Download LESSON 10: PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES (ADVERBS)

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
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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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1 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.
book
fell
subject (noun)
verb
Erik’s, new
adjectives modifying book
on the floor
prepositional phrase (adverb) (modifying
fell, answers Where?)
preposition
on
sentence
floor
object of the preposition (noun)
the
adjective modifying floor
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3 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
on the rock
on
adjectives modifying bird
prepositional phrase (adverb) (modifying
sat, answers Where?)
preposition
rock
object of the preposition (noun)
the
adjective modifying rock
near the tree
near
prepositional phrase (adjective) (modifying
rock, answers Which one?)
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?)
preposition
across
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
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5 4. I happily sat on the chair in the corner.
Key
I happily sat on the chair in the corner.
I
sentence
subject (pronoun)
sat
verb
happily
adverb modifying sat (answers How?)
on the chair
on
chair
prepositional phrase (adverb) (modifying
sat, answers Where?)
preposition
object of the preposition (noun)
the
adjective modifying chair
in the corner
in
corner
prepositional phrase (adjective) (modifying
chair, answers Which one?)
preposition
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
yesterday
main verb
into
adverb modifying did drive (answers
When?)
prepositional phrase (adverb) (modifying
did drive, answers Where?)
preposition
town
object of the preposition (noun)
into town
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…
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