Master Prepositional Phrases

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.

These phrases can function as adjectives (modifying nouns) or adverbs (modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs).

Common Prepositions

Here are some frequently used prepositions that start prepositional phrases:

• about, above, across, against, along, among, around
• at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between
• by, down, during, for, from, in, into
• near, of, off, on, over, through, to, under, up, with

Examples in Sentences

1. The book on the shelf is mine. → (adjective phrase modifying "book")
2. She walked through the park. → (adverb phrase modifying "walked")
3. We stayed at home during the storm. → (adverb phrase)
4. The cat slept under the warm blanket. → (adverb phrase)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ending sentences with prepositions: While sometimes acceptable in informal English ("Who did you talk to?"), it's better to avoid in formal writing ("To whom did you talk?").
• Confusing similar prepositions: e.g., "in" vs. "on" vs. "at" for time and place.
• Overusing prepositional phrases: Too many can make sentences wordy.