Your friendly guide to understanding and using prepositional phrases in English
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.
in the morning, on the table, with my friends
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
The book on the shelf is mine. → (adjective phrase modifying "book")
She walked through the park. → (adverb phrase modifying "walked")
We stayed at home during the storm. → (adverb phrase)
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.
Quick Quiz
Which sentence uses a prepositional phrase correctly?