Prepositional Phrases

What are Prepositional Phrases? What are prepositions? The relation of one word to another word Examples: above, after, along, around, before, beneath, between, by, down, in, into, like, near, off, onto, outside, past, through, to, under, up, with, etc. John walked past the school. The girl went to the store in order to shop for groceries. Beneath the pile of laundry, the cat found a nice place to take a nap.

Two Functions of a Prepositional Phrase A prepositional phrase will function as an adjective or adverb. As an adjective the prepositional phrase will answer the question which one? The book on the bathroom floor is swollen from shower steam. What book? The sweet potatoes in the vegetable bin are green with mold. What sweet potatoes?

Two Functions of a Prepositional Phrase cont. As an adverb, a prepositional phrase will answer questions such as how? When? Or Where? Freddy is stiff from yesterday’s long football practice How did Freddy get stiff? Before class, Josh begged his friends for a pencil. When did Josh beg for a pencil?

Why do we care? Using prepositional phrases is a great way add more detail to your writing For Example: ORIGINAL SENTENCE: The girl waved good-bye to her mother’s plane. NEW SENTENCE: With tears in her eyes, the girl waved good-bye to her mother’s plane.

Now it’s your turn! Use the image to write a simple sentence. Then take that sentence and add a prepositional phrase to add to detail.

Now it’s your turn! Use the image to write a simple sentence. Then take that sentence and add a prepositional phrase to add to detail. This time try adding a few adjectives to your writing.

Now it’s your turn! Use the image to write a simple sentence. Then take that sentence and add a prepositional phrase to add to detail. Don’t forget the adjectives.