Prepositional Phrase Notes

Parts of Speech Review

What are prepositional phrases?
• First, let’s review the definition of a preposition:
• A preposition links a noun to another word by indicating the location or time.

person, place, thing or idea

We went to English class on Monday.

Where’d you go? When did you go?

Compound Prepositions
• A compound preposition is a preposition made up of more than one
word.

Examples:
according to next to owing to
Apart from as to aside from
In addition to on top of ahead of
• Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition and an object of
preposition, usually a noun or a pronoun.
Replaces a noun: he, she,
them, they, etc.
Ms. Hargen teaches English. She is very short.

Preposition: Object of preposition:

+ =
around the bend

Prepositional phrase:
Practice
Preposition: Object of preposition: Prepositional phrase:
from + the street =

before + the rain =

during + the game =

outside + the gate =

 List of Prepositions
Prepositions:
Prepositional Phrases and Pacing
• Prepositional phrases can add rhythm and interest to a piece of
writing:

From Once Upon a Time, lines 49-50:

In a house, in a suburb, in a city, there were a man and his wife who
loved each other very much and were living happily ever after.

In a suburban house, there were a man and his wife who love each
other very much and were living happily ever after.
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What’s the
difference?
Practice
With a partner, take 5 minutes to identify the prepositional phrase in
each sentence below:
1. The boy threw the ball into the basket.
2. I left my bookbag at school, so my mom grounded me.
3. Tacos make great food, but don’t put them on your head.
4. Dinosaurs ruled the Earth before they went extinct.
5. Have you ever had pickles in your ice cream?
6. John fell asleep during the politician’s big speech.
7. When I get home from school, I am going to eat a big sandwich.
Answers
1. The boy threw the ball into the basket.
2. I left my bookbag at school, so my mom grounded me.
3. Tacos make great food, but don’t put them on your head.
4. Dinosaurs ruled the Earth before they went extinct.
5. Have you ever had pickles in your ice cream?
6. John fell asleep during the politician’s big speech.
7. When I get home from school, I am going to eat a big sandwich.
What do prepositional phrases do in a
sentence?
• A prepositional phrase will function as an adjective or an adverb

describes a noun describes a verb, adjective, or adverb

English is a lovely class. I run quickly to get to English
because I love it so much.

• As an adjective, the prepositional phrase answers the question: which

one?
The book on the bathroom floor is swollen from shower steam.
• As an adverb, a prepositional phrase answers the questions of: How?
When? Where?

Freddy is stiff from yesterday’s long football practice.

Before class, Josh begged his friend for a pencil.

Feeling brave, we tried the Dragon Breath Burritos at Taco Bus.

Homework
• Complete the Prepositional Phrase Worksheet.