Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Prepositional phrases
Subordinate word groups
Grammar Basics

Subordinate word groups include phrases and clauses. Phrases are subordinate because they lack a subject and a verb; they are classified as prepositional, verbal, appositive, or absolute (see 49a—49d). Subordinate clauses have a subject and a verb, but they begin with a word (such as although, that, or when) that marks them as subordinate (see 49e).

49a Prepositional phrases

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (see 47f) and usually ends with a noun or noun equivalent: on the table, for him, by sleeping late. The noun or noun equivalent is known as the object of the preposition.

Prepositional phrases function either as adjectives or as adverbs. As an adjective, a prepositional phrase nearly always appears immediately following the noun or pronoun it modifies.

Adjective phrases usually answer one or both of the questions Which one? and What kind of? If we ask Which walls? or What kind of walls? we get a sensible answer: walls of mud.

Adverbial prepositional phrases usually modify the verb, but they can also modify adjectives or other adverbs. When a prepositional phrase modifies the verb, it can appear nearly anywhere in a sentence.

If a prepositional phrase is movable, you can be certain that it is adverbial.

✵ In the cave, the explorers found well-preserved prehistoric drawings.

✵ The explorers found well-preserved prehistoric drawings in the cave.

Adverbial word groups usually answer one of these questions: When? Where? How? Why? Under what conditions? To what degree?

✵ James walked his dog how? On a leash.

✵ Sabrina adjusted to life in Ecuador when? In time.

✵ The terrain can change drastically under what conditions? During a mudslide.

In questions and subordinate clauses, a preposition may appear after its object.

✵ What are you afraid of ?

✵ We avoided the bike trail that John had warned us about.

EXERCISE 49-1

Underline the prepositional phrases in the following sentences. Tell whether each one is an adjective phrase or an adverb phrase and what it modifies in the sentence. Answers appear in the back of the book.

a. In northern Italy, we met many people who speak German as their first language.

b. William completed the yoga routine for beginners with ease.

c. To my boss’s dismay, I was late for work again.

d. The traveling exhibit of Mayan artifacts gave viewers new insight into pre-Columbian culture.

e. In 2002, the euro became the official currency in twelve European countries.