Question

To listen to his music is sheer delight. What type of phrase is "To listen to his music?"

A. Prepositional phrase
B. Verbal phrase
C. Appositive phrase
D. Absolute phrase

Answer 1

The phrase 'To listen to his music' is a verbal phrase, specifically an infinitive phrase that acts as the subject of the sentence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase "To listen to his music" is a verbal phrase. Specifically, it is an infinitive phrase that performs the function of a noun, and in this case, it serves as the subject of the sentence. Verbal phrases can take on the roles of nouns, adjectives, or adverbs within a sentence. Unlike prepositional phrases, which typically begin with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun, infinitive phrases begin with the infinitive form of a verb (to + verb). Appositive phrases rename or provide more information about a noun, and absolute phrases are phrases that can be removed from the sentence without affecting its grammatical integrity, which is not the case here.

Answer 2

The correct answer is B. verbal phrase.

Step-by-step explanation:

A verbal phrase has to contain some kind of a verbal - be it a participle, a gerund, or in this case, an infinitive. The phrase contains an infinitive to listen, and given that infinitives are verbals, the entire phrase is a verbal phrase.

Prepositional phrases start with a preposition.

Appositive phrases are separated by commas.

Absolute phrases can be deleted from the sentence without changing its meaning.