3. The chicken, a gorgeous blue-laced Wynadotte, looked suddenly up and to the left.

Directions: For sentences with boldfaced noun tools, exchange one of your own for the author’s. For sentences with deleted noun tools, expand the sentence by adding one of your own. Examples Exchanging Author’s: Pushing the handcart up to the old man’s house was difficult. Yours: Carrying our sick sheepdog into the vet’s office was difficult.

Expanding Original Sentence with Deleted Noun Tool: Arranging ^ can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day, like writing a poem, or saying a prayer. Your Added Tool: Arranging a schedule without lots of activities can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day, like writing a poem, or saying a prayer. Original: Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day, like writing a poem, or saying a prayer. – Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift From the Sea)

Noun Phrases They all saw the strange creature, a whiskered furry face that looked out at them from behind the tree. Being a ^ doesn’t excuse you from having to learn. (Raise your hand for me to check these two before moving on) 3. Mrs. Myers tried to figure out where to put the extra desk. 4. May always liked the weird one best, the ones ^. 5. He started waking up before the alarm that week, fresher in the morning and stronger. 6. He preferred visiting ^ and listening ^. Highlight all your phrases and label what kind of phrase it is. Also label your subject and predicate.