8. Prepositional Phrase

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and its object which can be a noun, noun phrase or a pronoun. It can be two or more commonly three words long. It can also be much longer.

 The prepositional phrases shown here are in bold.

Examples:

  • She spent a large amount of money on clothes .
  • We could feel the spray from the waterfall .
  • Many visitors tossed coins into the wishing well .
  • We set up camp beneath an enormous gnarled old oak tree .

There may be modifiers of the object in a prepositional phrase:  

Examples:

  • She rented an apartment above a pet shop.
    ( Above a pet shop is a prepositional phrase, and pet is a modifier of shop , which is the object in the preposition phrase.)
  • We took shelter in a dark cave.
    ( In a dark cave  is a prepositional phrase, and dark  is a modifier of cave , object of the preposition in .)
  • Last night, I dreamed she flew away on a broom.
    ( On a broom  is a prepositional phrase, and the object is broom .)

A sentence can have two prepositional phrases. They may follow each other with their own objects. The prepositional phrases shown here are individually underlined.

Examples:

  • The farm lies in a valley  beside a stream .
  • We stayed in a cottage  near an old cemetery .
  • There are a few chicken eggs in that box  of duck eggs ..

Prepositional phrases (underlined) can be joined by coordinating conjunctions (in bold).

Examples:

  • We quarreled in the bedroom  and  in the kitchen .
  • We are going to dine either on pasta  or  on fresh local fish .

A prepositional phrase may include another phrase. It can also be an adjective phrase or an adverbial phrase.

Examples:

  • We were the only passengers in the last night train.

    (The prepositional phrase is in the last night train , and the noun phrase is the last night train .)

  • The beach is a nice place for walking on barefoot.

    (The preposition is for walking on barefoot , and the participial phrase is walking on barefoot .)

  • The manager was a woman with thick glasses.

    (The prepositional phrase with thick glasses is also an adjective phrase.)

  • He lost his car keys at the coffee bar.

    (The preposition at the coffee bar is also an adverbial phrase.)