Question

The blue dress, fraying at its seams, snagged on the brambles in the dark woods.

What is the participial phrase in the sentence?
A.
The blue dress
B.
snagged on the brambles
C.
in the dark woods
D.
fraying at its seams

Answer 1

A participle phrase functions as an adjective and most ends in -ing.

In this case, the participle phrase in the sentence is D, fraying at its seams. The phrase describes the blue dress.

Answer 2

A participial phrase is a word group consisting of a present participle (also known as an -ing form).
So, the participial phrase in the sentence is "fraying at its seams".