Hello,

Question

Please help Ms. Sue! I’m a parent here checking on my son’s homework.
He needs to:
Cross out all prepositional phrases
Underline subject once
Underline predicates twice
Circle the dependent clause

From what I see, he is struggling a little but I wanted to double check that I’m doing it correctly before showing him. Can you have prepositional phrases within a predicate and within a dependent clause?

1. All at once, the crowd started cheering.
All at once- dependent clause
Crowd- subject
Started cheering- predicate

2. Even though the sun isn’t out, I am still in a great mood.
Even though the sun isn’t out-dependent clause
I- subject
Am still in a great mood-predicate
In a great mood-prepositional phrase

3. Through the course of the holiday season, I baked 12 dozen cookies.
Through the course of the holiday season-dependent clause
I-subject
Baked 12 dozen cookies-predicate

4. Although the Green Bay Packers are my favorite, I like Aaron Rogers best.
Although the Green Bay Packers are my favorite-dependent clause
I-subject
Like Aaron Rogers best-predicate

5. When I’m tired, I’m not good company for anyone.
When I’m tired-dependent clause
I-subject
Am not good company for anyone- predicate
For anyone-prepositional phrase

6. Having felt used, Katie left her brother alone.
Having felt used-dependent clause
Katie-subject
Left her brother alone-predicate

7. Since we planted a garden, we have so many vegetables.
Since we planted a garden-dependent clause
We-subject
Have so many vegetables-predicate

8. Dogs are my favorite animal, since they’re so sweet.
Dogs-subject
Are my favorite animal-predicate
Since they’re so sweet-dependent clause

9. As long as Jill is going to the store, could she buy some kale for me?
As long as Jill is going to the store- dependent clause
To the store-prepositional phrase
She-subject
Could buy some kale for me- predicate
For me- prepositional phrase

Answer 1

1. All at once, the crowd started cheering.
All at once- dependent clause NO
Crowd- subject YES
Started cheering- predicate YES

2. Even though the sun isn’t out, I am still in a great mood.
Even though the sun isn’t out-dependent clause YES
I- subject YES
Am still in a great mood-predicate YES
In a great mood-prepositional phrase YES

3. Through the course of the holiday season, I baked 12 dozen cookies.
Through the course of the holiday season-dependent clause YES
I-subject YES
Baked 12 dozen cookies-predicate YES

4. Although the Green Bay Packers are my favorite, I like Aaron Rogers best.
Although the Green Bay Packers are my favorite-dependent clause YES
I-subject YES
Like Aaron Rogers best-predicate YES

5. When I’m tired, I’m not good company for anyone.
When I’m tired-dependent clause YES
I-subject YES
Am not good company for anyone- predicate YES
For anyone-prepositional phrase YES

6. Having felt used, Katie left her brother alone.
Having felt used-dependent clause NO
Katie-subject YES
Left her brother alone-predicate YES

7. Since we planted a garden, we have so many vegetables.
Since we planted a garden-dependent clause YES
We-subject YES
Have so many vegetables-predicate YES

8. Dogs are my favorite animal, since they’re so sweet.
Dogs-subject YES
Are my favorite animal-predicate YES
Since they’re so sweet-dependent clause YES

9. As long as Jill is going to the store, could she buy some kale for me?
As long as Jill is going to the store- dependent clause YES
To the store-prepositional phrase YES
She-subject YES
Could buy some kale for me- predicate YES
For me- prepositional phrase YES

All clauses, dependent or independent, must have both a subject and a verb. Otherwise, they’re phrases.

Answer 2

Thank you!
I am still a little unsure though with
All at once
&
Having felt used
Being prepositional phrases since all and having are not prepositions. Could you please explain this further?

Answer 3

Here is an excellent website where you can choose which grammatical terms you need help with: guidetogrammar.org/grammar/
It's in index format, so just look up terms alphabetically.

"at" is a preposition, so "at once" is a prepositional phrase.
guidetogrammar.org/grammar/preposition_list.htm

"having felt used" is a participial phrase modifying the subject, Katie.
guidetogrammar.org/grammar/phrases.htm#participle (scroll down)

A dependent clause must have a subject and a verb; these clauses usually begin with a subordinating conjunction (adverbial clause) or a relative pronoun (adjective clause); noun clauses, however, don't have introductory words (they're tricky!).
guidetogrammar.org/grammar/conjunctions.htm#subordinating_conjunctions
guidetogrammar.org/grammar/pronouns1.htm#relative