Question

Identify the type of phrase in italics and it's use in the sentence. The motorist, (confused by conflicting directions,) lost his way

() = italics

Answer 1

The phrase 'confused by conflicting directions' is an adjective phrase that modifies the noun 'motorist' in the sentence, explaining why the motorist lost his way.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase in italics in the sentence 'The motorist, (confused by conflicting directions,) lost his way' is an adjective phrase. An adjective phrase is a group of words that describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence, usually acting to modify or qualify it. In this case, 'confused by conflicting directions' modifies the noun 'motorist' and explains why the motorist lost his way. The phrase provides additional information about the motorist’s state of mind and does not contain a verb acting on the subject, hence it is not a clause but an adjective phrase.

Answer 2

This "italicized" part of the sentence is an adjectival dependent clause. It acts as an adjective to the word motorist and cannot stand alone without putting it with an independent sentence, such as "The motorist lost his way."