Title: Prepositional Phrases
Course: Introduction to Grammar

Introduction to Prepositional Phrases

Grammar Bytes has a nice introduction to prepositions and phrases.
How do I know it is a prepositional phrase and not a subordinate clause?<//embed>

- The prepositional phrase will end in a verb.
Feedback: I think you're confused. Subordinate conjunctions will have both a subject and a verb. Prepositional phrases do not have a verb.
- The phrase will begin with a preposition and end with a noun, pronoun, or gerund.
Feedback: Well done! A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition + modifiers + noun, pronoun, or gerund.
- The phrase will begin with a preposition such as on, in, or beside.
Feedback: This is true, but a subordinate clause also begins with a preposition. It ends in a verb, however. Example: Until your hiccups stop...

Adjective Phrases

Prepositional phrases that do the work of adjectives (modify a noun or pronoun) are called adjective phrases.

     Single Adjective: Did you see the shuttle  launch?

     Adjective Phrase: Did you see the launch  of the shuttle?

An adjective phrase usually modifies the noun or the pronoun directly in front of it.

     The new part for the shuttle has been installed.

Occasionally, that word will be the object of the preposition of another phrase. Two adjective phrases can modify the same noun or pronoun.

     The parts of the rocket beside the booster are new.

A prepositional phrase that functions as an adjective answers what question?

- Which one? The book is swollen from shower steam on the bathroom floor
Feedback: Correct! :)
- How? When? Where?
Feedback: No, an adverb (or adverb phrase) answers those questions.

Adverb Phrases

An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase used to modify a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
Single Adverb: The space shuttle soared  upward.
Adverb Phrase: The space shuttle soared  into the stratosphere.
Remember that adverbs answer Where? When? How? To what extent? and To what degree? and Why?
During the last few years, many people have protested the war. (When)
Most adverbs modify verbs, some modify adjectives and other adverbs.
Not everyone was happywith the plan.
The effects of building the dam will be felt faracross China.
Which sentence contains a prepositional phrase functioning as an adverb phrase?

- Britta is stiff from yesterday's long volleyball practice.
Feedback: Wise choice - How did Britta get stiff?
- The note from Scott confessed that he had eaten the leftover cake.
Feedback: Oops! That's an adjective phrase (from Scott) that answers which note?

Prepositional Phrases in Review

- A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun.
- There are two types of prepositional phrases: adjective and adverb phrases.
- An adjective phrase modifies a noun or pronoun.
- An adverb phrase modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

Do you need a comma with the following adverb phrase?

According to the latest news release we don't need to drink eight glasses of water per day.

- No comma needed
Feedback: NO! If a short adverb phrase comes at the beginning of a sentence, usually no comma is needed. Example: With their help we finished early.
- Yes! :)
Feedback: That is the correct choice. You should place a comma after an adverb phrase of four or more words, after several introductory phrases, or after after a phrase that ends with a date. According to the latest news release, we don't need to drink eight glasses of water per day.

Slip up

One section of the ridge is very sharp. One side falls down to France - the other to Italy. Your friend slips down the side to France - help! What do you do?

- Keep your feet firmly on the narrow path and try to hold him steady until he can climb back up
Feedback: No. His weight is more than likely to pull you over and you'd both be on the way to the cemetery. Luckily you both survive this time...but it it could have been very different.
- Immediately jump over the other side of the ridge down towards Italy
Feedback: Yes! Smart thinking Batman! You will then balance each other out either side of the ridge so you can both try to climb back up.

Next time...

Despite the best efforts of your new "friend" to sabotage the trip you make it safely back down. Next year when you try to climb Mont Blanc again you're going to do it properly! So would you...

- employ a professional guide?
Feedback: Well you could do, though if you and your partner are experienced climbers you aren't obliged to. Anyway - you got back safely, which is the main thing
- make absolutely sure you knew your climbing partner very well indeed.
Feedback: Yes - inside out preferably! Anyway,you got back safely, which is the main thing. Here's to next year :)

Don't go it alone

He threw down his toys and had a strop but you can't afford to do the same.. going it alone could endanger your life far more than waiting for him to calm down. You could die - in fact - on this journey, you do. Sorry.

YOU ARE DEAD, MAN!

You should never rely on the clouds dispersing - the weather can change dramatically very quickly on Mont Blanc. If you'd turned back, you'd have lived to climb another day... as it is, you're joining the other sorry inhabitants of Chamonix cemetery...