PHRASES Prepositions A preposition is a word that relates the noun or pronoun that appears with it to another word in the

sentence. Simple Aboard, about, above, at, among, amid, along, around, by, behind, despite, down, for, from, in, near, of, on Compound Because of, by means of, in addition to, in front of, next to, out of LOCATION: The tree fell ________ the house. DIRECTION: The tree fell ________ the shed. CAUSE: The tree fell ________ the wind. POSSESSION: Leaves _______ the tree littered the lawn in front of the house. Prepositional Phrases A prepositional phrase contains a preposition and a noun or pronoun known as the object of the preposition EXAMPLES: The ice in the lemonade cooled the drink. I saw the movie with her. * Shawn checked under the couch and chair. Behind her Behind the seat Behind the newly upholstered car seat Preposition or Adverb? (around, down, in, out, over, up) Preposition: The ball rolled down the steps. Adverb: The child fell down. EXERCISE A: Identifying Prepositional Phrases. Write the prepositional phrase or prepositional phrases in each sentence. Then, underline each preposition and circle each object. EXAMPLE: Sit beside me and tell me about your trip. beside me about your trip 1. In back of the shop the owner and his son baked fresh bread. 2. Step outside the door and see the sunset. 3. We ran out of money during our shopping expedition. 4. According to the Presidents speech, we need a greater awareness of pollution problems. 5. Chinese lanterns were hung from the ceiling. 6. David carefully placed the delicate glass furniture next to the vase. 7. The terrified rabbit slipped between the fence posts and ran to safety. 8. Billy stayed ahead of his pursuers by means of a stolen horse. 9. Dont walk in the storm without a hat and boots. 10. The exhausted long-distance runner finally fell behind the others. EXERCISE B: Distinguishing Between Prepositions and Adverbs. Identify each underlined word as either a preposition or adverb. If the word is a preposition, write its object. EXAMPLE: Above, the sun shone brightly. Adverb 1. You will find the shovel outside the door of the shed. 2. The captain sent the passengers below during the storm. 3. I saw that movie over and over. 4. The painter climbed up the ladder. 5. The paper airplane sailed around and then crashed. 6. At noon, the doctor went out. 7. Because of the rain the practice was held inside today. 8. The speed skater raced around the turn. 9. The flower pot fell off the sill. 10. The smoke drifted lazily up the chimney. EXERCISE C: Using Prepositional Phrases. Write the paragraph, filling in the blanks with appropriate prepositional phrases. EXAMPLE: I was almost late ________ yesterday. I was almost late for the track meet yesterday.

The track meet was scheduled (1) __________, and we were told to meet (2) __________. As usual, I was running late. (Did you catch that pun?) I found my running shoes (3) ___________; my track shorts were (4) ___________. Finally, I dashed (5) ____________, but the bus has already left (6) __________. I raced home and asked my mother (7) _____________. She agreed and I got (8) ___________. My mother is a cautious driver, and we crawled along (9) _______________. When I arrived, I had five minutes to prepare (10) _______________. Adjective Phrase EXAMPLES The chair in the corner is wobbly. (which chair?) We flew the plane with two engines. (what kind of plane?) I sent my cousin in Boracay some selfie photos of me. (which cousin?) The dictator declared himself president for life. (what kind of president?) A narwhal is a sea mammal with a long tusk on its forehead. (what kind of mammal? What kind of tusk?) *more than one adjective phrase may modify the same word. The boy on the corner with his hand raised is Greg. An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a nour or a pronoun by telling which one or what kind. Adverb Phrase Examples We sat on the park bench. (Sat where?) I will leave in one hour. (Will leave when?) He talked with me. (Talked in what manner?) The quilt was finished, except for the border. (was finished to what extent?) She is helpful to everyone? (helpful to what extent?) I left early in the morning. (Early to what extent?) During the cool morning hours, we climbed to the summit. (Climbed when? Climbed where?) An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb by pointing out where, when, in what manner, or to what extent. IDENTIFYING ADJECTIVE AND ADVERB PHRASES (Pair Work) Write the prepositional phrase or phrases contained in each sentence. Then identify each phrase as adjective or adverb. EXAMPLE: The study of animals is fascinating. Of animals (adjective) (1) Charles Darwin introduced the theory of the survival of the fittest. (2) He believed that either animals adapt to their environment or they perish from it. (3) The anteater with its almost laughable appearance is one beast that has adapted extremely well. (4)These animals, which live throughout Central and South America, exist almost solely on ants and termites. (5) The anteaters snout can smell the insects from a distance of twenty feet. (6) Since the beasts suffer from near sightedness, this highly developed sense of smell is important to their survival. (7) Furthermore, on their front feet, anteaters are equipped with sharp claws that may grow to four inches in length. (8) With these tools, anteaters dig up and expose anthills and termite nests. (9) Finally, their sticky tongues can be extended over two feet. (10) This helps anteaters consume thirty thousand ants during a single day.