Syntax Exercises

Phrases:
1. Identify the HEAD and its MODIFIER(S) in the underlined phrases.

1. I hope to win the first prize.

2. I tried to solve the puzzle.
3. Did you enjoy reading this book?
4. Those are the boys I met yesterday.
5. Horses prefer living in dark stables.
6. The accused refused to answer the question.
7. The boy denied stealing the money.
8. To write such rubbish is disgraceful.
9. I dislike having to punish my kids.
10. Bring me the large thick green book.

2. Identify the phrases in these clauses using brackets. Then, with different
colours:
A. identify and underline the noun phrases.
B. identify and underline the verb phrases.
C. identify and underline the prepositional phrases.
D. identify and underline the adjective phrases.
E. identify and underline the adverbial phrase.

1. John threw his chewing gum through the window.

2. Susan is a very clever girl.
3. He graduated last year.
4. My sister is fond of animals.
5. She arrived after midnight.
6. The cat with green eyes is my favourite.
7. I have my first coffee at 7,00 o’clock in the morning.
8. She left quite suddenly.
9. Unfortunately for him, his wife came home early.
10. Houses are unbelievably expensive just now.
11. We met Paul last week.
12. A car that won’t go is not particularly useful.
13. I enjoy eating in Indian restaurants.
14. Don’t you have to leave early?
 15. My gorgeous red trousers are too much elegant for the party.

3. Identify the type of the underlined phrases (whether they are noun (NP),
adjective (AP), verb (VP), adverb (AdvP) or prepositional (PP) phrases).

1. You might have seen your parents dancing all night.

2. I like the ring made of gold.
3. Your incredibly untidy house.
4. Her three dogs are very cute.
5. The doctor is very late.
6. It is not allowed to go across the line.
7. Those eleven players have been awarded.
8. Tell him not to worry.
9. In a moment or two, Mike will arrive.
10. Those children with expensive trainers are John’s sons.

Phrases and Clauses:

4. Identify whether the underlined groups of words are phrases (P) or clauses
(C). Then divide them using brackets.

1. She studied under the streetlight.

2. Put the cups on the desk.
3. He glanced out of the windows.
4. I know a woman who works in Delhi Police.
5. We cannot live without oxygen or fresh air.
6. She wears a bracelet which is made of silver.
7. They cannot go while it is snowing.
8. I have no clue what he did with those funds.
9. The woman whom I met on the metro was a farmer.
10. Planets revolve around the sun.

Clauses:
5. Identify the patterns of the following clauses (use the passive test to
distinguish Objects from Complements).
Example: He offered me a new and interesting job = He / offered / me / a new
and interesting job  SV IO DO

1. The researcher published the findings on Tuesday.

2. She sent me the up-to-date report.
3. The results arrived by email yesterday.
4. John is a researcher at the University of Cambridge.
5. We consider the research important.
6. This morning, I have prepared a very delicious cake for my mum’s birthday
party.
7. The wooden painted boxes are in my room.
8. Unluckily, Ben had given him a uncomfortable car.
9. We watched TV last night.
10. People will go to Mars in the next decade.

6. Identify and underline the Adjuncts in the following clauses.

1. I kept a copy of this letter on my desk.

2. He has put too much salt in the soup.
3. They have opened a new restaurant in New York Street.
4. Suddenly, it started to rain.
5. She quickly realized her mistake.
6. They have been living here for ages.
7. She finished her homework hurriedly.
8. Interestingly, the experts claim that there is a life form on Mars.
9. Unfortunately, John had already gone out when I arrived.
10. My friends never call me in the morning because they know that I work.

7. Identify the clause type (whether they are declaratives (D), Interrogatives
(I), imperative (Im) or Exclamatory (E))

1. Which book is a best seller?

2. John was working all night.
3. Please, sit here.
4. What a liar he is!
5. Who come to the party?
6. Very few people have actually met an alien.
7. Don’t walk on the grass.
8. Snow is white.
9. Remove the packaging.
10. How sad she is!

8. In the following sentences, circle the subordinating words. Then, underline

in blue the independent clauses and in red the dependent clauses.

1. I said no to the party because I had some pending work.

2. I could have passed brilliantly if I had studied properly.
3. After I complete my assignment, I'll get the offer for work.
 4. They were playing video games while he was sleeping.
5. Her project would have been brilliant if she would have written the stats.
6. Unless you return the book, you'll have to clear all the dues.
7. If it is pleasant tomorrow, we will go shopping.
8. I thought that she was going to stay with us.
9. You can't achieve your goal when you are unfocused.
10. He took his toy, although he preferred reading books.

9. Identify the type of the underlined subordinate clause (whether they are
noun/complement clauses (NC), Adverbial clauses (AdvC) or
relative/adjective clauses (RC)).

1. Ben had given him a car which was not so comfortable.

2. What she said made me happy.
3. I know a man who loves antique furniture.
4. I didn’t know what to do.
5. She asked me what I was doing there.
6. She loves him because he is her son.
7. As soon as the train arrived, the girl rushed to board it.
8. Though I had a headache, I enjoyed the show.
9. How they escaped is a mystery.
10. She married a doctor she met at the University.

Sentences:
10. Identify whether the following sentences are simple, compounds, complex
or compound-complex.
1. We took a taxi home after the party.
2. The policeman was not impressed by your alibi.
3. She bought a new dress, and she wore it soon after.
4. He gave her a beautiful present.
5. Last night, they were driving home, when the police stopped them and asked
them for their documents.
6. If I had enough money, I would go to America.
7. I must go to Paris and meet Luke as soon as possible. However, I still do not
have any plain tickets.
8. John, whose brother is my colleague, lives in this street.
9. As soon as I heard the news, I rushed straight to the police.
10. Wi will contact you as soon as possible.
11. Amy watches football on television, but she never goes to a game.
12. He went to the supermarket, then he came back home, but he forgot to buy the
milk.
13. I would like to meet John and tell him about my new girlfriend.
14. The new yellow dress costs twenty euros.
15. If you give your details to our secretary, we will contact you when we have a
vacancy.