A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase (the object of the preposition). These phrases function like adjectives or adverbs in a sentence, providing additional information about other words.
Here are some key things to know about prepositional phrase:
Structure:
- Preposition: The “boss” of the phrase, it introduces the phrase and tells you how the object relates to another word in the sentence. Examples of prepositions include “of,” “to,” “in,” “at,” “on,” “by,” “with,” “from,” “for,” etc.
- Object: The noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that receives the action of the preposition. It can be singular or plural and can be modified by adjectives or other phrases.
Types of prepositional phrase:
- Adverbial: Provides information about how, when, where, or why something happens. (e.g., in the morning, with a smile)
- Adjectival: Describes a noun or pronoun. (e.g., of great value, filled with joy)
- Prepositional object: Completes the meaning of a verb or preposition. (e.g., believe in magic, look for the answer)
Examples:
- He walked through the park. (modifies the verb “walked”)
- The book on the table is mine. (modifies the noun “book”)
- She is very excited about the trip. (modifies the adjective “excited”)
- He ran as fast as he could. (modifies the adverb “fast”)
Understanding prepositional phrases can help you:
- Improve your writing: They add variety and detail to your sentences.
- Understand complex sentences: They can clarify relationships between words.
- Learn new languages: Prepositions often differ across languages.
