Basic Grammar

Prepositional phrases

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition such as at, by, for, from, in, of, on, to, or with and usually ends with a noun or a noun equivalent called the object of the preposition.

Prepositional phrases function as adjectives or adverbs.

Adjective phrases

When functioning as an adjective, a prepositional phrase nearly always appears immediately following the noun or pronoun it modifies.

Example sentence: The hut had walls of mud. Explanation: The prepositional phrase of mud modifies the noun walls.

Adjective phrases answer one or both of the questions Which one? and What kind of? If we ask Which walls? or What kind of walls? we get a sensible answer: the walls of mud.

Adverb phrases

Adverbial prepositional phrases that modify the verb can appear nearly anywhere in a sentence.

Example sentence: James walked his dog on a leash. Explanation: The adverbial prepositional phrase on a leash modifies the verb walked and appears at the end of the sentence.

Example sentence: Sabrina will in time adjust to life in Ecuador. Explanation: The adverbial prepositional phrase in time modifies the verb will adjust and appears between the helping verb will and the main verb adjust.

Example sentence: During a mudslide, the terrain can change drastically. Explanation: The adverbial prepositional phrase During a mudslide modifies the verb can change and appears at the beginning of the sentence.

Adverbial word groups usually answer one of these questions: When? Where? How? Why? Under what conditions? To what degree?

James walked his dog how? On a leash.

Sabrina will adjust when? In time.

The terrain can change under what conditions? During a mudslide.

Common prepositions

Exercises:

Prepositional phrases 1

Prepositional phrases 2

Objects of prepositions