lesson 10: prepositional phrases (adverbs) · lesson 10: prepositional phrases (adverbs) ... there...

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LESSON 10: PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES (ADVERBS)

In the last lesson, we studied prepositional phrases that act as adjectives. Now, we’ll study prepositional phrases that act as adverbs.

Relevant Review

• Phrases are groups of words that act together as single parts of speech. • Prepositions are always in prepositional phrases. Prepositions are one of the

eight parts of speech. • Prepositional phrases always begin with a preposition and end with a noun or a

pronoun. • Prepositional phrases can act as adjectives.

Lesson

Prepositional Phrases Act As Single Parts of Speech (Adverbs)

Look at this sentence. What kind of word is there?

The paper airplane landed there.

There is an adverb modifying landed. It tells us where the airplane landed.

Now look at this sentence. What is in the bushes? What is its role in the sentence?

The paper airplane landed in the bushes.

In the bushes is a prepositional phrase. It starts with a preposition (in), and it ends with a noun (bushes).

The whole phrase is acting as an adverb. The prepositional phrase answers an adverb question. (Do you remember those?) It tells us where the plane landed.

Where did the plane land? It landed in the bushes.

Do you see how the whole phrase is acting as an adverb? Great!

Diagramming Prepositional Phrases (Adverb)

You learned in the last lesson that we diagram prepositional phrases acting as adjectives under the nouns or pronouns that the phrases are modifying. (Remember that adjectives modify nouns and pronouns.)

Where do you think we will diagram prepositional phrases acting as adverbs? (What kinds of words do adverbs modify?)

If you guessed that adverbial prepositional phrases are diagrammed under the verbs, adjectives, or adverbs that the phrases are modifying, you are correct!

That makes sense because adverbs modify verbs, adverbs, or adjectives.

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Most adverbial prepositional phrases will modify verbs just like in the example above, but keep in mind that they can also modify adjectives and adverbs. Now I'm going to throw you a curveball. Take a look at the following sentence.

The paper airplane landed in the bushes behind the house.

In the bushes is an adverbial prepositional phrase modifying landed.

Behind the house is an adjectival prepositional phrase telling us more about the noun bushes. Which bushes? The bushes behind the house. This prepositional phrase is modifying the object of the preposition (bushes) from the first prepositional phrase!

Adjectival prepositional phrases can modify ANY noun or pronoun. The noun and pronoun jobs you've learned about so far are subjects and objects of prepositions.

The following sentence diagramming exercises contain prepositional phrases acting as adverbs and prepositional phrases acting as adjectives.

I'll bet that if you think about each one, you'll be able to diagram them without any trouble. Here we go!


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Lesson 10 Sentence Diagramming Exercises

1. Erik’s new book fell on the floor.

Key

Erik’s new book fell on the floor. sentence

book subject (noun)

fell verb

Erik’s, new adjectives modifying book

on the floor prepositional phrase (adverb) (modifying fell, answers Where?)

on preposition

floor object of the preposition (noun)

the adjective modifying floor


2. The red bird sat on the rock near the tree.

Tip: Sentences are full of nouns. This can sometimes make it hard to find the subject.

Subjects will never be in prepositional phrases.

Crossing out all prepositional phrases can make it easier to find the subject.

The red bird sat on the rock near the tree.

The red bird sat on the rock near the tree.

Now it is easier to see that bird is the subject of the sentence.

Key

The red bird sat on the rock near the tree. sentence

bird subject (noun)

sat verb

The, red adjectives modifying bird

on the rock prepositional phrase (adverb) (modifying sat, answers Where?)

on preposition

rock object of the preposition (noun)

the adjective modifying rock

near the tree prepositional phrase (adjective) (modifying rock, answers Which one?)

near preposition

tree object of the preposition (noun)

the adjective modifying tree


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3. Julia quickly swam across the pool.

Key

Julia quickly swam across the pool. sentence – statement

Julia subject (noun)

swam verb

quickly adverb modifying swam (answers How?)

across the pool prepositional phrase (adverb) (modifying swam, answers Where?)

across preposition

pool object of the preposition (noun)

the adjective modifying pool

Tip for Teachers

Some students become robots as they diagram sentences.

They identify a pattern and diagram sentences without really knowing why they’re doing what they are doing. This is not a good thing. We want them to have active minds!

One way to make sure your students are THINKING as they diagram these sentences is to constantly ask them WHY they put each part of the sentence where they did. I’m sure they’ll love you for it! J


4. I happily sat on the chair in the corner.

Key

I happily sat on the chair in the corner. sentence

I subject (pronoun)

sat verb

happily adverb modifying sat (answers How?)

on the chair prepositional phrase (adverb) (modifying sat, answers Where?)

on preposition

chair object of the preposition (noun)

the adjective modifying chair

in the corner prepositional phrase (adjective) (modifying chair, answers Which one?)

in preposition

corner object of the preposition (noun)

the adjective modifying corner

Tip: Sometimes, prepositional phrases can be interpreted as either adjectives or adverbs. The meaning can change depending on the emphasis and context given by the speaker or writer. Changing the word order of a sentence can also change its meaning.

For instance, notice how the meaning changes for this sentence when we move in the corner immediately after sat.

I happily sat in the corner on the chair.

In the corner is now an adverbial prepositional phrase modifying sat!


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5. Did Jamie drive into town yesterday?

Key

Did Jamie drive into town yesterday? sentence – question

Jamie did drive into town yesterday. sentence- statement

Jamie subject (noun)

Did drive verb phrase

Did helping verb

drive main verb

yesterday adverb modifying did drive (answers When?)

into town prepositional phrase (adverb) (modifying did drive, answers Where?)

into preposition

town object of the preposition (noun)

Extra Practice: Identifying Prepositions 1. Underline the prepositions and circle the prepositional phrases in the following sentences. (The prepositional phrases are in bold.)

1. I threw the ball across the field, and it landed in the pond.

2. The dress in the closet is dirty.

3. We met for the first time at a coffee shop.

4. The book on the shelf belongs to me.

5. After dinner, we walked around the block.

2. Give three examples of prepositions in prepositional phrases. Underline the prepositions.

Answers will vary. inside the house, over the river, within the cave, through the tunnel…

lesson 10: prepositional phrases (adverbs) · lesson 10: prepositional phrases (adverbs) ... there...

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