Appositive Phrase Test (and review) #2

Possibly helpful grammar references for this test.
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A verb phrase consists of the main verb and up to three helping verbs, which always come before the main verb.

"Jacob COULD HAVE BEEN EATING ice cream, but, no, someone left the freezer door open all night long. He WAS WIPING up the liquid with a sponge, instead. His brother MIGHT HAVE NOTICED that the door WAS open." (WAS is a verb, but since it's on its own, it's not a phrase.)
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A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and an object (a noun or pronoun) and any modifiers. There are no subjects or verbs in prepositional phrases, and they can be omitted from a sentence without making it a fragment. They provide extra information, usually answering how, when, where, or what kind type questions.

"His mother was definitely annoyed WITH HIS BROTHER." (Prep = with, brother = object of prep., his = adjective; part of speech = adverb; question answered = how)

"DURING THE LENGTHY CLEANUP, his mother wondered what else was spoiled." (prep = during, cleanup = object of prep., lengthy = adjective, question answered = when)
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Infinitive phrases begin with infinitives and include any objects or modifiers or prepositional phrases. "He had hoped TO INVITE A NEIGHBORHOOD FRIEND OVER FOR DESSERT." (to invite = infinitive, a friend = object, for dessert = prep. phrase)
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Gerunds are participles acting as nouns. Gerunds always end in -ING, so they are present participles. If the gerund has objects and any modifiers following it, it's a gerund phrase.

APOLOGIZING would be a place to start. (gerund on its own; the gerund is the subject of the sentence.)
APOLOGIZING TO HIS FAMILY was a place to start. (Gerund phrase: gerund followed by a prepositional phrase)
OFFERING TO CLEAN UP would even have been better. (Gerund followed by an infinitive)
FETCHING MORE TOWELS was helpful. (Gerund followed by the object "towels")

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