1. Participial Phrases
English Bellwork

2. English Bellwork- Monday, January 29
Directions: Write the definition of a participial phrase. Write out the two examples and underline the participial phrases used.
1. A participial phrase is a verb acting as a descriptor of a noun.
2. “Taking off my shoes, I waded in.”—S.M. Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees
3. “Without turning on the light, he imagined how this room would look.”—Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

3. English Bellwork- Tuesday, January 30th
Directions: Write out the sentences, then underline the participial phrases. Next, answer the question.
1. Having a long, cylindrical snout, a bushy tail, and front feet that turn in, the anteater is unmistakable.
2. Covered with coarse, stiff, gray-brown hair, it carries its own camouflage.
3. Lacking teeth, the anteater has a limited diet.
4. Q: What is the function of the participial phrases in these sentences?

4. English Bellwork- Wednesday, January 31st
Directions: Write out the sentences, then underline the participial phrases. Next, answer the question.
1. Found in the swamps of Central and South America, the great anteater shuffles along in a continual search for food.
2. Lacking a permanent resting place, it sleeps with its head between its forelegs.
3. Sometimes taking over the burrow of another animal, it wraps its tail around its body and sleeps.
4. Q: What is the effect of the participial phrases in these sentences?

5. English Bellwork- Thursday, February 1st
Directions: Directions: Write out the sentences, then underline the participial phrases. Next, answer the question.
1. Walking along on the knuckles of their front feet, giant anteaters appear to be in pain.
2. This stance, adopted to protect the long claws, seems to cripple the anteater.
3. The hind feet look nearly human, emphasizing the awkwardness of the front feet.
4. Q: If these sentences did not contain participial phrases, what would be the effect?

6. English Bellwork- Friday, February 2nd
Directions: Participial phrases do not always have to be in the front of a sentence. Rearrange the sentences to place the phrase somewhere else.
1. The anteater, feeding almost exclusively on termites, ants, and soft-bodied grubs, uses its tongue to trap insects with its sticky saliva.
2. Known for its superior sense of smell, the anteater uses its nose effectively.
3. Probing nooks and crannies, it keeps its snout close to the ground.

7. Monday, February 5th
Directions: Read the sentences with participial phrases. Identify the participial in the sentence. Then, use that participial in a sentence of your own!
1. Having a well developed sense of smell, the anteater can sniff out its prey.
2. Attacked by enemies, it can use its front claws to slash and pinch.
3. Unaccustomed to anteaters, the ordinary zoo visitor in the United States finds this an unusual animal.

8. Tuesday, February 6th
Directions: Read the sentences with participial phrases. Identify the participial in the sentence. Then, use that participial in a sentence of your own!
1. Wearing a black cape, the man ripped off the hood and revealed his skull-like face.
2. Snapping her fingers and muttering an incantation, the gnarled old woman transformed into a fish, then a swan, and finally an eagle.
3. Locked in the trunk, the puppy howled and scratched.

9. Wednesday, February 7th
Directions: Read the sentences with participial phrases. Identify the participial in the sentence. Then, use that participial in a sentence of your own!
1. The rhino, caught in the tangled rope, looked for freedom.
2. A cat, frozen by fear, hissed at the dog.
3. Watching the blood trail away, shifting the weight of the line to his left shoulder, he washed his hand in the ocean.

10. Thursday, February 8th
Directions: Read the sentences. Rewrite the sentences to include participial phrases
1. The cheerleaders jumped up and down; the cheerleaders urged the team on.
2. The basketball team was encouraged by its performance in the semifinals; the team went on to the finals.
3. Kathy was told of the team’s success, she smiled happily.

11. Friday, February 9th
Directions: Read the sentences. Rewrite the sentences to include participial phrases
1. Kate walked out in the cool night air; Kate looked up at the sky.
2. She watched the stars closely; she identified the constellations.
3. Kate recorded the data for the night; she closed her notebook.

12. Participial Phrase Activities
First identify.
What is the function?
What is the effect?
Manipulate sentence, discuss effect.
Replicate sentence structure.