Question

language development: conventions
identify the choice that best answers the question.

read the following sentence.

waiting for a reply is exciting if you expect a positive result.

which group of words in the sentence is a gerund phrase?

○ a. waiting for a reply

○ b. is exciting

○ c. if you expect

○ d. a positive result

Explanation:

A gerund phrase consists of a gerund (a verb - ing form acting as a noun) and its modifiers/objects. In the sentence, “waiting for a reply” has “waiting” (a gerund) along with its object “a reply” and preposition “for”. Option B is a verb - linking verb and adjective phrase. Option C is a subordinate clause fragment. Option D is a noun phrase. So the gerund phrase is “waiting for a reply”.

Answer:

A. waiting for a reply