1. Prepositional Phrases
How can I identify prepositions and their function in a sentence?

2. A word that shows a relationship between a noun or pronoun and some other word in the sentence.
The baseball player in the white shirt
hit a homerun.

3. Here is a list of the most common prepositions:
aboard
along
behind
but (except)
from
off
past
until
about
amid
below by in on
since up
above
among
beneath
down
inside
onto
through
upon
across
around
beside
during
into
out to
with
after at
between
except
near
outside
toward
within
against
before
beyond
for of
over
under
without

4. ______ her boat ______noon ______ a house ______ class
A word that shows a relationship between a noun or pronoun and some other word in the sentence. (Add prepositions below.)
______ her boat ______noon
______ a house ______ class
______ the goat ______ a goon
______ a mouse _______ a pass

5. Always begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun.
Write sentences for these prepositional phrases:
under the doors
on the Lake Michigan shore
near excellent schools

6. OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION
The OP is the noun or pronoun that ends a prepositional phrase.
The baseball player in the white shirt
hit a homerun.

7. OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION
The noun or pronoun that ends a prepositional phrase.
on her boat before noon
in a house during class
near the goat about a goon
under a mouse without a pass

8. Prepositions show relationship by:
A preposition is a part of speech that shows a relationship between two things
Prepositions show relationship by:
Location (on, under, in)
Timing (before, after, during)
Direction (from, toward, to)

9. Location The mouse is under the table. Under is a preposition!
Two things: mouse + table
Relationship: one is under the other
Under is a preposition!

10. Location
Prepositions show the location or movement of an object in many different ways!

11. Timing Kate ate breakfast before her brother. Before is a preposition!
Two things: Kate + Kate’s brother
Relationship: one is before the other
Before is a preposition!

12. Timing
Prepositions show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to time.

13. Direction or Movement The couple sailed across the vast lake.
Two things: couple + lake
Relationship: one is crossing the other
Across is a preposition!

14. Direction or Movement
Prepositions show the relationship of a noun or pronoun in a direction or movement to another object.

15. Prepositional Phrases as Adjectives and Adverbs
Prepositional Phrases can function as
Adjectives known as an adjective phrase
Adverbs known as an adverb phrase

16. What do adjectives and adverbs modify?
Adjective phrases modify
Nouns and
Pronouns
Adverbs phrases modify
Verbs
Adjectives and
Other Adverbs

17. Which one? What kind? How many?
Modifies a noun or pronoun
It answers the same questions an adjective would:
Which one? What kind? How many?
The puppy in the shop window jumped up.

18. Preposition as an adjective
If it functions as an adjective it is called an adjective phrase.
The fabrics from the Orient were quite beautiful.
What is your prepositional phrase?
From the Orient
What does it describe?
Fabrics (the subject of the sentence)

19. Preposition as an adjective
These ancient hangings are tapestries from other lands.
What is your prepositional phrase?
From other lands
What does it describe?
Tapestries (the noun in the predicate)

20. Where? When? How? The puppy jumped to the food.
Modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb
It answers the same questions an adverb would:
Where? When? How?
The puppy jumped to the food.

21. Preposition as an adverb
If it functions as an adverb, it is called an adverb phrase.
The women are weaving on looms.
What is your prepositional phrase?
On looms
What does it describe?
Are weaving (on loom describes the verb)

22. Preposition as an adverb
That fabric looks great on you.
What is your prepositional phrase?
On you
What does it modify?
Great (it describes an adjective)

23. You MUST memorize the prepositions!
If there is no object of the preposition (if the preposition is not part of a phrase), then it is not a preposition—it is an adverb.
RULE: Subjects and verbs will never be found in a prepositional phrase.

24. The gecko climbed up the wall.
In this example “up the wall” is a prepositional phrase.
The gecko climbed up.
In this example “up” is an adverb.
The gecko climbed up on the wall.
In this example “up” is an adverb and “on the wall” is the prepositional phrase. Is it functioning as an adjective or adverb?

25. The paper with the blue border is floating through the air.
Identify the prepositional phrases and the objects of the preposition in each sentence below. Tell whether each phrase is functioning as an adjective or adverb.
The paper with the blue border is floating through the air.
Jordan’s eyes sparkle like a sunny day.
With great ease, Michael jumped up on the table.

26. The paper with the blue border is floating through the air.
Jordan’s eyes sparkle like a sunny day.
With great ease, Michael jumped on the table.
Prepositional phrase
Object as as an adverb
Object as as an adjective

27. The tadpoles are below the water’s surface.
adverb or preposition?
The tadpoles are below the water’s surface.
I jumped up, and Amy jumped down.
Is Taylor near?
Erin looked at the purple-haired boy.