Prepositional phrases
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and includes its object and any modifiers. It does not contain a subject or a verb, making it a vital component of a sentence's structure. The primary function of a prepositional phrase is to articulate the relationship between its object and another element within the sentence, often serving as an adjective or adverb. Common prepositions include "in," "on," "at," "before," and "with."
When used as an adjective, a prepositional phrase modifies a noun or pronoun, answering questions like "Which one?" or "What kind of?" For instance, in the phrase "the dress with the slit," the prepositional phrase specifies which dress is being referred to. As an adverb, it can appear anywhere in the sentence and informs about the circumstances of an action, such as in "built a deck in his yard," where it clarifies where the action took place. Understanding prepositional phrases can enhance clarity and detail in writing, making them essential tools for effective communication.
Subject Terms
Prepositional phrases
A prepositional phrase is a type of phrase in the English language. A phrase is a group of words that does not have a subject or a verb and is used as a part of speech. A prepositional phrase functions mainly as an adjective or adverb in a sentence. It answers questions about the word it modifies or describes.
Overview
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that contains a preposition, the object of the preposition, and modifiers of the object. A preposition is a word or group of words at the beginning of a prepositional phrase. Some examples of prepositions include after, away, at, before, between, for, from, in, of, on, to, under, and with.
The purpose of a prepositional phrase is to show the relationship between its object and another word in the sentence. In English grammar, the object of the preposition is always a noun, pronoun, or group of words functioning as a noun. The first noun or pronoun after the preposition is its object. If no object follows the preposition, the word does not function as a preposition. This means the sentence does not contain a prepositional phrase.
In the sentence, "Stephanie hung the sign on the wall," the preposition on shows the relationship between the verb hung and the object of the preposition wall. The object of the preposition answers the questions Whom? or What? To find the object of the preposition, ask On what? The answer is wall. Alternatively, ask What is the first noun or pronoun following the preposition? Wall is the first noun following the preposition on; therefore, wall is the object of the preposition.
Grammatically, a prepositional phrase can be used either as an adjective or adverb in a sentence. An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun. An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb in a sentence. In a prepositional phrase that functions as an adjective, the prepositional phrase immediately follows the noun or pronoun it describes. It also answers the questions Which one?, What kind of?, How many?, or Whose? about the word it modifies. In the sentence, "Laurie chose the dress with the slit," the prepositional phrase with the slit tells which dress Laurie chose. The phrase describes the noun dress and is used as an adjective.
When a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverb, the prepositional phrase can be located anywhere in the sentence. In this case, it tells how, when, where, or under what conditions. In the sentence, "Sean built a deck in his yard," the prepositional phrase in his yard tells where Sean built a deck. The phrase modifies the verb built and is used as an adverb.
Biography
Kemper, Dave, Verne Meyer and Patrick Sebranek. Writers Inc. Wilmington, ME: Great Source Education Group, 2006.
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"What Is a Prepositional Phrase and How to Use It?" Grammarly, 18 May 2023, www.grammarly.com/blog/parts-of-speech/prepositional-phrase. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.