Lesson 183 - Parts of the Sentence - Prepositional Phrases

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A preposition is a word that begins a prepositional phrase and shows the relationship between its object and another word in the sentence. A preposition must always have an object. A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition, ends with an object, and may have modifiers between the preposition and object of the preposition.

A prepositional phrase may be used as an adjective telling which or what kind and modifying a noun or pronoun. An adjective prepositional phrase will come right after the noun or pronoun that it modifies. If there are two adjective prepositional phrases together, one will follow the other.

A prepositional phrase may be used as an adverb telling how, when, where, how much, and why and modifying the verb and sometimes an adjective. Adverb prepositional phrases can come anywhere in the sentence and can be moved within the sentence without changing the meaning.

Only adjective prepositional phrases modify the object of the preposition in another prepositional phrase. Notice that some prepositional phrases may be adverbs or adjectives because of their location in the sentence.

 

Instructions: Pick out the prepositional phrases in these sentences, identify what they tell us, and what they modify.

1. The real owner of the property is not available for comment.

2. I have no time for your excuses or delays.

3. The manager came for the answer.

4. In this century we are preserving our forests.

5. You will always be one of my best friends.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The real owner of the property is not available for comment.

- of the property modifies owner (telling which)

- for comment modifies available (telling how)

2. I have no time for your excuses or delays.

- for your excuses or delays modifies time (telling what kind)

3. The manager came for the answer.

- for the answer modifies came (telling why)

4. In this century we are preserving our forests.

- in this century modifies are preserving (telling when)

5. You will always be one of my best friends.

- of my best friends modifies one (telling which)

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