Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional Phrases

50 most common prepositions

Prepositional Phrases

• A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun.

• A prepositional phrase shows a relationship between a word in the sentence and the object of the preposition.

• Examples:

• The cat in the tree was meowing loudly.

• The car around the corner is honking.

How do you know it's a prepositional phrase?

• The word at the end of the phrase (called the object of the preposition) must be a noun.

• Ask yourself "the what?" after the preposition and if you can answer the question with a noun, then you have found a prepositional phrase.

• Examples:

• The cat in the tree was meowing loudly. The cat in the WHAT?

• The car around the corner is honking. The car around the WHAT?

Poll

How many prepositional phrases do you notice in this sentence:

Ancestors in every variety of dress from the Elizabethan knight to the buck of the regency, stared down and daunted us.

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

• 6

Ancestors in every variety of dress, from the Elizabethan knight to the buck of the regency, stared down and daunted us.

Another thing to note - the subject of the sentence will NEVER be part of a prepositional phrase.

Multiple Choice

Speaking of which, what is the subject and verb of this sentence?

Ancestors in every variety of dress, from the Elizabethan knight to the buck of the regency, stared down and daunted us.

• regency / dress

• ancestors / stared and daunted

• knight / stared and daunted

• Elizabethan / variety

The group of students waits for their turn to speak to the principal.

Note: in the case of "to speak" in this sentence, to is not being used as a preposition. It doesn't pass the rule "to the WHAT?" because speak is a verb not noun.

Fill in the Blank

What is the prepositional phrase in the sentence? (Careful: spelling counts)

The thorns in the rose's stem pricked my thumb.

Multiple Select

Check all of the options that are prepositional phrases in the sentence:

The man in the corner of the store lives on my street.

• in the corner

• of the store

• the store lives

• on my street

• the man

Fill in the Blank

What is the prepositional phrase in the sentence (spelling counts!):

We listen to the radio.

Multiple Choice

How many prepositional phrases are in the sentence?:

I am listening to my favorite station on the radio.

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

Is "to" a preposition in the sentence?:

She danced to the music at the club.

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

Is "to" a preposition in the sentence?:

She decided to dance with her friends at the club.

• yes

• no

Fill in the Blank

What is the prepositional phrase in the sentence (spelling counts!):

She wrote a letter to the parents and guardians.