Question

Identify the participial phrase from the following sentence:
Having been a swimmer, Sameer knew the importance of swimming.

a. Having been a swimmer
b. Sameer knew
c. importance of swimming
d. swimming

Answer 1

Hint: A participial phrase consists of a participle plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s).
For example- The horse trotting up to the fence.

Complete answer:
Let us analyze the options given to us in this question:

Option (a.), 'having been a swimmer', refers to a phrase that includes a participle ‘having’, and the words ‘been a swimmer’ that modify the noun ‘Sameer’.
So, the correct answer is “Option a” as this phrase behaves like a participial phrase.

Option (b.), ‘Sameer knew', refers to a phrase that only contains a noun and a verb.
Therefore, option (b.) is incorrect as we need a participial phrase.

Option (c.), ‘importance of swimming', refers to a phrase that contains a noun, a preposition, and a verb.
Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as we need a participial phrase.

Option (d.), ‘swimming', refers to a verb that can also act as a noun since it can be referred to as a sport.
Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as we need a participial phrase.

Note:
In this question, the students also need to recall what a participle is- A participle is a verbal ending in -ing (present) or -ed, -en, -d, -t, -n, or -ne (past) that functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun. Example- being, having, etc.