Prepositional
Phrases

A
phrase is
a
group
of
words
that
does
not
contain
a
verb
and
its
subject.
A
phrase
acts
as
a

single
part
of
speech.



Prepositional
Phrases
(PP)

Prepositional
phrases
begin
with
a
preposition
and
end
with
a
noun
that
acts
as
the
object
of

the
preposition.

Usually
act
as
adjectives
or
adverbs.

In
rare
cases,
prepositional
phrases
act
as

nouns.



List
of
Prepositions

about

along

above

across

after

against

along

amid

among

around

at

atop

before

behind

below

beneath

beside

besides

between

beyond

but
(“except”)

by

concerning

despite

down

during

except

for

from

in

inside

into

like

near

of

off

on

onto

out

outside

over

past

regarding

round

since

through

throughout

till

to

toward

under

underneath

until

up

upon

with

within

without



according
to

because
of

by
way
of

in
addition
to

in
front
of

in
place
of

in
regard
to

in
spite
of

instead
of

on
account
of

out
of

This is not a comprehensive list of prepositions, but it does contain many common examples. 
The prepositions in the last column are called group prepositions. 


Sample Prepositional Phrases 
toward
the
shore

beneath
the
maple
tree

outside
the
boundary
line

regarding
Henry

near
the
railroad
tracks

on
account
of
the
rain



Sentences Containing Prepositional Phrases 
We
walked
[toward
the
shore].
PP/AV

He
sat
[beneath
the
maple
tree].
PP/AV

I
built
the
bench
[beneath
the
maple
tree].
PP/AJ

He
landed
[outside
the
boundary
line].
PP/AV

I
read
your
note
[regarding
Henry].
PP/AJ

[Near
the
railroad
tracks],
I
lost
all
my
money.
PP/AV

We
stood
beneath
the
maple
tree
[near
the
railroad
tracks].

PP/AJ

[On
account
of
the
rain],
we
cancelled
the
game.
PP/AV



Assignment

1. Write
two
examples
of
each
of
the
basic
sentence
structures.

Include
at
least
one

prepositional
phrase
in
each
sentence.

Bracket
the
phrase
and
label
whether
it
is
working

as
an
adjective
(PP/AJ)
or
an
adverb
(PP/AV).

2. For
each
of
the
following
phrases,
write
a
sentence
that
includes
the
phrase
acting
as

indicated.

a. below
the
window
[AJ]

b. with
my
favorite
pencil
[AV]

c. despite
the
food
[AV]

d. after
middle
school
[AV]

e. between
the
wall
and
the
table
[AJ]


Prepositional phrases