Help! english phrases?! 10pts.?

Question

What's the function of these phrases?

**** I put the stars around the phrase!***

We like to walk around *during the football game*.

(GERUND) [is it a direct object, indirect object, subject, infinitive,]

The insects, *attracted by the food*, ruined out picnic.

(Prepositional) [adj or adv?]

After *waiting for an hour*, we gave up and went home.

(GERUND) [is it a direct object, indirect object, subject, infinitive,]

Doctors are constantly *finding new cures* for diseases.

(GERUNDS) [is it a direct object, indirect object, subject, infinitive,]

I know this is alot,

but if anyone knows the answers to any of these that would be great.

Thanks tons :)

Answer 1

The insecets attracted by the food.....is adjective prepositional phrase

  

Answer 2

I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure these are right.

We like to walk around *during the football game*.

(GERUND) [is it a direct object, indirect object, subject, infinitive,]

I think this is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverb.  (Some prepositional phrases are a type of adverb phrase.)

Even though "during" ends in "-ing," it's a preposition, and not a verbal noun.  So it's an adverb phrase, and the verb it refers to is "to walk around."

Also, "the football game" is the object of the preposition "during."

==

The insects, *attracted by the food*, ruined out picnic.

(Prepositional) [adj or adv?]

Adjective, because it's modifying (describing) "insects" and not a verb.

==

After *waiting for an hour*, we gave up and went home.

(GERUND) [is it a direct object, indirect object, subject, infinitive,]

THAT is a gerund!  The phrase is the object of the preposition "after."

==

Doctors are constantly *finding new cures* for diseases.

(GERUNDS) [is it a direct object, indirect object, subject, infinitive,]

Subject complement of the verb "are."

Do you know about "to be, is, are, etc." being complementary subjects?  They're like an equal sign:  "Doctors are discoverers" can be explained as "Doctors = discoverers."  Since the word "doctors" is the subject, whatever is on the other side of the equal sign (or "is" or "are") is also part of the subject.

"Finding" is a verbal noun that describes "doctors," so it's like saying "Doctors are discoverers of new cures."

I just confused you terribly, didn't I.