1. Grammar Unit 7 - Prepositional Phrases
A preposition is a word that shows a relationship between a noun or a pronoun and some other word in a sentence.
Prepositional Phrase = the preposition, its object, and any other modifiers
Try It Out
Underline the preposition/prepositional phrase and identify the word(s) that the phrase relates to.
Our trip began in Iowa.
We skated across the lake.
Others stood by the shore.
The moon shone in the sky.
At midnight everyone left.
Night on the lake was calm.
in Iowa (began)
across the lake (skated)
by the shore (stood)
in the sky (shone)
at midnight (left)
on the lake (night)

2. Grammar Unit 7 - Prepositional Phrases
Adjective Phrases = describes a noun or a pronoun (it answers questions like: what kind? or which one?)
Example: The door to the building is locked.
Try It Out
The prepositional phrase is underlined. What noun/pronoun does each adjective phrase modify?
I built a model railroad with many cars.
A control panel in the center supplies the powers.
Toy locomotives with electricity seem real.
The signal switches on the track are automatic.
railroad
panel
locomotives
switches

3. Grammar Unit 7 - Prepositional Phrases
Adverb Phrases = modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (they can tell how, where or when)
Example: Sue ran toward the lake.
Try It Out
The prepositional phrases are underlined. What word does each adverb phrase modify?
On weekends my sister works until noon.
She works at a television station.
Animals perform for television audiences.
An eager dog leaped high over the boxes.
A frisky dog played beneath the hot studio lights
works
works
perform
leaped
played

4. Grammar Unit 7 - Prepositional Phrases
Preposition OR Adverb???
Most words that are used a prepositions can also be used as adverbs. If the word stands alone, it is an adverb. If that same word begins a prepositional phrase, it is a preposition.
Try It Out
Is the underlined word a preposition or an adverb?
preposition
Susie walked by the empty house.
She opened the front door and looked inside.
Susie went inside a quiet room.
I followed her in.
Old, broken furniture stood in every corner.
adverb
preposition
adverb
preposition

5. Grammar Unit 7 - Prepositional Phrases
Using Prepositions Correctly
Using in and into correctly. If you are in a place, you are already there. When you go from the outside to the inside, you are going into a place.
Do not use of as a verb or helping verb.
Example: (wrong) We could of seen more.
(right) We could have seen more.
Try It Out
Which words are correct?
John James Audubon (must of, must have) been a genius.
Audubon painted birds (in, into) natural settings.
He would go (in, into) the woods to look for them.
He (must of, must have) been very interested in birds.
His pictures almost (could of, could have) come to life.
must have in
into
must have
could have