What are the Parts of a Prepositional Phrase?

In simplest terms, prepositional phrases consist of a preposition and an object of a preposition.

The noun phrase or pronoun that follows the preposition is called the object of the preposition. For
example, behind the couch is a prepositional phrase where behind is the preposition and the noun
phrase the couch acts as the object of the preposition.
Common Prepositions
about

behind

except

outside

above

below

for

over

across

beneath

from

past

after

beside

in

through

against

between

inside

to

along

beyond

into

under

among

by

near

until

around

despite

of

up

at

down

off

with

before

during

on

without

An Example of a Paragraph with Prepositional Phrases in Bold

Over the high coast mountains and over the valleys the gray clouds marched in from the
ocean. The wind blew fiercely and silently, high in the air, and it swished in the brush, and
it roared in the forests. The clouds came in brokenly, in puffs, in folds, in gray crags; and
they piled in together and settled low over the west. And then the wind stopped and left the
clouds deep and solid. The rain began with gusty showers, pauses and downpours; and
then gradually it settled to a single tempo, small drops and a steady beat, rain that was
gray to see through, rain that cut midday light to evening. And at first the dry earth sucked
the moisture down and blackened. For two days the earth drank the rain, until the earth
was full. Then puddles formed, and in the low places little lakes formed in the fields. The
muddy lakes rose higher, and the steady rain whipped the shining water. At last the
mountains were full, and the hillsides spilled into the streams, built them to freshlets, and
sent them roaring down the canyons into the valleys. The rain beat on steadily. And the
streams and the little rivers edged up to the bank sides and worked at willows and tree
roots, bent the willows deep in the current, cut out the roots of cotton-woods and brought
down the trees. The muddy water whirled along the bank sides and crept up the banks
until at last it spilled over, into the fields, into the orchards, into the cotton patches where
the black stems stood. Level fields became lakes, broad and gray, and the rain whipped up
the surfaces. Then the water poured over the highways, and cars moved slowly, cutting the
water ahead, and leaving a boiling muddy wake behind. The earth whispered under the
beat of the rain, and the streams thundered under the churning freshlets.

In this exercise, underline the prepositional phrase.

1. Both of the trolls lived under the bridge.

2. Some of the elves refused to help Santa make the toys.

3.One of the dragon's eggs cracked!
3.Two of the baby dragon's claws stuck through the shell.
4. Many of the ogres had blood dribbling down their chins.
5. Most of the knights who had come to slay the ogres had been devoured.
6. Either of the fairies could have been the one of evil repute.
7. None of the children had been switched at birth.
8. Most of the mothers hoped so, at least.
9. However, one of the babies had little wings.
10. A drawer of the bureau openned, and the winds folded themselves into the drawer.
11. The sorceress waved her hand, and all of the pieces of crystal reassembled into a lamp.
12. The cat with its burning eyes leaped onto the window sill and meowed.
13. "Yes," said the sorceress of the island, "let's go for a ride; the night is so beautiful."
14. The night of bright stars, pale moon, and glistening ocean waves was one of the most beautiful
sorceress or cat had ever seen.
15. The two of them exited the room.
16. Both of the magical creatures passed through the long corridors.
17. The two of them entered a vast chamber.
18. On the floor of the chamber lay a vast carpet.
19. On the other side of the room were french doors; these the sorceress unlocked.
20. "Which of you wants to ride me?"
21. In answer, the cat of gleaming, black fur jumped onto the carpet
22.The sorceress in her billowing gown also settled herself on the carpet.
23 "Both of you wish to go then?"
24. Neither the sorceress of the island nor the cat of burning eyes answered.
25. Taking this as a yes, the carpet of magic soared into the starry night
26. All of the stars brightened as the magic carpet flew past them.
27. Below the flying carpet, ships sailed on the sea.