Prepositions and Prepositional PhrasesIdentifying the parts of speech

Prepositional phrases To avoid fragments and to state ideas as

complete thoughts, proofread to identify the subjects and verbs of each sentence.

Identifying prepositional phrases as you proofread will help you locate the subject of the sentence.

Prepositions… A preposition is a word that has a noun

or pronoun as its object and states a relationship between its object and another word.

For example – I went into the building to find my friend.

Prepositions… A prepositional phrase begins with a

preposition and ends with the object of the preposition.

For example – Volunteering is the act of serving others without reward.

Prepositions... Common prepositions with possible

objects…

Preposition object Preposition object

About the house In my wallet

Along the street For Texas

After the movie From the past

As the parent Of the boys

Below the surface On the chair

By evening To the college

During the storm With patience

Prepositions… Prepositions often modify the location

of an object; for example, in, out, next, with, under, over, inside, outside, next to, without, underneath, between, etc…

Prepositions often modify time; for example, during, after, before, since, etc…

Prepositional phrases… Prepositional phrases are everywhere in

English sentences because they can modify nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

Prepositional Phrases… To modify means to change somewhat

the form or qualities of; alter partially; amend: to modify a contract

To modify descriptive, limiting, or particularizing meaning. For example - In a good man, good

modifies man

Practice identifying Prepositional Phrases… Try these: Identify every prepositional

phrase in the following sentences and indicate which word each phrase is modifying.

1. After the long hike, the children ate with gusto.

Practice identifying Prepositional Phrases…2. Pollution experts say we need stricter

controls on emissions from all gasoline engines.

Practice identifying Prepositional Phrases…3. Outside the theater, eager young

people waited impatiently in line for tickets.

Practice identifying Prepositional Phrases…4. The wise man on my right ate nothing

and slept like a baby during the flight.

Practice identifying Prepositional Phrases…5. The songs of whales are full of beauty

and variety, and they change in subtle ways over the course of a mating season