1. Writing with Detail: Prepositional Phrases
Identifying prepositional phrases
Adding detail with prepositional phrases
Varying sentence structure with prepositional phrases
Review A
Review B

2. Identifying prepositional phrases
Great writers help you see a place or situation by providing detail.
Imagine if you read the following passage:
Far off a square trembled. Staggering along I floundered, and almost fell.
You might well ask …
Where is he or she going?
A square of what?
Where is this person?

3. Identifying prepositional phrases
See how Edith Wharton wrote the actual passage in Ethan Frome:
Far off above us a square of light trembled. Staggering along in Frome’s wake I floundered toward it, and almost fell.
Far off above us a square of light trembled. Staggering along in Frome’s wake I floundered toward it, and almost fell into one of the deep drifts against the front of the house.
Far off a square trembled. Staggering along I floundered, and almost fell.
Far off above us a square of light trembled. Staggering along I floundered, and almost fell.
Wharton added all of this detail by using prepositional phrases.

4. Identifying prepositional phrases
Prepositional phrases can be lined up, side by side, to add even more detail.
up the slippery steps
of the porch
into one
of the deep drifts
against the front
of the house

5. Adding detail with prepositional phrases
Prepositional phrases provide detail by answering the following questions.
Where?
above us
in the darkness
When?
at night
after dinner
in the morning
How?
with grace
by climbing
What kind?
Which one?
of gold
with puffy sleeves

6. Adding detail with prepositional phrases
To make your sentences more detailed . . .
1. Ask where, when, or how the action took place.
Our class built a bridge.
Where?
Our class built a bridge in the park.
When?
Our class built a bridge over the weekend.
How?
Our class built a bridge out of recycled plastic boards.

7. Adding detail with prepositional phrases
2. Look for nouns that you can say more about by asking “What kind?” or “Which one?”
This box needs to be sorted.
What kind?
This box of clothes needs to be sorted.
Which one?
This box with torn sides needs to be sorted.

8. Adding detail with prepositional phrases
On Your Own
The following sentences tell a story but are not very detailed. Add detail to each of the following sentences by adding prepositional phrases.
1. This morning I woke up.
2. I was surprised to discover a large hole.
3. Something was making strange noises.
4. I decided to have a closer look.
5. Not sure, I stuck in my head.
[End of Section]

9. Varying sentence structure with prepositional phrases
Many writers like to begin a sentence with a prepositional phrase to give the reader a context for what comes next.
At the height of her fame and popularity Marella Jacob traveled constantly, performing nightly in sold-out concerts for fans who hung on every note and watched every movement.

10. Varying sentence structure with prepositional phrases
To add variety to your sentence structure, start some sentences with prepositional phrases.
Marella Jacob traveled. She was famous and popular. She traveled constantly. She performed in sold-out concerts for fans.
Repetitive
At the height of her fame and popularity, Marella Jacob traveled constantly, performing nightly in sold-out concerts for fans who hung on every note and watched every movement.
Varied

11. Varying sentence structure with prepositional phrases
On Your Own
Combine each pair of sentences by turning one sentence into a prepositional phrase and adding it to the beginning of the other. Change other words as necessary.
1. The car turned at the corner. The car turned right.
2. Buds appear on every branch. Buds decorate the trees.
3. Call 911. Call that number in an emergency.
4. Nina hopes to have raised one hundred dollars. She hopes to have raised that much by Friday.
5. We stayed indoors during the blizzard. We stayed indoors for two full days.
[End of Section]

12. Review A
Identify each prepositional phrase in the following passage from Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi. Then, indicate which question each phrase answers.
Sometimes, in the big river, when we would be feeling our way cautiously along through a fog, the deep hush would suddenly be broken by yells and a clamor of tin pans, and all in an instant a log raft would appear vaguely through the webby veil, close upon us

13. Review B
Provide extra detail by adding prepositional phrases to the following sentences. For two of the sentences, place a prepositional phrase at the beginning.
1. He saw a rumpled paper bag.
2. The new building will be finished.
3. Each public square has a fountain.
4. The heat filled the room.
5. These ancient people built a sturdy road.
[End of Section]

14. The End