Question

language development: conventions
identify the choice that best answers the question.
read the following sentence.
barking at squirrels keeps my dog spooky entertained.
the phrase barking at squirrels is which of the following?
a. a gerund phrase that modifies a verb
b. a gerund phrase that acts as a subject
c. a participial phrase that acts as a subject
d. a participial phrase that modifies a verb

Explanation:

1. First, analyze the phrase "barking at squirrels": "Barking" is a gerund (verb + -ing acting as a noun).
2. In the sentence, "Barking at squirrels" is the subject (what the sentence is about, as it does the action of "keeping...entertained").
3. Eliminate options about participial phrases (participials act as adjectives, not subjects here) and the option where the gerund phrase modifies a verb (it’s the subject, not a modifier). So option B is correct.

Answer:

B. a gerund phrase that acts as a subject