A Simple Guide to the Meaning and Use of Prepositional Phrases with Exercises
This is the second of two courses designed to be simple to learn English for Chinese students.
This article explains how prepositions are used in phrases, called prepositional phrases.
What are Prepositional Phrases
- A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and
- includes a noun (or pronoun)
- (which is) the object of the preposition.
On the table
- Preposition: On
- Object : The table
It provides information about the relationship of the noun to the rest of the sentence.
- the key is on the table
- so the key is on the table
- the dog is under the bridge
- so the dog is under the bridge
sentence subjects: the key, the dog
It provides information about the relationship of the noun to the rest of the sentence.
- the book is on the table
- so the book is on the table
- the river runs under the bridge
- so the river is under the bridge
sentence subjects: the book, the river
For more information on what are prepositions and prepositional phrases visit out page on prepositions, and our page on ‘what is a prepositional phrase‘.
Prepositional Phrase Structure
prepositional phrase = preposition + the object
- On the table
- Preposition: on
- Object of the Preposition: the table
- “The book is on the table.”
- In this example, “on” is the preposition, and “the table” is the object of the preposition.
- At the park
- Preposition: at
- Object of the Preposition: the park
- “We had a picnic at the park.”
- In this example, “at” is the preposition, and “the park” is the object of the preposition.
- Under the bridge
- Preposition: under
- Object of the Preposition: the bridge
- “The river flows under the bridge.”
- In this example, “under” is the preposition, and “the bridge” is the object of the preposition.
- In the morning
- Preposition: in
- Object of the Preposition: the morning
- “The sun rises brightly in the morning.”
- In this example, “in” is the preposition, and “the morning” is the object of the preposition.
- With my friends
- Preposition: with
- Object of the Preposition: my friends
- “I enjoy playing with my friends”
- In this example, “with” is the preposition, and “my friends” is the object of the preposition.
Prepositional phrase exercises
Exercise 1: which prepositional phases could be added to each sentence beginning
- The cat is
- We went for a walk
- She sat
- They played soccer
- The book is
- We traveled
- I found my keys
- a)on the field.
- b)between the cushions.
- c)across the country.
- d)under the bed.
- e)in the park.
- f)on the roof.
- g)beside her brother.
Exercise 2: order the sentences that finish with the prepositional phrase
- the / desk / sitting / at / is / she
- the / the / blooming / garden / are / flowers / in
- the / meet / we / fountain / will / by
- into / the / jumped / he / pool
- the / under / table / is / hiding / the / cat
- found / on / my / chair / jacket / I / the
- the / river / along / walked / they
Answer #1: she is sitting at the desk
Exercise 3: create sentences with the verbs and prepositional phrases
walk – arrive – meet – find – is – sing – play
- We ____________ outside the house.
- The ____________ on the kitchen counter.
- They ____________ at the coffee shop.
- I ____________ under the sofa.
- We ____________ during the concert.
- He ____________ along the path.
- She ____________ at the airport.
Examples of Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends in a noun or pronoun, called the object of the preposition. Prepositional phrases often act as modifiers, describing or adding detail to nouns, verbs, or entire clauses.Prepositional Phrase Examples
- The cat sat on the mat. (modifies the verb sat)
- She walked through the park. (modifies the verb walked)
- The book on the table is mine. (modifies the noun book)
- They arrived at noon. (modifies the verb arrived)
- He is known for his kindness. (modifies the adjective known)
Prepositional phrases can act as either adjectival phrases, modifying nouns, or adverbial phrases, modifying verbs or adjectives
Learn more about noun phrases, verb phrases and all the other types of phrases, and prepositional phrase examples by clicking on these webpages:
all phrases, noun phrases, verb phrases, prepositional phrase examples
Questions on Prepositional Phrases
Q: What is a prepositional phrase?
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, its object (a noun or pronoun), and any words that modify the object. It is commonly used to describe or give more information about a noun, verb, or clause.
Q: How do prepositional phrases function in a sentence?
Prepositional phrases can function as either adjectival phrases (modifying nouns) or adverbial phrases (modifying verbs or adjectives). For example, in the sentence The book on the shelf is new, the phrase on the shelf modifies the noun book.
Q: Can prepositional phrases modify verbs?
Yes, prepositional phrases can modify verbs. When they do, they act as adverbial phrases, telling us more about the action. For example, in She ran toward the gate, the phrase toward the gate modifies the verb ran by indicating direction.
Q: What are some common prepositions used in prepositional phrases?
Common prepositions include:
- in
- on
- at
- under
- with
- through
- for
- by
These prepositions are followed by their objects, forming complete prepositional phrases.
Q: How do you identify a prepositional phrase in a sentence?
A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun, called the object of the preposition. To identify it, look for a preposition and check the words following it. For example, in He sat beside her, beside is the preposition and her is the object.
Interesting Information on Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases can be categorized as:
- Adjectival phrases: Modify nouns (e.g., The house with the red roof).
- Adverbial phrases: Modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., He drove through the tunnel).
Modifiers in Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase can include modifiers that describe its object. For example, in He stood under the old oak tree, the words the old oak modify the object tree.
Prepositional Phrases vs. Verb Phrases
While prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and modify nouns or verbs, verb phrases consist of a main verb and its auxiliaries. Understanding both helps learners build more complex sentences in English grammar.
Common Prepositional Errors
Learners of the English language often misuse prepositions because different languages have different rules for preposition use. For example, saying He arrived to the airport instead of He arrived at the airport. Learning common prepositional phrases helps reduce these errors.
Prepositional phrases are a key part of English grammar because they add important details to sentences. By learning to use them effectively, learners can improve both their written and spoken English.
Prepositional Phrases: Usage and Function
Prepositional phrases play a crucial role in English grammar by adding detail and clarity to sentences. These phrases, which consist of a preposition followed by an object (a noun or pronoun) and any modifiers, can be used to describe nouns, verbs, or even whole clauses. Here’s how they work:
How Prepositional Phrases Modify Nouns
When a prepositional phrase functions as an adjectival phrase, it modifies a noun by providing more information about it. For example:
- The boy with the blue hat is my brother.
In this sentence, the prepositional phrase with the blue hat modifies the noun boy, telling us which boy is being referred to.
How Prepositional Phrases Modify Verbs
Prepositional phrases can also act as adverbial phrases, modifying verbs by indicating time, place, direction, or manner. For example:
- She waited at the bus stop (place)
- He spoke in a calm voice (manner)
- They arrived after the meeting (time)
Common Prepositions in Prepositional Phrases
Here are some common prepositions used in prepositional phrases:
- Place: in, on, under, near, beside
- Time: before, after, during, until
- Direction: to, toward, into, onto
These prepositions are essential for forming phrases that modify verbs or nouns effectively.
Using Prepositional Phrases in Sentences
Prepositional phrases can be used in almost every part of a sentence. Depending on their function, they can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. See the following sentences for phrase examples:
- In the morning, she reads a book. (In the morning modifies the verb reads.)
- The flowers on the table are fresh. (On the table modifies the noun flowers.)
- He works quietly at his desk. (At his desk modifies the verb works.)
Prepositional Phrases Can Act as Nouns
In some cases, a prepositional phrase can act as the subject or object of a sentence. For example:
- Under the bed is a strange place to hide. (Here, under the bed acts as the subject of the sentence.)
Learning how to use prepositional phrases helps learners of the English language form clearer and more descriptive sentences. Understanding their function and placement is key to mastering complex sentence structures in English.
More Information
If you want to learn more about prepositions visit the prepositions page, or visit the parts of speech page.
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