Download Prepositional Phrases - English 10 Santa Fe Prep

Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase is a group of words containing a preposition, and a noun or pronoun
that serves as the object of the preposition, and any modifiers of the object
Like adjectives and adverbs, prepositional phrases add meaning to the nouns and verbs in our
sentences. There are two prepositional phrases in the following sentence:
The funky air in the kitchen reeked of moldy cheese.



The first prepositional phrase--in the kitchen--modifies the noun air.
The second--of moldy cheese--modifies the verb reeked. Note that “moldy” modifies
“cheese.”
The two phrases provide information that helps us to understand the sentence.
A preposition is a word that shows how a noun or a pronoun is related to another word in a
sentence. The common prepositions are listed in the table below:
about
behind
except
outside
above
below
for
over
across
beneath
from
past
after
beside
in
through
against
between
inside
to
along
beyond
into
under
among
by
near
until
around
despite
of
up
at
down
off
with
before
during
on
without
Building Sentences with Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases may do more than just add minor details to a sentence: they may, in fact,
be needed for a sentence to make sense. Consider the vagueness of this sentence without
prepositional phrases:
The farmers gather a diverse variety and sell them.
Now see how the sentence comes into focus when we add prepositional phrases:
From many sources around the country, the farmers at Native Seed Company gather a diverse
variety of native seeds and sell them to other farmers and gardeners.
Notice how these added prepositional phrases give us more information about certain nouns
and verbs in the sentence:

Which farmers?
The farmers at Native Seed Company.

What did they gather?
A diverse variety of native seeds.

Where did they gather the seeds?
From many sources around the country.

Who did they distribute them to?
Other farmers and gardeners.
Like the other simple modifiers, prepositional phrases are not merely ornaments; they add
details that can help us understand a sentence.
PRACTICE: Building with Simple Modifiers
Use adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases to expand the sentences below. Add details
to make the sentences more interesting and informative. Underline prepositional phrases.
1. Kate stood, pointed her finger, and screamed.
(Where did Kate stand? How did she point her finger? What did she point at? Why did
she scream?)
2. Jack laughed and then returned to his seat.
3. Gabby observed, calculated, and then jumped.
4. Sam graduated and went on to work.
5. Baelee told the opposing player.