1. Prepositional Phrases

2. Phrases
A phrase is a group of words that is missing a subject, a predicate, or both.
In most cases, a phrase works as a modifier in a sentence (it describes or specifies)

3. Prepositional Phrases
The most common type of phrase is the prepositional phrase.
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun

4. Example The birds sat under the trees and searched for food.
Prepositional phrases:
under the trees
for food
The noun or pronoun that ends this type of phrase is called the “object of the preposition”
Prepositions
Objects of Prepositions
under
trees
for
food

5. Notes
The main part of a sentence (like a subject and verb) are NEVER inside a prepositional phrase.
When analyzing a sentence, find all the prepositional phrases first and eliminate them (to shorten and simplify the sentence)
To remove the prepositional phrases from a sentence, simply place brackets around the phrase, beginning with the preposition and ending with the object.

6. Prepositions
Prepositions are often words that indicate location. Usually, prepositions show physical location (where/place). For example:

7. Prepositions
Prepositions can also show location in time/when

8. Because there are so many possible locations, there are quite a few prepositions...

9. Commonly Used Prepositions
aboard
below
for
past
about
beneath
from
since
above
beside in
through
across
besides
inside
throughout
after
between
into to
against
beyond
like
toward
along
but (meaning except)
near
under
underneath
amid by of
until
among
concerning
off
unto
around
despite on up as
down
onto
upon at
during
out
with
before
except
outside
within
behind
over
without

10. Practice
The first word in a prepositional phrase is the preposition, and the last word is the object of the preposition. The words in between are adjectives and adverbs.
To find the beginning of a prepositional phrase, look for a preposition.
To find the object of the preposition, look for a noun or pronoun that answers the question whom? or what?

11. Example One of the girls in the new blue car is my sister.
Which words are prepositions?
Whom or What are the objects of the prepositions?
Then which words are adjectives?

12. Compound Prepositions
Sometimes prepositions are compounds, which means more than one of them has been used in a single phrase.

13. Compound Prepositions
according to
in addition to
in spite of
ahead of
in case of
instead of
aside from
in front of
on account of
because of
in place of
out of
by means of
in regard to
prior to
by way of

14. Compound Prepositions
Example:
In case of fire, use the nearest exit.
“In case of” is a compound preposition – multiple words acting as one preposition
“fire” is the object of the preposition

15. Compound Objects of Prepositions
Sometimes even the object of the preposition is a compound. If so, the objects will be joined by a conjunction (and, but, or, etc.)
Example: Barb was walking with Steve and Nancy.
With = preposition
And = conjunction
Steve & Nancy are both objects of the preposition

18. Writing with Prepositional Phrases

19. Expand Sentences with Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases act like adjectives and adverbs to add meaning to nouns and verbs.
Add a prepositional phrase to a sentence to add more information to the subjects, objects, or verbs in the sentence.
A prepositional phrase usually appears after the word it modifies
You can add more than one prepositional phrase to a sentence.

20. Combine Sentences with Prepositional Phrases
You can combine a pair or a short group of
sentences into a single, clear sentence using at
least one prepositional phrase.
omit words that are needlessly repeated, but don’t leave out any important details

21. Sentence Building with Prepositional Phrases
EXAMPLE:
A mouse darted. It darted across the salad bar. This happened during the luncheon.
During the luncheon, a mouse darted across the salad bar.

22. Types of Prepositional Phrases
There are two kinds of prepositional phrases:
Adjective phrases
Adverb phrases

23. Adjective phrases WITH NOUNS:
When a prepositional phrase is used as an adjective to describe a noun or pronoun:
It is called an adjective phrase
It always appears immediately after the noun or pronoun it modifies.

24. Adverb phrases WITH VERBS:
When a prepositional phrase is used as an adverb to describe a verb:
It often appears immediately after the verb it modifies, but...
Like adverbs, prepositional phrases that modify verbs can also be found at the very beginning or very end of a sentence.

25. Adverb phrases
Like adverbs, prepositional phrases that modify verbs can also be found at the very beginning or very end of a sentence.
EXAMPLE:
In the morning, the students arrive at school.
The students arrive at school in the morning.
In both versions, the prepositional phrase modifies the verb arrive.

26. How to Arrange Prepositional Phrases

27. How to Arrange (and Rearrange) Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases act like adjectives and adverbs to add meaning to nouns and verbs.
Prepositional phrases can be arranged o be more effective, or condensed or eliminated to cut the clutter.

28. Rearranging prepositional phrases
Be careful not to confuse your readers by misplacing a prepositional phrase.
Example: The Vesuvians swam for two hours after lunchi n my pool.
Did the aliens eat lunch in the pool?
Move one of the phrases for clarity:
After lunch, the Vesuvians swam for two hours in my pool.
The best arrangement is one that’s clear and uncluttered.

29. Don’t Over Do It
Although several prepositional phrases may appear in the same sentence, avoid packing in so many phrases that you confuse the reader.
Example:
On a rickety stool in one corner of the crowded bar, the singer plays lonesome songs on his battered old guitar about warm beer, cold women and long nights on the road.
This example is cluttered and awkward from the overuse of prepositional phrases and results in a run-on sentence.

30. Don’t Over Do It Example:
On a rickety stool in one corner of the crowded bar, the singer plays lonesome country songs on his battered old guitar about warm beer, cold women and long nights on the road.
This example is cluttered and awkward from the overuse of prepositional phrases and results in a run-on sentence.
In this case, the best way to break up the excessive string of phrases is to make two sentences:
On a rickety stool in one corner of the crowded bar, the singer sits with his battered old guitar. He plays lonesome country songs about warm beer, cold women, and long nights on the road.