What are Prepositional Phrases?

The object of the preposition can be a noun, pronoun, gerund, or even a clause.

The objects of the preposition can also have modifiers to help describe it and give additional information.

Example: The ball is behind the white car.

'Behind the white' car is a prepositional phrase where 'behind' is the preposition and car acts as the object of the preposition. The adjective 'white' acts as a modifier giving additional information about the object of the preposition which is the noun, 'car.'

If the above seems a little complicated, don't worry, what follows is meant to help clarify any confusion you might have about this particular grammar item.

It might help to know that prepositional phrases basically act as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence.

When essentially functioning as adjectives, they answer the question, 'which object?'

Example: The gloves on the radiator are wet from making a snowman.

Which object? The gloves on the radiator. 

Example: The bags in the kitchen are filled with groceries.

Which object? The bags in the kitchen. 

Example: Feeling adventurous, we rode the corkscrew roller coaster at the amusement park.

Where did we feel adventurous? At the amusement park. 

Example: After school, Jane asked me for a ride home.

When did Jane ask? After school. 

Example: Terry is sore from yesterday's workout.

How did Terry get sore? From yesterday's workout.

You should also know the basic structures of these phrases so that you can recognize them more readily.

Basic patterns for prepositional phrases are as follows:

preposition + noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause

preposition + modifiers + noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause