Phrases: Prepositional Phrases: The Big Daddy of Phrases

Prepositional Phrases: The Big Daddy of Phrases

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun. This noun or pronoun is called the “object of the preposition.”

Here are some sample prepositional phrases:

• By the ocean
• Near the window
• Over the cabinet
• With us
• In your ear
• Under your hat

You can connect two or more prepositional phrases with a coordinating conjunction. The seven coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. For example:

• The resort is beside the mountain and by the lake.

• The coordinating conjunction is and.

• You can usually find Macho Marvin in the steam room, on the exercise bike, or under the barbells.

• The coordinating conjunction is or.

Offspring 1: Adjectival Phrases

When a prepositional phrase serves as an adjective, it's called an adjectival phrase. (That was a no-brainer, eh? Who says you don't get a break in this English biz?)

An adjectival phrase, as with an adjective, describes a noun or a pronoun. Here are some examples:

• The manager with the pink slips terrorized the employees.

• The adjectival phrase “with the pink slips” describes the noun “manager.”

• The price of the promotion was much too steep.

• The adjectival phrase “of the promotion” describes the noun “price.”

• Something in the corner of the desk was moving.

• The adjectival phrase “in the corner” describes the noun “something”; the adjectival phrase “of the desk” describes the noun “corner.”

Offspring 2: Adverbial Phrases

Like Meryl Streep or Kevin Kline, the prepositional phrase is a versatile creature, able to slip into different roles. Depending on how it is used in a sentence, a prepositional phrase can function as an adverbial phrase by modifying a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. For example:

• She lost her head at the retro love-in.

• The adverbial phrase “at the retro love-in” describes the verb “lost.”

• The salesperson skimmed over the product's real cost.

• The adverbial phrase “over the product's real cost” modifies the verb “skimmed.”

• The boss was thrilled at their attitude.

• The adverbial phrase “at their attitude” modifies the adjective “thrilled.”

• The rock climbers arrived late at night.

• The adverbial phrase “at night” modifies the adverb “late.”