Prepositional Phrase The prepositional phrase is the most common phrase.

You’ll find these phrases everywhere – in sentences, clauses, even in other phrases.

Each prepositional phrase BEGINS with a preposition and INCLUDES a noun or pronoun that is the object of the preposition.

Prepositional PhrasesA PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE BEGINS WITH A PREPOSITION AND ENDS WITH A NOUN OR PRONOUN.

That noun or pronoun is called the object of the preposition.

After dinner After is the preposition

Dinner is the object of the preposition

After dinner is the prepositional phrase

Without you Without is the preposition

You is the object of the preposition

Without you is the prepositional phrase.

Prepositional Phrases Sometimes the

preposition will have compound objects.

This means that there will be two or more nouns or pronouns following the preposition.

to the store and post office

Store and office are 0bjects of the preposition.

with John and me

John and me are objects of the preposition.

Prepositional Phrases The object of

the preposition can have it’s own modifiers, which also are part of the prepositional phrase.

in the smoky, crowded room

of the remaining few people

by the rushing river

from the tired and frustrated teacher

for the midnight victory party

Prepositional Phrases Prepositional phrases function as either adjectives or

adverbs:

Adjective

The woman in the trench coat pulled out her cell phone.

Here the prepositional phrase acts as an adjective describing the noun woman.

Adverb

Most of the audience snoozed during the tedious performance.

Here the prepositional phrase acts as an adverb modifying the verb snoozed.

Cross out any prepositional phrases

1. The shoppers went into the store.

2. A blender fell on the floor.

3. We walked between the aisles of the supermarket.

4. During the storm we held onto the side of the boat.

5. Outside our home a pine tree grows.

6. He stepped behind the door.

7. The vacationers went to Disneyland.

8. Throughout the day the rain came in the window.

9. The price of water is over a dollar.

10. Past the large sign is a windmill.

Cross out any prepositional phrases

1. The shoppers went into the store.

2. A blender fell on the floor.

3. We walked between the aisles of the supermarket.

4. During the storm we held onto the side of the boat.

5. Outside our home a pine tree grows.

6. He stepped behind the door.

7. The vacationers went to Disneyland.

8. Throughout the day the rain came in the window.

9. The price of water is over a dollar.

10. Past the large sign is a windmill.

Now underline the subject once and the verb/verb phrase twice.

1. The shoppers went into the store.

2. A blender fell on the floor.

3. We walked between the aisles of the supermarket.

4. During the storm we held onto the side of the boat.

5. Outside our home a pine tree grows.

6. He stepped behind the door.

7. The vacationers went to Disneyland.

8. Throughout the day the rain came in the window.

9. The price of water is over a dollar.

10. Past the large sign is a windmill.

Now underline the subject once and the verb/verb phrase twice.

1. The shoppers went into the store.

2. A blender fell on the floor.

3. We walked between the aisles of the supermarket.

4. During the storm we held onto the side of the boat.

5. Outside our home a pine tree grows.

6. He stepped behind the door.

7. The vacationers went to Disneyland.

8. Throughout the day the rain came in the window.

9. The price of water is over a dollar.

10. Past the large sign is a windmill.

Don’t use a bunch of prepositional phrases in a row…Count the prep phrases:

I went to a store in a town in Ohio in the middle of a flood in June, which is during Ohio’s rainy season, and in a matter of minutes found myself knee-deep in water.

To a store

In a town

In Ohio

In the middle

Of a flood

In June

During Ohio’s rainy season

In a matter

Of minutes

In water

Don’t use a bunch of prepositional phrases in a row…Much better:

Last June I visited a small Ohio town during the rainy season. When I went into a flooded store, I quickly found myself knee-deep in water.

Now we’re down to only three prepositional phrases:

During the rainy season

Into a flooded store

In water

More practice: Cross out any prepositional phrases. Underline the subject once and the verb/verb phrase twice.

1. Outside the building, the cats and dogs played.

2. The burglar and his helper walked toward me.

3. The broken cup and saucer were under the table.

4. Milk or juice came with the meal.

5. Up the tree scurried a squirrel and a chipmunk.

6. Across the Golden Gate Bridge sped the cars and trucks.

7. Neither my hand nor my foot hurt after the injury.

More practice: Cross out any prepositional phrases. Underline the subject once and the verb/verb phrase twice.

1. Outside the building, the cats and dogs played.

2. The burglar and his helper walked toward me.

3. The broken cup and saucer were under the table.

4. Milk or juice came with the meal.

5. Up the tree scurried a squirrel and a chipmunk.

6. Across the Golden Gate Bridge sped the cars and trucks.

7. Neither my hand nor my foot hurt after the injury.

*Note: Verb phrases THIS WILL BE COVERED MORE IN DEPTH IN THE

VERB UNIT, this is just to help you with the exercises.

Verb phrases are phrases headed by a verb.

Usually include a helping verb, such as:

Do, does, did, has, have, had, is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, may, must, might, should, could, would, shall, will, can.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO MEMORIZE THE HELPING VERBS AT THIS TIME, just recognize that they are there and are a part of the verb phrase.

*Note: Verb Phrases NOT is never a verb. Do not underline NOT as part of

the verb phrase.

The child with the red hair did not sit beside me.

He should not have given his comb to me.

This house is not for sale.

*Note: Verb Phrases Sometimes to will come before a verb.

TO + VERB is an infinitive; TO + VERB IS NOT A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE.

To dance, to sing, to yell, to be, to leave, to go are examples of infinitives. Do NOT cross them out as prepositional phrases.

Place an infinitive in parenthesis.

I like to sing in the morning.

I like (to sing) in the morning.

More practice: Cross out any prepositional phrases. Underline the subject once and the verb/verb phrasetwice. Place each (infinitive) in parenthesis.

1. The swimmers were not competing for ribbons.

2. At night he wants to leave by bus.

3. In the afternoon the tots did not take a nap.

4. The child decided to run to the baseball game.

5. We will not go to Sea World during the rainy season.

6. After dinner the guests desire to enjoy some coffee.

7. You should not go before noon.

8. The artist likes to paint during the morning.

9. The teams wanted to practice after school.

10. Without food, your body cannot function.

More practice: Cross out any prepositional phrases. Underline the subject once and the verb/verb phrasetwice. Place each (infinitive) in parenthesis.

1. The swimmers were not competing for ribbons.

2. At night he wants (to leave) by bus.

3. In the afternoon the tots did not take a nap.

4. The child decided (to run) to the baseball game.

5. We will not go to Sea World during the rainy season.

6. After dinner the guests desire (to enjoy) some coffee.

7. You should not go before noon.

8. The artist likes (to paint) during the morning.

9. The teams wanted (to practice) after school.

10. Without food, your body cannot function.