Question

Highlight the word (s) modified by the word, clause, or phrase in bold.
Patrick Star was surprised to see me climbing the oak tree in his backyard.

Answer 1

I don’t see anything marked bold in your sentence. Tell me which word/clause/phrase you made bold, or pick from the common possibilities below — I’ll show which word(s) each one modifies.

- If the bold phrase is "in his backyard": it most naturally modifies "the oak tree" (the oak tree is in his backyard). Example with the modified words highlighted: Patrick Star was surprised to see me climbing **the oak tree** in his backyard. (Alternative reading: it could modify **climbing** — meaning the climbing took place in his backyard.)

- If the bold phrase is "climbing the oak tree": it modifies **me** (the participial phrase describes "me"): Patrick Star was surprised to see **me** climbing the oak tree in his backyard.

- If the bold phrase is "to see me climbing the oak tree" (the whole infinitive clause): it functions as the complement of **was surprised** (it modifies/complete the meaning of "was surprised"): Patrick Star **was surprised** to see me climbing the oak tree in his backyard.

Tell me which phrase you intended as bold and I’ll mark the modified word(s) exactly as you want.