Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, the object of the preposition, and any modifiers of that object.

Common prepositions include to, with, before, off, next to, and in spite of.

EXAMPLES

In the brightly lit room, Eric and Amy practiced the waltz step. [The prepositional phrase tells where the waltz step was practiced. The phrase begins with the preposition In.]
The rhythm of waltz music swings along happily. [The prepositional phrase tells which rhythm the sentence describes. The phrase begins with the preposition of.]

REMINDER

A phrase is a group of related words that is used as a single part of speech. A phrase will not have both a verb and its subject.

The object of a preposition may be compound.

EXAMPLE

The book I’m reading is about an old man and the sea. [Man and sea are objects of the preposition about.]

Adjective Phrases

There are two types of prepositional phrases: adjective phrases and adverb phrases.

A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun is called an adjective phrase.

Like single-word adjectives, adjective phrases modify nouns or pronouns and often follow the word or words they modify. Adjective phrases answer the questions What kind(s)? and Which one(s)?

EXAMPLES

Micah likes movies about real-life heroes. [The adjective phrase about real-life heroes modifies the noun movies. It tells what kind of movies Micah likes to watch.]
One movie starred a hero in a red, white, and blue costume with stars. [The adjective phrase with stars modifies costume, telling what kind of costume. The adjective phrase in a red, white, and blue costume tells which one about the noun hero.]

Adverb Phrases

A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb is called an adverb phrase.

Like single-word adverbs, adverb phrases modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They answer these questions: How? When? Where? Why? To what extent? How far? How long? More than one adverb phrase may be used to add specific information to a sentence.

EXAMPLES

Janette sprinkled dried basil into the sauce and stirred it. [The prepositional phrase into the sauce tells where Janette sprinkled the basil. The phrase modifies the verb sprinkled.]
In her garden, she grows basil from seeds. [The prepositional phrase In her garden tells where the basil grows, and the phrase from seeds tells how the basil is grown. Both phrases modify the verb grows.]
Which of these ties is most appropriate for the occasion? [The prepositional phrase for the occasion tells how the tie is appropriate. The phrase modifies the adjective appropriate.]