Name: ________________________ Date: ___________________ H.W. #
THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
Here are some key facts about prepositional phrases:
1. A phrase is a group of words without a subject and verb, used as one part of speech.
Prepositional phrases are one type of phrase. Each prepositional phrase always
begins with a preposition. A prepositional phrase NEVER, EVER contains a
verb.
2. The prepositional phrase consists of the preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the
object. The object of the preposition is always a noun, pronoun, or a group of words
used as a noun and comes after the preposition. To find the object of the preposition,
first say the preposition, then ask, "Who/Whom or What?"
The coin fell between the cracks.
Between is the preposition in the above sentence. To find the object of the preposition
ask "Between what?" The noun "cracks" answers the question, so it is the object of
the preposition.
3. Prepositional phrases are used as adjectives or adverbs.
When prepositional phrases are used as adjectives, the phrase comes immediately after the
noun or pronoun it modifies. The phrase answers one of the following questions about the
word it modifies: Which one? What kind? How many/how much? Whose?
My check for the dress is in the mail.
The prepositional phrase, "for the dress," tells which check. The phrase is used as an
adjective modifying the noun "check."
B. When prepositional phrases are used as adverbs, they may be found any place in the
sentence. The adverb phrase tells how, when, where, or to what extent about a verb,
adjective, or adverb.
The boy fell on the steps.
The phrase "on the steps" tells where the boy fell. It modifies the verb "fell" and is used as an
adverb because it answers the question “where” he fell.
Later on, we will discuss the difference between when some words are used as an adverb
versus as a preposition.
