English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003
Prepositional Phrases
Chapter 7 Phrases and Clauses
Part 3 Sentence Sense
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun. This noun or pronoun is called the “object of the preposition.”
by the wall
with help
near the closet
in the desert
over the garage
below sea level
1. Adjectival phrases
When a prepositional phrase serves as an adjective, it’s called an adjectival phrase. An adjectival phrase, as with an adjective, describes a noun or a pronoun. To find out if a prepositional phrase is functioning as an adjectival phrase, see if it answers these questions: “Which one?” or “What kind?”
The cost of the jeans was surprisingly high.
The adjectival phrase “of the jeans” describes the noun cost.
The clown with the mask terrifies the children.
The adjectival phrase “with the mask” describes the noun clown.
2. Adverbial phrases
When a prepositional phrase serves as an adverb, it’s called an adverbial phrase. In these cases, it describes a verb, an adjective, or adverb. To find out if a prepositional phrase is functioning as an adverbial phrase, see if it answers one of these questions: “Where?” “When?” “In what manner?” “To what extent?”
The Mets played at Shea Stadium.
The adverbial phrase “at Shea Stadium” modifies the verb played.
The game lasted into the fourteenth inning.
The adverbial phrase “into the fourteenth inning” modifies the verb lasted.