Prepositional Phrases

PrepositionalPhrases

In this lesson, you'll learn about prepositions and prepositional phrases.​

​Prepositional Phrases

All phrases that are not essential to a sentence are considered prepositional phrases. While they may supply important details, sentences can stand alone grammatically without them.

English | Grammar

Prepositions

List of Common Prepositions

Most prepositions are direction/position words:

​

aboard about above across after against along amid among around as to at before behind below beneath beside between beyond by circa despite down due to during except for from in into like near of off on onto out over past since through to toward under until up upon with within without ​

English | Grammar

Prepositions

List of Common Prepositions

Now, do you have to memorize that list? Certainly not. Just familiarize yourself, especially with the following:

​at by for from in into of on to with

​

Some words are prepositions in some cases and something else in others. Just remember that a preposition almost always has a noun following it. Take a look at these two sentences: ​

1. Throughout the living room was the scent of fatty crabs that had expired weeks ago.

2. I put my sister into the swim class after it worked so well for me.

   The preposition + noun combinations are underlined.

English | Grammar

Prepositions

Prepositional Phrases

A preposition and noun combinations are called prepositional phrases. ​

​

Prepositional Phrase = Preposition + Noun + Any attached describing phrase​

= of + fatty crabs + that had expired weeks ago​

English | Grammar

Prepositions

Multiple Select

Select which part of the sentence is a prepositional phrase. Select all that apply:

Hillary got into the boat for the short trip to Haiti.

• Hillary got

• into the boat

• for the short trip

• to Haiti

Multiple Select

Select which part of the sentence is a prepositional phrase. Select all that apply:

If you do business with me, you'll never get the better end of the deal.

• If you do business

• with me

• you'll never get the better end

• of the deal

Multiple Select

Select which part of the sentence is a prepositional phrase. Select all that apply:

We'll need to see the receipts for the dress you bought on Monday.

• We'll need to see the receipts

• for the dress

• you bought

• on Monday

Multiple Select

Select which part of the sentence is a prepositional phrase. Select all that apply:

I drove by my house to check if the package from Amazon had arrived.

• I drove

• by my house

• to check if the package

• from Amazon

• had arrived.

Multiple Select

Select which part of the sentence is a prepositional phrase. Select all that apply:

The eleven robbers broke into the casino vault with their perfectly executed plan.

• The eleven robbers broke

• into the casino vault

• with their perfectly executed plan.

Multiple Select

Select which part of the sentence is a prepositional phrase. Select all that apply:

Since the hypothesis of string theory, scientists have been back at the drawing board.

• Since the hypothesis of string theory

• scientists have been back

• at the drawing board.

Multiple Select

Select which part of the sentence is a prepositional phrase. Select all that apply:

Everything that man creates carries within it the seeds of its own destruction.

• Everything that man creates carries

• within it

• the seeds

• of its own destruction

Multiple Select

Select which part of the sentence is a prepositional phrase. Select all that apply:

Kevin snuck out the door during the school assembly.

• Kevin snuck

• ut the door

• during the school assembly

Multiple Select

Select which part of the sentence is a prepositional phrase. Select all that apply:

Within seconds of hearing about the trip to Antarctica, Charlotte packed shorts and sunglasses.

• Within seconds

• of hearing

• about the trip to Antarctica

• Charlotte packed

• shorts and sunglasses

Multiple Select

Select which part of the sentence is a prepositional phrase. Select all that apply:

We found Teddy in a broken elevator at a rundown hotel in Thailand.

• We found Teddy

• in a broken elevator

• at a rundown hotel

• in Thailand