Question

Locate the participial phrase and the word modified.

Approaching the curve, the car slowed down.

Answer 1

1. A participle is an -ing word, in this case, "Approaching."

2. The participial phrase is what goes with the participle, so "Approaching the curve" is the participial phrase.

3. To discover what it modifies, ask yourself, "WHAT is approaching the curve?" The answer is, "The car is approaching the curve"; therefore, "The car" is what the participial phrase modifies.