What Is a Prepositional Phrase and How to Use It?

What Is a Prepositional Phrase? (with Examples)

In the English language, prepositional phrases are used to modify nouns or verbs. According to the part of speech they vary, they are classified into different types. This article will provide you with meanings, definitions, usage and examples of prepositional phrases.

What Is a Prepositional Phrase?

A prepositional phrase is a combination of a preposition, a modifier, and its object. A prepositional phrase can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence based on its role in that particular sentence. A prepositional phrase is a part of the sentence that it modifies and cannot stand alone.

Definition of a Prepositional Phrase

"Collins Dictionary" defines a prepositional phrase as a structure consisting of a preposition and its object. Examples are at the table and by the sea."

A prepositional phrase, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a phrase that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun, pronoun phrase.

Another definition of a prepositional phrase is given by "Macmillan Dictionary". According to it, a prepositional phrase is “a noun group consisting of a preposition, a pronoun. A prepositional phrase is often a conjunction of a clause, for example 'I called about your ad' and prepositions in the phrases 'I learned a lot from reading crime fiction', 'about your ad' and 'from reading crime fiction'. phrase."

How to Use Prepositional Phrases in Sentences?

As discussed earlier, prepositional phrases can be used at the beginning, middle, and end of a sentence based on which word or part of speech is being modified. There are a few points you need to keep in mind while using prepositional phrases. They are:

• Each sentence will require a different preposition to form a prepositional phrase.
• Remember that using the wrong preposition can completely change the meaning of a sentence and sometimes make no sense at all.
• If the prepositional phrase modifies a noun, it acts like an adjective and is therefore considered an adjective phrase.
• Sometimes, a prepositional phrase appears to modify the verb or verb in the sentence and is considered an adverbial clause because it plays the role of an adverb in the sentence.

Examples of Prepositional Phrase

• The people with whom I met at the program was friendly.
• Vendors are selling from door to door.
• We are on the way to Canada.
• Jack was asking about the project.
• Smith was putting the flowers in the vase.
• Alex was looking into the mirror.
• Harry loves to travel around the world.
• We were able to fix the bike after many tries.
• Please pass me the English book with green cover.
• Look at the boy in the red T-shirt; he is looking suspicious.
• We can reach this conclusion by the light of the discussion.
• We can now begin our journey because according to the weather forecast the sun will rise today.
• Marry along with Rock came to meet us.
• Our sir has given many instructions regarding the project.
• We are not going over the bridge.
• We are not traveling towards the jungle.
• We can see anyone through the window.
• The hollow-eyed boy was coming towards us.
• Please don't try to think out of the box.
• Slowly we are getting into trouble.

Prepositional Phrase Exercises

The following exercises will help you better understand how prepositional phrases work. Choose the correct answer to complete the sentence.

1. Many birds nest _____________________.
a. Under the ears
b. There
c. Now

Answer: A. Many birds nest under the ears.

2. After school, the kids played tag ________________.

a. In the park
b. Roughly
c. And baseball

Answer: A. After school, the kids played tag in the park.

3. Come ___________________ with me.

a. Home
b. Over
c. Into the store

Answer: C. Come into the store with me.

4. __________________ Chairs sit molding into the ceiling.

a. Sad to say,
b. For one hundred years
c. Incredibly

Answer: B. For one hundred years chairs sit molding into the ceiling.

5. I gave the kids pizza ______________ cakes for breakfast today.

a. Instead of
b. Because of
c. Any more

Answer: A. I gave the kids pizza instead of cakes for breakfast today.