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The 1986 Study

Record Number: W4N09

Level 1: Prepositional Phrases

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Current technology makes it extremely difficult to draw lines, etc. from word to word in web documents. In Level One, I have therefore indicated words modified by prepositional phrases in following brackets. These brackets will be deleted in the answer keys to subsequent levels.

     Hello!  Let me tell you {about my family.} [Adverb to "tell"]

My whole family was born {in Knoxville, Tn.} [Adverb to "was 

born"] I have a mom named Martha. I have a father named 

Phillip. I have sister name Missy. I have brother name 

Sammy.  And me {of couse} Note #1 Sara.  My mother was 

really {from South Carolina.} [Adverb to "was "or Adjective to 

"mother"] She is used {to chickens, birds, wild life, snakes, 

kittens, bats.} [Adverb to "is used"] She was rasied {by 

grandmother} [Adverb to "was raised"] Anna Bell. Note # 2 Now 

let me tell you {about my father.} [Adverb to "tell"] My father is

handsome. He knows karate. He's kinda of Note #3 a short man.

But my father is a macanic {at General Motors.} [Adverb to "is" 

or Adjective to "mechanic"] He is very handy. Now here comes 

my sister. My sister is kinda {like my mother.} Note #4 But my 

sister is very tall. do you know why she's tall. My mother and

fathers grandfathers are tall. My sister goes {to Chandler.} 

[Adverb to "goes"] She is a flag person. My brother. My 

brother is bad. He knows some karate too. You have met 

him. He is {in kintergarten.} [Adverb to "is"] His teaches name 

is Mrs. Carter. Sammy is doing well {in school.} [Adverb to "is 

doing"] Finally me. I am just another important person just 

{like everybody else.} [Adverb to "am" or Adjective to "person"]

try to be myself all {though the day.} [Adverb or Adjective to 

"all"] Note #5 And try {to my best} [Adverb to "try"] eachand 

every day.  And care {for everybody else.} [Adverb to "care"]

Thank you.  that's my family. 

     Hello! Let me tell you where I live.  I live {at 426 

Marydale Ave.} [Adverb to "care"] It is the second house when 

you go {down Bow St.} [Adverb to "go"] It is very big. It is 

tanish brown. It has three straight poles {in the front.} [Adverb

to "has"] It has four windows {in the front.} [Adverb to "has"]

The two {in the front} [Adjective to "two"] are Sammys Sara's. 

The won {on the left} [Adjective to "one"] is Sammy's and the 

won {on the right} [Adjective to "one"] is Sara's. Now is time to 

look inside.  It is really messy. When you go upstairs. {On the

left} [Adverb to "see"] you see the kitchen. And the Living room.

Now {on the right side} [Adverb to "see"] you will see the 

bathroom.  The linen closet.  And supply closet. First is 

Missy's room. Then comes Sara's room. Last is Sammy's 

room. Walk downstairs. {On the Left} [Adverb to "is"] is my

Parents room. They have the laundry room.  And another 

bathroom. Then {on the right} [Adverb to "is"] is the basement.

We have six tvs and six hbos {on them.} [Adverb to "have"]

vcrs. a microwave. We have a Toyota Camery, And a 

Cheverle.  And a woodshed And a swing set.
 

Notes

1. This is an exception to the general rule that "all" prepositional phrases function as adjectives or adverbs. "Of course" usually functions as an interjection. I would expect students to identify the phrase, but not its function. I would also remind the students of all the phrases (and their functions) that they have been able to identify, and I would suggest that they not worry about these minor exceptions -- they will learn about interjections later.

2. If students include "Anna Bell" in the phrase, I would not count it as wrong.

3. See Note # 1 for passage six.

4. Little words cause the biggest (analytical) problems. If we consider "kinda" to equal "somewhat," then "like my mother" is a prepositional phrase modifying "somewhat." But if we consider "kinda" to equal "approximately," then "like my mother" is a prepositional phrase than functions as a predicate adjective to "sister." At level two, on the other hand, students could consider "is kinda like" as a verb (the equivalent of "resembles"). Because very few of our students want to be grammarians, I would accept any of these responses -- and move on.

5. Students will have little problem seeing the important point that "through the day" modifies "all" (or at least that "all through the day" forms one chunk). The details of "how" are not really that important, but, should students be interested, there are at least two possibilities. For one, "all" can be considered as an adjective to an ellipsed "day" -- "all day through the day." "Through the day" can then be considered as an adverb to the adjective "all." Another possibility is to view "all" as a pronoun, thereby viewing "through the day" as an adjective modifying "all." (Suggestion: don't waste a lot of time on this.)
 
 

Progress:
Total Words = 390 Words %
L1: In Prep Phrases  85  22

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