Prepositional Phrases
Master the building blocks of sentence structure and meaning
What Are Prepositional Phrases?
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase. These phrases function as adjectives or adverbs, adding detail and context to sentences.
Prepositional phrases help answer questions like "where?", "when?", "how?", and "why?" in our writing and speech.
Structure of Prepositional Phrases
Basic Structure
Preposition + Object of Preposition
The object can be a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase
Example
in the garden
with my friends
after the movie
Types of Prepositional Phrases
Adjectival Phrases
Modify nouns and answer "which one?" or "what kind?"
The book on the shelf is mine.
The girl with red hair is my sister.
Adverbial Phrases
Modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs and answer "where?", "when?", or "how?"
We walked to the store.
The meeting starts at 3 PM.
Common Prepositions
Place
- • in, on, at
- • above, below
- • beside, between
- • inside, outside
Time
- • before, after
- • during, since
- • until, by
- • from, to
Other
- • with, without
- • by, for
- • about, of
- • like, unlike
Interactive Quizzes
Quiz 1: Identify Prepositional Phrases
Identify the prepositional phrase in each sentence:
1. The cat slept on the windowsill.
Answer: "on the windowsill" (adverbial phrase)
2. The book with the blue cover is interesting.
Answer: "with the blue cover" (adjectival phrase)
Quiz 2: Function of Prepositional Phrases
Determine if each prepositional phrase is adjectival or adverbial:
1. We arrived at the airport early.
Answer: Adverbial (modifies the verb "arrived")
2. The flowers in the vase are beautiful.
Answer: Adjectival (modifies the noun "flowers")
Quiz 3: Complete the Sentences
Complete each sentence with an appropriate prepositional phrase:
1. The children played _____ all afternoon.
Possible answers: "in the park", "at home", "with their toys"
2. The movie _____ was very exciting.
Possible answers: "about space travel", "with special effects"
Quiz 4: Multiple Prepositional Phrases
Identify all prepositional phrases in these complex sentences:
The bird in the tree sang with joy at dawn.
Answer: "in the tree", "with joy", "at dawn"
The book on the shelf in the library contains stories about adventure.
Answer: "on the shelf", "in the library", "about adventure"
Important Notes
• Prepositional phrases can be moved around in sentences for variety and emphasis.
• A sentence can have multiple prepositional phrases serving different functions.
• Prepositional phrases should be placed close to the words they modify to avoid confusion.
• Some prepositions can be used in multiple contexts (e.g., "in" for both place and time).
Pro Tip
When writing, vary your prepositional phrases to avoid repetitive sentence structures. Use them to add detail and create more engaging, descriptive writing.