Rick Robinson © 2014 Prepositional Phrases Have Two Jobs
Remember: A prepositional phrase is a group of words that has a preposition as
its first word, followed by a noun or pronoun as the object of the preposition.
If the object of the preposition is a noun, it may be modified by adjectives.
Some Examples of Prepositional Phrases with Nouns as the Object of the Preposition:
l preposition ——————object
to my friend
of your son
at
school
in
time
on
Friday
l
l preposition —————————object l
for the new baby
through the door
across this street
around that corner
except your father
l preposition ———————object
l
under the table
from his sister
near your house
above the field
below ten degrees
Some Examples of Prepositional Phrases with Pronouns as the Object of the Preposition:
preposition —object l
beside us
under it
preposition —object l
preposition —object l
with him
about it
across it
by me
preposition —object l l
on them
next to it
Comparison of Adjective and Adverb Phrases
Adjective Prepositional Phrases
Adverb Prepositional Phrases
1. The woman with him is Maria.
1. The woman walked with him yesterday.
2. The meeting on Friday was at 2 p.m.
2. We will meet with him on Friday.
3. The store near your house has fruit.
3. We have seen a robber near your house.
The prepositional phrase with him modifies the noun “woman.”
The prepositional phrase with him modifies the verb “walked.”
The phrase with him answers the question “Which woman is Maria?” The phrase with him answers the question “How did the woman walk?”
(or “With whom did the woman walk?)
The prepositional phrase on Friday modifies the noun “meeting.”
The prepositional phrase on Friday modifies the verb “will meet.”
The phrase on Friday answers the question “Which meeting was at 2?” The phrase on Friday answers the question “When will we meet?”
The prepositional phrase near your house modifies the noun “store.”
The phrase near your house answers “Which store has fruit?”
The prepositional phrase near your house modifies the verb “have seen.”
The phrase near your house answers, “Where have you seen a robber?”
4. I bought the house around the corner. 4. They walked around the corner to see him.
The prepositional phrase around the corner modifies the noun “house.” The prepositional phrase around the corner modifies the verb “walked.”
The phrase around the corner answers “Which house did you buy?” The phrase around the corner answers, “Where did they walk?”
5. We enjoyed the class on Friday.
The prepositional phrase on Friday modifies the noun “class.”
The phrase on Friday answers “Which class did you enjoy?”
5. On Friday, we enjoyed a very nice class.
The prepositional phrase On Friday modifies the verb “enjoyed.”
The phrase on Friday answers, “When did you enjoy a nice class?”
Rick Robinson © 2014 Exercises
Directions: Determine what kind of prepositional phrase is used in each of the
following sentences
1. The man on the train was reading a newspaper. ___________________________
2. I enjoy working with your father.
___________________________
3. The building near your house is very tall.
___________________________
4. Please, put the food on the table.
___________________________
5. The food on the table is getting cold.
___________________________
6. Ask John to go to the store with Robert.
___________________________
7. Who is the woman with Robert?
___________________________
8. Who is the woman that is standing with Robert? __________________________
9. Shall we walk around the lake together?
___________________________
10. They will have their wedding in September.
___________________________
11. A wedding in September would be beautiful.
___________________________
12. There are many people in the mall.
___________________________
13. I dislike the people in the mall.
___________________________
14. He put the hat on his head.
___________________________
15. They worked very hard on the project.
___________________________
16. I own the store around the corner.
___________________________
17. All of the people in my family speak Spanish.
___________________________
18. All of the people in my family speak Spanish.
___________________________
19. She speaks Spanish with a little accent.
___________________________
20. The man with the Spanish accent is my student. _________________________
Answers:
1. The man on the train was reading a newspaper. (adjective phrase)
11. A wedding in September would be beautiful. (adjective phrase)
(Which man was reading a newspaper?)
(What kind of wedding would be beautiful?)
2. I enjoy working with your father. (adverb ph. — How?/With whom? 12. There are many people in the mall. (adverb phrase —
Where are there many people?)
3. The building near your house is tall. (adjective phrase — Which?)
13. I dislike the people in the mall. (adjective phrase —Which people?)
4. Please, put the food on the table. (adverb phrase — Where?)
14. He put the hat on his head. (adverb phrase — Where?)
5. The food on the table is getting cold. (adjective phrase — Which?)
15. They worked very hard on the project.(adverb phrase — Where?)
6. Ask John to go to the store with Robert. (adverb ph.— With whom?) 16. I own the store around the corner. (adjective phrase — Which?)
7. Who is the woman with Robert? (adjective phrase — Which woman?) 17. All of the people in my family speak Spanish. (adjective phrase)
(Which people?)
8. Who is the woman that is standing with Robert? (adverb phrase)
(Standing with whom?)
18. All of the people in my family speak Spanish. (adjective phrase)
(Which “All” speak Spanish? All of the cats? All of the children?
No. All of the people.)
9. Shall we walk around the lake together? (adverb phrase — Where?)
19. She speaks Spanish with a little accent. (adverb phrase — How?)
10. They will have their wedding in September.(adverb phrase —When?) 20. The man with the Spanish accent is my student.
(adjective phrase — Which man?)