23. the gerund phrase in the sentence below is used as a everyone enjoys watching a dolphin show. a. subject. b. direct object. c. predicate nominative. d. predicate adjective. struggling with this one!

The correct answer is B. direct object.

Explanation:

A gerund phrase includes a gerund plus any complements or modifiers, and it functions as a noun. The gerund phrase in the sentence is "watching a dolphin show".

The reason why it is incorrect to say that the gerund phrase "watching a dolphin show" is a predicate nominative is the fact that the verb "enjoy" is not a linking verb.

Let's divide and classify the structure in parts:

- Subject (topic of the sentence, what the sentence is about): Everyone;

- Transitive verb: enjoy;

- Direct object (the recipient of the verb's action): watching a dolphin show.

We can easily identify the object of a verb by asking questions with what or who. In this case, we could ask "What does everyone enjoy?", and the answer would be "watching a dolphin show".

A predicate nominative answers a what or who questions, but it completes a linking verb. Linking verbs have the purpose of connecting the subject to its predicate, but they don't convey any action. Examples would be: to be, to become, to feel, to look, to seem, to sound, to taste - some of these verbs by be linking or transitive according to the context.

true

explanation:

the part where he says my friends