<aside> 💡 See also Prepositions.

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Prepositional phrases are a vital part of English grammar, providing clarity and depth to sentences by expressing relationships between words. For English language learners, mastering prepositional phrases helps enhance both written and spoken communication. This article explores the types of prepositional phrases, how they are formed, and offers abundant examples to aid comprehension and usage.

What Is a Prepositional Phrase?

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun, which is called the object of the preposition. The object may also include modifiers. The purpose of the phrase is to show relationships such as time, place, direction, cause, manner, and possession.

Basic Structure:

Preposition + Modifier(s) (optional) + Noun/Pronoun (object)

Examples:

• in the morning
• under the table
• with a smile

Two Main Types of Prepositional Phrases

1. Adjective Prepositional Phrases

These modify nouns or pronouns. They typically answer questions like Which one? or What kind? and appear immediately after the noun or pronoun they modify.

Examples:

• The book on the shelf is mine.

  → “on the shelf” modifies “book” (Which book?)

• She wore a dress with blue flowers.

  → “with blue flowers” modifies “dress” (What kind of dress?)

• The girl from Mexico speaks three languages.

  → “from Mexico” modifies “girl” (Which girl?)

2. Adverbial Prepositional Phrases