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.

allusion   is the right answer

b. brooks wrote about the same type of neighborhood in which she grew up.