What is a Prepositional Phrase? Prepositional phrases are groups of words containing prepositions. Remember that prepositions are words that indicate the relationships between various elements within a sentence, and you’ll never have difficulty identifying prepositional phrases. A prepositional phrase is a group of words that lacks either a verb or a subject, and that functions as a unified part of speech. It normally consists of a preposition and a noun or a preposition and a pronoun. Remember the following rules for prepositional phrases and you will find that using them becomes much easier. • Prepositional phrases always consist of two basic parts at minimum: the object and the preposition. • In formal English, prepositions are almost always followed by objects. Adjectives can be placed between the prepositions and objects in prepositional phrases. • Prepositional phrases can act as adverbs or adjectives. When they are used as adjectives, they modify nouns and pronouns in the same way single-word adjectives do. • When prepositional phrases are used as adverbs, they at the same way single-word adverbs and adverb clauses do, modifying adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs.
Just like bread and cheese are the minimum ingredients for making a cheese sandwich, a preposition and the object of a preposition are the minimum requirements for forming a prepositional phrase. The object of a preposition is the name for the noun or pronoun following the preposition. Prepositional phrases don’t have to be plain. Just as adding more ingredients to a sandwich dresses it up, adding more words such as adverbs or adjectives is a good method for spicing up prepositional
phrases. As you read the following examples of prepositional phrases, you’ll notice that the first sentence in each set contains a basic prepositional phrase, while the second one contains a more interesting one.
Examples of Prepositional Phrases The following sentences contain examples of prepositional phrases; the prepositional phrase in each sentence is italicized for easy identification. The cupcake with sprinkles is yours. The cupcake with colorful sprinkles is yours. We climbed up the hill. We climbed up the very steep hill. The rabbits hopped through the garden. The rabbits hopped through the perfectly manicured garden.
Prepositional Phrase
What Is a Prepositional Phrase? A preposition draws a relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in a sentence. A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object. The preposition’s object is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition. Prepositional phrases can function as either adjective phrases or adverb phrases to modify other words in a sentence.
Common examples of prepositions include about, after, at, before, behind, by, during, for, from, in, of, over, past, to, under, up, and with.
Examples of Prepositional Phrases Functioning as Adjective Phrases: The boy with him is his son. (With is the preposition, and with him is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adjective phrase, modifying boy.) You can use the broom behind you to sweep the floor. (Behind is the preposition, and behind you is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adjective phrase, modifying broom.) The bracelet in the storefront window is the one I want. (In is the preposition, and in the storefront window is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adjective phrase, modifying bracelet.) We stayed at the cabin by the river. (By is the preposition, and by the river is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adjective phrase, modifying
cabin.) The store at the corner sells sandwiches. (At is the preposition, and at the corner is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adjective phrase, modifying store.) I adopted a black cat with white paws. (With is the preposition, and with white paws is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adjective phrase, modifying cat.)
Examples of Prepositional Phrases Functioning as Adverb Phrases: When you get to the sign, take a left. (To is the preposition, and to the sign is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adverb phrase, modifying get.) We climbed up the hill to see the view. (Up is the preposition, and up the hill is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adverb phrase, modifying climbed.) It annoys me when people talk during movies. (During is the preposition, and during movies is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adverb phrase, modifying talk.) Hannah looked under the bed to see if she could find her necklace. (Under is the preposition, and under the bed is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adverb phrase, modifying looked.) I’ll meet you after school. (After is the preposition, and after school is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adverb phrase, modifying meet.) The sun rose over the mountain. (Over is the preposition, and over the mountain is the prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as an adverb phrase, modifying rose.)
