PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

Prepositional Phrase

A prepositional phrase is a group of words, which begins with a preposition and ends with a noun, pronoun or noun phrase called its complement.

Examples:

1. Preposition + Noun

(a) He is in trouble.

(b) Trust in me.

2. Preposition + Pronoun

(a) Please, bear with me.

(b) Go after them.

3. Preposition + Noun Phrase

(a) She is always yelling at the girls.

(b) We are at the farm.

Other Types

1. Preposition + Wh clause e.g. He was surprised at what she told his friend.

2. Preposition + ing clause e.g. He needs a truck for transporting gravel.

Grammatical Functions

A prepositional phrase can serve as a modifier (an adjective), an adverb or a complement of a verb or complement of an adjective.

1. Modifier (adjective)

The man with a hat is our teacher.

(modifies the noun “man”)

2. Modifier (adverb)

The police caught the thief in the garden.

(modifies the verb ‘caught’)

3. Complement of a verb

We believe in what you said.

(Complement of the verb “believe”)

4. Complement of an adjective

We are sure of his chances.

(complements sure)

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