Prepositional PhrasesPrepositional Phrases

How can I identify prepositions and their function in a sentence?How can I identify prepositions and their function in a sentence?

A word that shows a relationship between a noun or pronoun and some other word in the sentence.

The baseball player in the white shirthit a homerun.

Common PrepositionsCommon PrepositionsHere is a list of the most common prepositions:

aboard along behindbut

(except)from off past until

about amid below by in on since up

above among beneath down inside onto through upon

across around beside during into out to with

after at between except near outside toward within

against before beyond for of over under without

A word that shows a relationship between a noun or pronoun and some other word in the sentence. (Add prepositions below.)

______ her boat ______noon

______ a house ______ class

______ the goat ______ a goon

______ a mouse _______ a pass

Always begins with a preposition and ends with a

noun or pronoun.

Write sentences for these prepositional phrases:

under the doorson the Lake Michigan shore

near excellent schools

The baseball player in the white shirthit a homerun.

OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION

The OP is the noun or pronoun that ends a prepositional phrase.

The noun or pronoun that ends a prepositional phrase.

on her boat before noon

in a house during class

near the goat about a goon

under a mouse without a pass

OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION

A preposition is a part of speech that shows a relationship between two things

A preposition is a part of speech that shows a relationship between two things

• Prepositions show relationship by:•Location (on, under, in)

•Timing (before, after, during)

•Direction (from, toward, to)

• Prepositions show relationship by:•Location (on, under, in)

•Timing (before, after, during)

•Direction (from, toward, to)

LocationLocation

The mouse is under the table.

• Two things: mouse + table

• Relationship: one is under the other

• Under is a preposition!

The mouse is under the table.

• Two things: mouse + table

• Relationship: one is under the other

• Under is a preposition!

LocationLocation

Prepositions show the location or movement of an object in many different ways!

Prepositions show the location or movement of an object in many different ways!

TimingTiming

Kate ate breakfast before her brother.

• Two things: Kate + Kate’s brother

• Relationship: one is before the other

• Before is a preposition!

Kate ate breakfast before her brother.

• Two things: Kate + Kate’s brother

• Relationship: one is before the other

• Before is a preposition!

TimingTiming

Prepositions show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to time.

Prepositions show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to time.

Direction or MovementDirection or Movement

The couple sailed across the vast lake.

• Two things: couple + lake

• Relationship: one is crossing the other

• Across is a preposition!

The couple sailed across the vast lake.

• Two things: couple + lake

• Relationship: one is crossing the other

• Across is a preposition!

Direction or MovementDirection or Movement

Prepositions show the relationship of a noun or pronoun in a direction or movement to another object.

Prepositions show the relationship of a noun or pronoun in a direction or movement to another object.

Prepositional Phrases as Adjectives and AdverbsPrepositional Phrases as Adjectives and Adverbs

Prepositional Phrases can function as• Adjectives known as an adjective phrase

• Adverbs known as an adverb phrase

Prepositional Phrases can function as• Adjectives known as an adjective phrase

• Adverbs known as an adverb phrase

What do adjectives and adverbs modify?What do adjectives and adverbs modify?

Adjective phrases modifyNouns and

Pronouns

Adverbs phrases modifyVerbs

Adjectives and

Other Adverbs

Adjective phrases modifyNouns and

Pronouns

Adverbs phrases modifyVerbs

Adjectives and

Other Adverbs

Modifies a noun or pronoun

It answers the same questions an adjective would:

Which one? What kind? How many?

The puppy in the shop window jumped up.

Preposition as an adjectivePreposition as an adjective

If it functions as an adjective it is called an adjective phrase.

The fabrics from the Orient were quite beautiful.

What is your prepositional phrase?From the Orient

What does it describe?Fabrics (the subject of the sentence)

If it functions as an adjective it is called an adjective phrase.

The fabrics from the Orient were quite beautiful.

What is your prepositional phrase?From the Orient

What does it describe?Fabrics (the subject of the sentence)

Preposition as an adjectivePreposition as an adjective

These ancient hangings are tapestries from other lands.

What is your prepositional phrase?From other lands

What does it describe?Tapestries (the noun in the predicate)

These ancient hangings are tapestries from other lands.

What is your prepositional phrase?From other lands

What does it describe?Tapestries (the noun in the predicate)

The puppy jumped to the food.

Modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb

It answers the same questions an adverb would:

Where? When? How?

Preposition as an adverbPreposition as an adverb

If it functions as an adverb, it is called an adverb phrase.

The women are weaving on looms.

What is your prepositional phrase?On looms

What does it describe?Are weaving (on loom describes the verb)

If it functions as an adverb, it is called an adverb phrase.

The women are weaving on looms.

What is your prepositional phrase?On looms

What does it describe?Are weaving (on loom describes the verb)

Preposition as an adverbPreposition as an adverb

That fabric looks great on you.

What is your prepositional phrase?On you

What does it modify?Great (it describes an adjective)

That fabric looks great on you.

What is your prepositional phrase?On you

What does it modify?Great (it describes an adjective)

You MUST memorize the prepositions!

If there is no object of the preposition (if the preposition is not part of a

phrase), then it is not a preposition—it is an adverb.

RULE: Subjects and verbs will never be found in a prepositional phrase.

The gecko climbed up the wall.In this example “up the wall” is a prepositional phrase.

The gecko climbed up.In this example “up” is an adverb.

The gecko climbed up on the wall.In this example “up” is an adverb and “on the wall” is the prepositional phrase. Is it functioning as an adjective or adverb?

Identify the prepositional phrases and the objects of the preposition in each sentence below. Tell whether each phrase is functioning as an adjective or adverb.

1.The paper with the blue border is floating through the air.

2. Jordan’s eyes sparkle like a sunny day.

3. With great ease, Michael jumped up on the table.

1.The paper with the blue border is floating through the air.

2. Jordan’s eyes sparkle like a sunny day.

3. With great ease, Michael jumped on the table.

Prepositional phrase Object as as an adverb

Object as as an adjective

1.The tadpoles are belowbelow the water’s surface.

2. I jumped up,up, and Amy jumped downdown.

3. Is Taylor nearnear?

4. Erin looked atat the purple-haired boy.