Zander - Unit 1 / Lesson 7

English 3200

Unit 1 / Lesson 7

Zander Sargeant

Prepositions

• These are words that show a relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word in the sentence

• Most of time they will either show: position, direction, or time

For Example

• The preposition "on"

• This is a preposition because it will show the relationship between a noun/pronoun, and another word. Also, this example shows the relationship in position

2nd Example

• "The ball flew through the air"

• Subject: Ball

• Preposition: Through

• Showing relationship between: "Flew" & "Air"

• We will get to this later on, but does anyone know what type of prepositional phrase this is?

Multiple Choice

What is the preposition in this sentence:

"The car drove around the street"

• Drove

• Around

• The

• Street

Object Of The Preposition

• This is the noun/pronoun that comes after the preposition

• For example, in, "The car drove around the street", the object is "street"

2nd Example

• "The cheetah started running at me"

• Preposition: At

• Object of The Preposition: Me

Prepositional Phrase

• This is the set of words (Minimum: 2), that is between the preposition & object of the preposition

• For example,"Bill walked on the bridge"

• Preposition: On

• Object Of The Preposition: Bridge

• Prepositional Phrase: On The Bridge

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences contain a prepositional phrase?

• I am hungry

• During baseball games, balls fly through the air

• Polo ran from the bear

• Birds chirp very loudly

Open Ended

Write a prepositional phrase (ex. "to the room")

Types Of Prepositional Phrases

• (1) Adjective Phrases

• (2) Adverb Phrases

(1) Adjective Phrase

• An adjective phrase, is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun

• Adjective Phrases come after the noun/pronoun they modify, and have a very fixed position

• For example: The exams were difficult

• Preposition: Were

• Object of The Preposition: Difficult

• Adjective Phrase: Were Difficult

• The phrase "were difficult" is describing the exams, like a adjective would

2nd Example

• "The cost was very expensive"

• Preposition: Was

• Object of The Preposition (Subject Complement): Expensive

• Adjective Phrase: Was Very Expensive

Multiple Choice

Does the following sentence contain a adjective phrase?

"Some animals are wild"

• Yes

• No

(2) Adverb Phrase

• This is a prepositional phrase that modifies verbs

• They answer "When" "Where" or "How" about a verb

• They are very flexible, meaning they can be moved around the sentence

• They also work like adverbs

For Example

• "The professor spoke in a impolite manner"

• Preposition: In

• Object of the preposition: Manner

• Adverb Phrase: In a impolite manner

• Because the phrase is modifying how the professor spoke, meaning it is modifying a verb, which is what it does

2nd Example

• "The student rapidly studied as he neared the test."

• Preposition: As

• Object of the preposition: Test

• Adverb Phrase: As he neared the test

• Why is it an adverb phrase?

• Because the phrase is describing when he studied. The phrase is also very moveable, as it could be moved to:

• "As he neared the test, the student rapidly studied" OR "The student, as he neared the test, rapidly studied."

Multiple Choice

Is this an adverb phrase?

"The monkey ran from his chasing predator"

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Recap: What differentiates a adjective from a adverb phrase?

• A adjective phrase can be moved around the sentence

• A adverb phrase has a fixed position

• A adjective phrase comes before the noun/pronoun it is modifying

• The adverb phrase modifies a verb