Which word does the underlined participial phrase modify? The little girl, wearing the red check dressed, hid in the corner during the game of hide and seek.

"The little girl, wearing the red checkered dress, hid in the corner during the game of hide and seek."

A participial phrase is groups of words that contains a present or past participle and modifiers, objects, and complements. It functions as an adjective.

The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying "the little girl"

Wearing = participial

the red checkered dress = modifier

Another example of a participial phrase:

Students planning to study nursing must first meet with the dean.

The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying "students."