Prepositional phrases are used as adjectives or adverbs:
A prepositional phrase acts as an adjective when it modifies (describes) a noun or a pronoun. When prepositional phrases are used as adjectives, the phrase comes immediately after the noun or pronoun it modifies. The phrase answers one of the following questions about the word it modifies: Which one? What kind of? How many? Whose?
A prepositional phrase acts as an adverb when it modifies (describes) a verb. When prepositional phrases are used as adverbs, they may be found in any place in the sentence. The adverb phrase tells: How, When, Where, or Under What Condition about a Verb, Adjective, or Adverb.
Melanie eats breakfast every day in the garden.
The prepositional phrase,“in the garden,” tells where Melanie ate breakfast.
The phrase is used as an adverb modifying the noun “garden.”
The phrase is used as an adverb modifying the noun “garden.”
My check for the book is in the mail.
The prepositional phrase, "for the book,” tells which check.
The phrase is used as an adjective modifying the noun "check."
The prepositional phrase, "for the book,” tells which check.
The phrase is used as an adjective modifying the noun "check."
The accountant at the bank seemed nervous.
The prepositional phrase,“at the bank,” tells what condition (nervous) about the verb seemed.
The phrase is used as an adverb modifying the verb seemed.
The phrase is used as an adverb modifying the verb seemed.
The following words are the most commonly used prepositions:
about out instead of by
below until regarding in
excepting against despite at
off beyond because of of
toward outside through to
above inside within
beneath over down
except along without
near among before
under upon during
across around throughout
beside(s) past with regard to
from up to with respect to
onto since behind
underneath concerning for
after in spite of on
between in front of like
with up into
