What Is a Prepositional Phrase?
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase (called the object of the preposition). It functions as either an adjective or an adverb in a sentence.
Example: in the morning
– “in” is the preposition
– “the morning” is the object (noun phrase)
– “in” is the preposition
– “the morning” is the object (noun phrase)
Common Prepositions
Prepositional phrases start with prepositions. Here are some frequently used ones:
- about, above, across, against, along, among
- around, at, before, behind, below, beneath
- beside, between, beyond, by, down, during
- except, for, from, in, into, like, near, of
- off, on, over, past, since, through, to, under
- until, up, with, within, without
How Prepositional Phrases Work
They can modify nouns (acting as adjectives) or verbs/adjectives/adverbs (acting as adverbs).
Adjective use: The book on the table is mine.
→ “on the table” describes which book.
→ “on the table” describes which book.
Adverb use: She walked through the park.
→ “through the park” tells where she walked.
→ “through the park” tells where she walked.
Tips for Using Prepositional Phrases
- Avoid ending sentences with prepositions in formal writing (though it’s often acceptable in casual contexts).
- Don’t overuse them—too many can make writing wordy.
- Ensure the object of the preposition is clear and correctly placed.
Practice Yourself!
Try identifying the prepositional phrases in these sentences:
- The cat slept under the warm blanket.
- We went hiking in the mountains last weekend.
- She has a painting of her grandmother hanging in the hall.
Tip: Look for the preposition + its object!