Phrases
A phrase is nothing more than a group of words that constitutes a grammatical unit in a sentence. A phrase cannot stand alone as an independent unit and can only function as a part of speech.
Prepositional Phrase
A preposition is a short explanatory word that indicates things such as location, direction, and possession. Prepositions are indeclinable words (words that have only one possible form). For example, below is a
preposition, but belows or belowing are not possible forms of below. Prepositions are combined with a noun, noun phrase (a phrase acting as a noun), or pronoun (any of which acting as the object of the preposition) to create a prepositional phrase.
The following table lists the most commonly used prepositions in English.
about above across after against along among
around at before behind below beneath beside
between beyond but by despite down during
except for from in inside into like
near off of on onto out outside
over past since through throughout till to
toward under underneath until up upon with
within without
Prepositional phrases will have one of two functions in a sentence: to act as an adjectival (modifying a noun or noun phrase and answering the
question Which one?) or to act as an adverbial (modifying a verb and answering questions such as How? When? or Where?).
Adjectivals and Adverbials (Review)
An adjective gives more information about (modifies) a noun or a grammatical structure acting as a noun. Both an adjective and a grammatical unit acting as an adjective are adjectivals.Example:
The short man runs.
If one replaces short with an equivalent prepositional phrase, one could write:
The man of below average height runs.
Of below-average height is a prepositional phrase (of being the preposition and height being the object of the preposition). The phrase still gives more information about the noun, functioning as a grammatical unit
Example:
He crawls slowly.
He is the subject. Crawls is the verb. Slowly is an adverb, describing
how he crawls.
If one replaces slowly with an equivalent prepositional phrase, one could write:
He crawls in a slow manner.
In a slow manner is a prepositional phrase (in being the preposition and
manner being the object of the preposition). The phrase still gives more information about the verb, functioning as a grammatical unit (adverb).
Prepositional Phrases Acting
as Adjectives and Adverbs
Examples:Please hand me the pen next to the telephone.
Next to the telephone is a prepositional phrase that modifies the direct object pen. Because it modifies a noun or grammatical structure acting as a noun (answering the question Which one?), it functions as an adjective.
Please hand me the pen
(
next to the telephone
)
.
The coyote runs after the rabbit.
After the rabbit is a prepositional phrase that modifies the verb runs. Because it modifies a verb (answering questions such as How? When? Where? Why? or To What Extent?), it functions as an adverb.
The coyote runs
(
after the rabbit
)
.
modifies
direct object preposition object of preposition
verb
modifies
DIRECTIONS: For each of the following sentences (1) draw an arrow from the phrase to the word or grammatical unit that it modifies (2) label the phrase with ADV or ADJ dependent upon whether it functions as an adverbial or adjectival. The prepositional phrases are already marked with parentheses.
1.
Scooby dropped a net
(
on yet another bootleg ghost
)
.
2.
The Mystery Machine rumbled
(
down the road
)
and
(
up
the lane
)
.
3.
The point
(
of splitting up
)
was to catch the ghost.
4.
The haunted amusement park was filled
(
with creepy
happenings
)
.
5.
Daphne and Fred split off
(
from the main group
)
.
6.
Always hungry, Scooby is
(
by the Scooby Snacks
)
.
7.
(
Throughout the show
)
Velma wears the same ugly
sweater.
8.
Motivated by fear, Shaggy leaped
(
into the empty
pickle barrel
)
.
9.
Does anyone actually care
(
about Daphne
)
?
10.
I would have gotten away
(
with it
)
if it weren’t
(
for
you meddling kids
)
.
A prepositional phrase will never contain the simple subject of a sentence. Examples:
Students at Spring Woods are lucky.
Students at Spring Woods is the complete subject. Students is the simple subject. At Spring Woods is a prepositional phrase (adjectival) that describes students.
The point of grammar exercises is to improve.
The point of grammar exercises is the complete subject. Point is the simple subject. Of grammar exercises is a prepositional phrase
(adjectival) that describes point.
DIRECTIONS: For each of the following sentences (1) draw parentheses around the
prepositional phrases (2) draw an arrow from the phrase to the word or grammatical unit that it modifies (3) label the phrase with ADV or ADJ dependent upon whether it functions as an adverbial or adjectival. Some sentences have more than one prepositional phrase.
