Prepositional Phrase

A Phrase is a group of related words that does not have a Subject and a Verb. One very important and widely used type of Phrase is called a Prepositional Phrase.

A Prepositional Phrase provides support for the Subject and the Verb in the sentence, just like Support Sentences give support for the Thesis Statement (see Chapter … page …) in the essay.

A Prepositional Phrase always begins with a Preposition and ends with a Noun. Often there is an Adjective in the middle! Here are some examples:

Preposition Adjective Nounon the coast

in college

to the game

over a big, green Car

The main purpose of a Prepositional Phrase is for support – to let you know location – where the Topic and Main Idea of the sentence (the Subject and Verb) happened.

Here’s a list of Prepositions (the most common are in bold type):

across after against along around before behindbelow beside between by during for from

in inside into like near of off

on out over since than through

toward

under upon with at to

One of the most useful (but also confusing) parts of Prepositional Phrases is that they can come anywhere in the sentence! They can come at the beginning

before the Subject; they can come at the end; and they can even come between the Subject and the Verb!

Example with a prepositional phrase at the beginning of the sentence: “(At college), the girl studied.

Example with a prepositional phrase in the end of the sentence: “The girl studied (at college).”

Example with a prepositional phrase between the Subject and the Verb: “The girl (with the sandals) studied.

You can even have lots of Prepositional Phrases in one sentence: “(At college), the girl (with the sandals) studied (on a bench) (in the sun).”

Prepositional phrases can be a lot of things, but they cannot be the Subject!

Subject Prepositional Phrase

Verb

The buildings

of New York are skyscrapers.

In the above sentence, New York is not a “skyscraper”; “the buildings are “skyscrapers,” so “buildings” is the Subject, not “New York”!

New York City skyline

Important Comma rule with Prepositional Phrases

There are just a couple comma rules you’ll need to know when using Prepositional Phrases:

1. Use a comma after a Prepositional Phrase that begins the sentence.

Comma! (In the early morning light), I saw the Rocky Mountains.

2. Do not use a comma if the Prepositional Phrase is not at the beginning of sentence!

no comma! I saw the Rocky Mountains (in the early morning light).

no comma! I saw (in the early morning light) the Rocky Mountains.

Here’s an important point: If you don’t have a Preposition, you can’t have a Prepositional Phrase!

Example: I returned the book.” (“The book”) cannot be a Prepositional Phrase because “the” is not on the list of Prepositions.

Example: I returned the book (to the library). (“To the library”) is a Prepositional Phrase because to is a Preposition, and (“to the library”) tells where you returned the book.

The strange case of the word “to”:

As you identify Prepositional Phrases, the word “to” can be tricky. That’s because “to” can either be part of a Prepositional Phrase or part of a Verb! Here are some examples:

When “to” comes before a Verb, you do not have a Prepositional Phrase.

For example: “I like to swim.” Since “swim” is an Action Verb, (to swim) cannot be a Preposition!

For example: “To be or not to be: that is the question.” Since “be” is a Linking Verb, (to be) cannot be a Preposition!

It’s only when “to” comes before a Noun, that you can have a Prepositional Phrase.

For example: “I like to swim (to the shore). Since “Shore” is a Noun, and since “to” comes before “shore,” the word group (“to the shore”) is a Prepositional Phrase.

Practice 1. In the following sentences, underline the Subject, put the Verb in bold, (put parentheses around each Prepositional Phrase), and add any commas that are needed.

1. A large body of research supports the theory.

2. It's not that your hands aren't on the wheel; it's that your mind

is not on the road.

3. At the University of Utah Dr. Strayer studied cell phone

use and driving.

4. Drivers talking on a cell phone are four times as likely to have an

accident as drivers who are not.

5. That's the same level of risk posed by a driver who is legally

drunk.

Practice 2. In the following sentences, underline the Subject, (put parentheses around each Prepositional Phrase), and add any commas that are needed.

1. The coat on the chair is mine

2. You will need a list of prepositions to take the quiz.

3. Too much of a good thing can be bad for the body.

4. Researchers at the University of Exeter had 25 regular chocolate eaters abstain from their favorite snack for three days.

5. Walking has been shown before to reduce cravings for nicotine.

6. Of the many possibilities I prefer the one most likely to happen.

Practice 3. In the following sentences, underline the Subject, put the Verb in bold, (put parentheses around each Prepositional Phrase), and add any commas that are needed.

1. Oceans cover three-quarters of the earth's surface.

2. Yet most people know very little about the oceans.

3. From simple cloth a quilter makes wonderful art objects.

4. Sometimes Earle stays underwater for up to two weeks.

5. An experienced quilter with simple materials works magic.