Ministry of Education

Secondary Engagement Programme

September 2020

WEEK SEVEN: Lesson Three

Subject: English Language

Grade: Eleven

Topic: Phrases

Sub-topic: Preposition Phrases

Objectives: Using their previous knowledge students will define the terms, list examples of
the terms, labels the parts of each example correctly.

Concept: Phrases are a group of words that does not contain the subject or the verb.

Content:

A preposition is a word used to link nouns, pronouns to other words in a sentence.

Examples of prepositions: (please note this list is NOT exhausted).

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Prepositional Phrases:

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begin with a preposition and ends with a noun or
pronoun. That noun or pronoun is called the object of the preposition.

Examples of prepositional phrases: (please note this list is NOT exhausted).

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 1. Near the table and chairs
P o
2. After a cool refreshing swim
P o
Prepositional phrases act as information givers as they answer the questions of:

 “With whom/What”- tells us with whom or what is used to complete the action.
E.g. Megan washed her car with a hose.
P o
 “When”- expresses the time of the event/action.
E.g. My match will start after the lunch break.
P o
 “Where”- tells the location.
E.g. The sugar is in the top left hand cupboard.
P o
 “Why”- gives the reasons for the activities.
E.g. Stephen studied all night for the big test.
P o
 “Who”- tells who completed the action or who received the action
E.g. Mitch was scared by the dog. (Who did it)
P o

Mom gave the present to my sister. (Who received it)

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 P o
Based on the examples above, we can clearly see that prepositional phrases can be classified as
adjectival or adverbial.

Adjective Prepositional Phrase:

Adjectives modify nouns, pronoun or other adjectives.

E.g. Theold book sounded so intriguing. (The adjective “old” modifies the noun “book”)

Prepositional phrases can also act as adjectives; providing additional information about the noun
or pronoun.


The book with the tattered cover has been read many times. (States exactly which book.
The word “tattered” is used as an adjective to describe the noun “cover”)
 The present inside the big box is mine. (States exactly which box. The word “big” is
used as an adjective to describe the noun “box”)
Adverb Prepositional Phrase:

Adverbs modify verbs, other adverbs, adjectives and whole sentences.

E.g.

 Sarah danced gracefully. (The adverb gracefully tells how Sarah danced. It modifies the
verb “danced”)
 Sarah danced very gracefully. (The adverb “very” tells how gracefully Sarah danced)
 Sarah looked extremely beautiful in her costume. (The adverb “extremely” modifies the
adjective beautiful)
 Personally, Sarah looked extremely beautiful in her costume. (The adverb “personally”
modifies the entire sentence and says it is the writer’s opinion.)
Prepositional phrases can also act as adverbs; providing additional information about the verb,
other adverb, adjectives and whole sentences.

 The balloon drifted up the stairs. (Tells where the balloon drifted)
 We will order pizza during the half-time of the games. (Tells when the pizza will be
ordered)
Activities:

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Directions: Using the prepositional phrases identified above state whether they are adjectival or
adverbial prepositional phrases on the lines below.

1. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
3. ______________________________
4. ______________________________
5. ______________________________
6. ______________________________
7. _______________________________
Directions: Create six prepositional phrases: three adjectival and three adverbial.

1. _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________
2. _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________
3. _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________
4. _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________
5. _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________
6. _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________

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