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
A prepositional phrase contains
a preposition
a noun or pronoun
(the object of the preposition)
any modifiers of the object
beneath
the dark storm
clouds
clouds

5. Identifying prepositional phrases
Here is a way to recognize some prepositions.
Grammar Gal Says...
Fill in the blank in the sentence
“The book lies          the table.”
The book lies near the table.
The book lies under the table.
The book lies on the table.
Preposition
Not a
preposition
The book lies resting the table.

6. 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

7. Identifying prepositional phrases
Identify each prepositional phrase in the following sentences from Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome. Note that a sentence may contain more than one prepositional phrase.
1. Then he lifted his lantern, found the latch, and led the way into the house.
2. I went after him into a low, unlit passage
3. On our right a line of light marked the door of the room

8. Identifying prepositional phrases
Identify each prepositional phrase in the following sentences from Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome. Note that a sentence may contain more than one prepositional phrase.
1. Then he lifted his lantern, found the latch, and led the way into the house.
Into is the only preposition in the sentence. The prepositional phrase into the house shows where he (Ethan Frome) led the way.

9. Identifying prepositional phrases
Identify each prepositional phrase in the following sentences from Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome. Note that a sentence may contain more than one prepositional phrase.
2. I went after him into a low, unlit passage….
Both after and into are prepositions. The two prepositional phrases after him and into a low, unlit passage indicate where the speaker went.

10. Identifying prepositional phrases
Identify each prepositional phrase in the following sentences from Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome. Note that a sentence may contain more than one prepositional phrase.
3. On our right a line of light marked the door of the room….
On and of are prepositions. The prepositional phrase on our right shows where the line of light marked the door. Of light shows what kind of line and of the room indicates which door.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Adding detail with prepositional phrases
Add detail to each of the following sentences by using prepositional phrases. Prepare to explain the question that each phrase answers.
1. The crowd cheered.
2. Birds fly.
3. A book had been left.

15. Adding detail with prepositional phrases
Add detail to each of the following sentences by using prepositional phrases. Prepare to explain the question that each phrase answers.
1. The crowd cheered after the winning goal.
[possible answer]
The prepositional phrase after the winning goal answers the question “When (did the crowd cheer)?”

16. Adding detail with prepositional phrases
Add detail to each of the following sentences by using prepositional phrases. Prepare to explain the question that each phrase answers.
2. Birds fly by flapping their wings.
[possible answer]
The prepositional phrase by flapping their wings answers the question “How (do birds fly)?”

17. Adding detail with prepositional phrases
Add detail to each of the following sentences by using prepositional phrases. Prepare to explain the question that each phrase answers.
3. A book of poetry had been left on the desk.
[possible answer]
The prepositional phrase of poetry answers the question “What kind (of book)?” The phrase on the desk answers the question “Where (had the book been left)?”

18. 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]

19. Adding detail with prepositional phrases
Possible Answers
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 from a deep sleep.
2. I was surprised to discover a large hole in the floor.
3. Something inside the hole was making strange noises.
4. Out of curiosity, I decided to have a closer look.
5. Not sure of the outcome, I stuck my head into the mouth of the opening.

20. 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.

21. 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

22. Varying sentence structure with prepositional phrases
Vary each of the following sentences by adding a prepositional phrase to its beginning.
1. A castle stood on a hill.
2. The director made us rehearse our parts.
3. The referee spoke to both teams’ coaches.

23. Varying sentence structure with prepositional phrases
Vary each of the following sentences by adding a prepositional phrase to its beginning.
1. Across the lake, a castle stood on a hill.
[possible answer]

24. Varying sentence structure with prepositional phrases
Vary each of the following sentences by adding a prepositional phrase to its beginning.
2. During lunch, the director made us rehearse our parts.
[possible answer]

25. Varying sentence structure with prepositional phrases
Vary each of the following sentences by adding a prepositional phrase to its beginning.
3. After the foul, the referee spoke to both teams’ coaches.
[possible answer]

26. 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]

27. Varying sentence structure with prepositional phrases
Possible Answers
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. At the corner, the car turned right.
2. On every branch buds decorate the trees.
3. In an emergency call 911.
4. By Friday Nina hopes to have raised one hundred dollars.
5. During the blizzard we stayed indoors for two full days.

28. 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

29. 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.
Where?
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
Where?
How?
How?/When?
Where?
Where?

30. 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]

31. 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.
[possible answers]
1. He saw a rumpled paper bag beneath the bench.
2. The new building will be finished before summer.
3. In our city each public square has a fountain.
4. The heat of the wood stove filled the room.
5. With layers of stone and gravel, these ancient people built a sturdy road.

32. The End