Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional Phrases

Includes a preposition, the object of the preposition (noun or pronoun), and any modifiers of that object.

Phrases versus clauses

• A phrase is a group of related words that is used as a single part of speech and that does not contain both a verb and its subject.

• A clause is a group of words that has BOTH a subject and a verb.

Prepositional phrases

• The tall building with the red roof is our new library.

• Next to it is the old library. (Example of a compound preposition).

• We drove around the parking lot.

• Vince went inside the house.

• The playful puppy ran in front of me. (Example of a compound preposition).

Adjective Phrases - modify a noun or a pronoun.

• Many of these books include short stories for young readers.

• Diego Rivera's experiments (with fresco painting) (on large walls) resulted in beautiful murals.

• Rivera developed a style (of his own) (with simplified figures and bold colors).

Multiple Choice

What is the adjective phrase in the following sentence?

Ordinarily, lemmings eat a diet of moss and roots.

• lemmings eat a diet

• of moss and roots

• eat a diet

• of moss

Multiple Choice

What word does the adjective phrase modify?

Ordinarily, lemmings eat a diet of moss and roots.

• lemmings

• diet

• moss

• roots

Multiple Choice

What is the adjective phrase in the following sentence?

Do these animals follow a pattern of self-destruction?

• these animals follow

• a pattern

• of self-destruction

• Do these animals

Multiple Choice

What word does the adjective phrase modify?

Do these animals follow a pattern of self-destruction?

• follow

• animals

• destruction

• pattern

Multiple Choice

What is the adjective phrase in the following sentence?

Cozy homes underneath the ground protect young lemmings.

• Cozy homes

• underneath the ground

• protect young lemmings

• Cozy homes underneath

Multiple Choice

What word does the adjective phrase modify?

Cozy homes underneath the ground protect young lemmings.

• Cozy

• homes

• protect

• young

• lemmings

Adverb Phrases - modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

• During the Civil War, Louisa May Alcott worked (as a nurse) (in a hospital) (for six weeks).

• Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women, a novel rich in New England traditions.

• Too late for Alcott and other early suffragists, United States voting laws were changed.

Multiple Choice

What is the adverb phrase in the following sentence?

The elephant dozed in the shade.

• The elephant

• Elephant dozed

• in the shade

• the shade

Multiple Choice

What word does the adverb phrase modify?

The elephant dozed in the shade.

• dozed

• elephant

• shade

• in

Multiple Choice

What is the adverb phrase in the following sentence?

Is this outfit appropriate for a job interview?

• this outfit

• for a job interview

• outfit appropriate for

• a job interview

Multiple Choice

What word does the adverb phrase modify?

Is this outfit appropriate for a job interview?

• outfit

• this

• appropriate

• interview

Multiple Choice

What is the adverb phrase in the following sentence?

Fear sometimes springs from ignorance.

• Fear sometimes

• sometimes springs

• springs from

• from ignorance

Multiple Choice

What words does the adverb phrase modify?

Fear sometimes springs from ignorance.

• springs

• sometimes

• Fear

• ignorance.