The document provides information about the format of the Module 3 exam for the ENG 411B Principles of Modern Grammar course. The exam consists of 10 parts that assess knowledge of grammar concepts like main verb phrases, verb forms, phrase types and functions. It provides examples for each part with explanations of the grammatical analyses required. Reminders are included about key points for the exam.

1. Exam Format
ENG 411B
Principles of Modern Grammar
Module 3 Exam Preparation
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2. Part One (6) – Essay
Part Two (6)
Decompose each boldfaced MVP by listing the elements in the proper MVP Formula order, then identify
the verb form.
Part Three (6)
1) identify the main verb phrase of the sentence only, 2) decompose the MVP by listing the elements in
the proper MVP Formula order, and 3) identify the verb form.
Part Four (6)
Identify each main verb phrase (remember, there may be more than one main verb phrase in each
sentence), decompose each by listing the elements in the proper MVP Formula order, and identify the verb
form of each.
Part Five (6); Part Six (6); Part Seven (6)
Identify the form and function of each boldfaced structure within the context of the passage.
Part Eight (6)
In the following passage adapted from Araby, first identify each present-participle phrase, past-participle
phrase, gerund phrase, and infinitive phrase, then state the function of each. Show proof where necessary.
Part Nine (6)
In the following passage adapted from Araby, identify the form and function of each prepositional phrase.
Part Ten (6)
Find examples of the categories listed below. Write the phrase in which the category is contained and, if
appropriate, underline (in the phrase you write) the specific example you are citing. If an example of a
category does not exist, please state that.
ENG 411B
Principles of Modern Grammar
Module 3 Exam Preparation
Module Three Exam Format

3. He bade me observe it.
past + bid
simple past
I should always find that the calamities of life were shared among the upper
and lower part of mankind.
present + modal (SHOULD) + FIND
simple present
past + BE + [-en] + share
past passive
Fate should have been calculating all kind of virtue and all kind of
enjoyments for the middle station of life.
present + modal (SHOULD) + HAVE + [-en] + BE + [-ing] + calculate
present perfect progressive
ENG 411B
Principles of Modern Grammar
Module 3 Exam Preparation
Module Three Exam - Reminders

4. He told me it was men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or of aspiring,
superior fortunes on the other, who went abroad upon adventures, to rise by
enterprise, and make themselves famous in undertakings of a nature out of
the common road;
of desperate fortunes - adjectival (modifies MEN)
on one hand - adverbial (modifies adjectival; can move)
of aspiring, superior fortunes - adjectival (modifies MEN)
on the other - adverbial (modifies adjectival; can move)
upon adventures - adverbial (modifies WENT)
by enterprise - adverbial (modifies RISE)
in undertakings - adverbial (can move)
of a nature - adjectival (modifies UNDERTAKINGS)
out of the common road - adjectival (modifies NATURE)
ENG 411B
Principles of Modern Grammar
Module 3 Exam Preparation
Module Three Exam - Reminders

5. My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious and excellent counsel against what he
foresaw was my design. He called me one morning into his chamber, where he was confined
by the gout, and expostulated very warmly with me upon this subject. He asked me what
reasons, more than a mere wandering inclination, I had for leaving father’s house and my
native country, where I might be well introduced, and had a prospect of raising my fortune
by application and industry, with a life of ease and pleasure. He told me it was men of
desperate fortunes on one hand, or of aspiring, superior fortunes on the other, who went
abroad upon adventures, to rise by enterprise, and make themselves famous in
undertakings of a nature out of the common road; that these things were all either too far
above me or too far below me; that mine was the middle state, or what might be called the
upper station of low life, which he had found, by long experience, was the best state in the
world , the most suited to human happiness, not exposed to the miseries and hardships, the
labour and sufferings of the mechanic part of mankind, and not embarrassed with the
pride, luxury, ambition, and envy of the upper part of mankind. He told me I might judge of
the happiness of this state by this one thing—viz. that this was the state of life which all other
people envied; that kings have frequently lamented the miserable consequence of being
born to great things, and wished they had been placed in the middle of the two extremes,
between the mean and the great; that the wise man gave his testimony to this, as the
standard of felicity, when he prayed to have neither poverty nor riches.
ENG 411B
Principles of Modern Grammar
Module 3 Exam Preparation
Module Three Exam - Reminders

6. • wandering - present participle - adjectival (modifies INCLINATION)
• leaving father’s house and my native country - gerund phrase -
nominal - (object of the preposition FOR)
• raising my fortune - gerund phrase - nominal (object of the
preposition OF)
• aspiring - present participle - adjectival (modifies FORTUNES)
• to rise - infinitive phrase - adverbial
• undertakings - gerund phrase - nominal (object of the preposition
IN)
• suited - past participle - adjectival (modifies STATE)
• sufferings - gerund - nominal
• embarrassed - past participle - adjectival
• being born - gerund phrase - nominal (object of the preposition OF)
ENG 411B
Principles of Modern Grammar
Module 3 Exam Preparation
Module Three Exam - Reminders

7. ENG 411B
Principles of Modern Grammar
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