Prepositional Phrases

(Prepositional phrases) function as either adjectives or adverbs. They are structured in the following manner:

(preposition & modifiers & object of the preposition)

ANALYZING

(Prepositional phrases) are enclosed in parentheses. The color of the parentheses is determined by the function in the sentence. The object of the preposition is gray.

EXAMPLES

(Adjective prepositional phrase)

Almost all (adjective prepositional phrases) directly follow the nouns or pronouns they modify.

The purple hat (with the red feather) was for sale in the store.

     (Adjective prepositional phrase) = (with the red feather)
     Preposition = with
     Object of the preposition = feather
             The and red modify feather
             (Adjective prepositional phrase) modifies the subject hat.

(Adverb prepositional phrase)

(Adverb prepositional phrases) modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs, and may occur anywhere in the sentence. When a prepositional phrase begins a sentence, it modifies the verb.

(Over the river) and (through the woods) (to Grandmother’s house), we go.

    (Adverb prepositional phrases) = (over the river), (through the woods), and (to Grandmother’s house)
    Preposition = over, through, to
    Objects of the prepositions = river, woods, house
            The modifies river, the modifies woods, and Grandmother’s modifies house.
            (Adverb prepositional phrases) modify the verb go

WRITING STYLE TIPS

Some prepositions can also be conjunctions. See conjunction list.

Many prepositions can also be adverbs. To distinguish between adverbs and prepositions, ask yourself whether the word relates a following noun or pronoun to another word in the sentence.

Run along.

Adverb = along
Adverbs do not have an object.

Run (along the beach).

    (Prepositional phrase) = (along the beach)
    Preposition = along
    Object of the preposition = beach
               A preposition has an object and introduces a (prepositional phrase).
               This (prepositional phrase) acts as an adverb.

PUNCTUATION

Generally single prepositional phrases are not separated by commas. A series of prepositional phrases beginning a sentence will be followed by commas.

In the summer he swims on the swim team.
In the heat of the summer he swims for pleasure.

COMMONLY USED PREPOSITIONS

aboard	beyond	out
about	but (meaning except)	over
above	by	past
across	concerning	since
after	down	through
against	during	throughout
along	except	till
among	for	to
around	from	toward
at	in	under
before	inside	underneath
behind	into	until
below	like	up
beneath	near	upon
beside	of	with
besides	off	within
between	on	without

COMPOUND PREPOSITIONS

according to	by way of	instead of
ahead of	in addition to	on account of
apart from	in front of	prior to
aside from	in place of	with respect to
because of	in spite of
by means of

Exercises

Level A
Level B
Level C