LESSON 10: PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES (ADVERBS) In the last lesson, we studied prepositional phrases that act as adjectives. Now, we’ll study prepositional...
LESSON 10: PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES (ADVERBS) In the last lesson, we studied prepositional phrases that act as adjectives. Now, we’ll study prepositional phrases that act as adverbs. Relevant Review • • • •
Phrases are groups of words that act together as single parts of speech. Prepositions are always in prepositional phrases. Prepositions are one of the eight parts of speech. Prepositional phrases always begin with a preposition and end with a noun or a pronoun. Prepositional phrases can act as adjectives.
Most adverbial prepositional phrases will modify verbs just like in the example above, but keep in mind that they can also modify adjectives and adverbs. Now I'm going to throw you a curveball. Take a look at the following sentence. The paper airplane landed in the bushes behind the house.
In the bushes is an adverbial prepositional phrase modifying landed. Behind the house is an adjectival prepositional phrase telling us more about the noun bushes. Which bushes? The bushes behind the house. This prepositional phrase is modifying the object of the preposition (bushes) from the first prepositional phrase! Adjectival prepositional phrases can modify ANY noun or pronoun. The noun and pronoun jobs you've learned about so far are subjects and objects of prepositions. The following sentence diagramming exercises contain prepositional phrases acting as adverbs and prepositional phrases acting as adjectives. I'll bet that if you think about each one, you'll be able to diagram them without any trouble. Here we go!
Tip: Sentences are full of nouns. This can sometimes make it hard to find the subject. Subjects will never be in prepositional phrases. Crossing out all prepositional phrases can make it easier to find the subject. The red bird sat on the rock near the tree. The red bird sat on the rock near the tree. Now it is easier to see that bird is the subject of the sentence. Key The red bird sat on the rock near the tree. bird sat The, red on the rock on rock the near the tree near tree the
Key Julia quickly swam across the pool. Julia swam quickly across the pool across pool the
Tip Some people become robots as they diagram sentences. They identify a pattern and diagram sentences without really knowing why they’re doing what they are doing. This is not a good thing. You need to have an active mind! One way to make sure that you are THINKING as you diagram these sentences is to constantly ask yourself WHY you put each part of the sentence where you did.
sentence subject (pronoun) verb adverb modifying sat (answers How?) prepositional phrase (adverb) (modifying sat, answers Where?) preposition object of the preposition (noun)
the in the corner in corner the
Tip: Sometimes, prepositional phrases can be interpreted as either adjectives or adverbs. The meaning can change depending on the emphasis and context given by the speaker or writer. Changing the word order of a sentence can also change its meaning. For instance, notice how the meaning changes for this sentence when we move in the corner immediately after sat. I happily sat in the corner on the chair. In the corner is now an adverbial prepositional phrase modifying sat!
Key sentence – question sentence- statement Jamie verb phrase helping verb main verb yesterday into town into town Extra Practice: Identifying Prepositions 1. Underline the prepositions and circle the prepositional phrases in the following sentences. 1. I threw the ball across the field, and it landed in the pond. 2. The dress in the closet is dirty. 3. We met for the first time at a coffee shop. 4. The book on the shelf belongs to me. 5. After dinner, we walked around the block. 2. Give three examples of prepositions in prepositional phrases. Underline the prepositions. ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ GET SMART (STUDENT) LESSON 10
