PHRASES AND

THEIR TYPES
WHAT ARE PREPOSITIONS?

Words that connect

a noun/pronoun to
another word in a
sentence
WHAT IS AN “OBJECT” OF PREPOSITION?

THE NOUN/PRONOUN
RIGHT AFTER THE
PREPOSITION
A Prepositional phrase:
Starts from the preposition
and ends at the object.
FIND THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES:
1) The woman on the boat is my aunt
Carol.
on the boat :preposition : (on) - object : (boat)

2) Please wash the dishes in the sink.

In the sink : preposition : (in) - object : (sink)

3) Are the shoes under the chair?

under the chair: preposition : (under) - object : (chair)
There are 2 types of
prepositional phrases:
 ADVERB PHRASE:
ADJECTIVE PHRASE: Describes a verb, adverb,
Describes a noun/pronoun or an adjective.
4. If that word is a noun/pronoun, then

4 STEPS FOR DEFINING THE TYPE

it’s an “adjective phrase”. If that word is a verb,
adjective, or an adverb, then it’s an “adverb phrase.”

3. Determine the part of speech of that

OF A PHRASE
word.

2. Find the word in the sentence that

the “preposition” connects to.

1. Find the prepositional phrase,

(preposition and its object)
 EXAMPLES: 2. “People were ready for a change.”
1. Bob led a difficult life in poverty.
1) ----- for a change? - ready
1) (What is in poverty?) – “life.” 2) “ready” is an adjective.
2) “Life” is a noun, 3) So (for a change) is an adverb phrase.
3) So (in poverty) is an adjective
phrase.
3. “I rode my bike to a friend’s
house.”

1) ---- to a friend’s house? - rode

2) “rode” is a verb.
3) So (to a friend’s house is an
adverb phrase.)
4. I worked repeatedly at the same
task.
1) ---- at the same task? - repeatedly
2) “repeatedly” is an adverb.
3) So, (at the same task) is an adverb
phrase
PRACTICE TIME!
 5. Tom is active in many sports.
Adverb Phrase : [--- in many sports? (active-adjective)]

4. We follow traditions in our country.

PRACTICE :
Adjective Phrase : [--- in our country? (traditions-noun)]

3. The house across the street is mine.

Adjective Phrase : [--- across the street? (house-noun)]

2. Put your HW in the basket.

Adjective Phrase : [--- in the basket? (HW-noun)]

1. Please go into the store.

Adverb Phrase : [--- into the store? (go- verb)]
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB????

It is a It is an
preposition if adverb if
there is an there is no
object. object.
EXAMPLES:
1) Turn left just beyond the apple tree.
Preposition: beyond
Object : (beyond what?) : apple tree.

2) A large crowd gathered outside and blocked the road.

Preposition : outside
Object : (outside what?) : there is no answer
So the word “outside” is an adverb because there is no object. (There is no answer
the question “what?”)

3) A large crowd gathered outside the tickets office and blocked the road.
Preposition: outside Object : ticket office
Outside is a preposition not and adverb, because there is an object. (There is an
 PRACTICE TIME
STATE IF THE UNDERLINED WORD IS AN ADVERB OR A PREPOSITION:
1) Did you see the headline in today’s paper?
In: preposition – Object is paper.

2) He watched the clouds float by.

By: adverb – There is no object. (By what?)

3) The concert was planned by the performers.

By: preposition – Object (performers)

4) I leaped across and ran away.

Across : adverb – there is no object (across what?)

5) This chair spins around.

Around : adverb – there is no object (around what?)

6) Mary painted on the smooth surface.

On: preposition – object : surface