The Prepositional
Phrase as a Modifier
Lesson 7
Joseph C. Blumenthal
The picture…the cover is amusing.
Is the picture on, in, near, over, or
behind the cover?
We need a word to show the
relationship between the noun cover
and the noun _______.
The picture…the cover is amusing.
Is the picture on, in, near, over, or
behind the cover?
We need a word to show the
relationship between the noun cover
and the noun _picture_.
The picture on the cover is
amusing.
The word that shows the relationship
between cover and picture is
________.
The picture on the cover is
amusing.
The word that shows the relationship
between cover and picture is
___on___.
Jerry strolled…the park.
Did Jerry stroll through, past, around,
or toward the park? We need a word
to show the relationship between the
noun park and the verb ________.
Jerry strolled…the park.
Did Jerry stroll through, past, around,
or toward the park? We need a word
to show the relationship between the
noun park and the verb _strolled_.
Jerry strolled through the park.
The word that shows the relationship
between park and strolled is ______.
Jerry strolled through the park.
The word that shows the relationship
between park and strolled is through.
A word that shows the relationship of
the noun or pronoun that follows it to
some other word in the sentence is
called a preposition.
A preposition shows a ________
between words.
A word that shows the relationship of
the noun or pronoun that follows it to
some other word in the sentence is
called a preposition.
A preposition shows a relationship
between words.
Many prepositions show relationships in
position.
POSITION: in, on, by, under, below,
beneath, above, over, beside, behind,
across, against, etc.
Which preposition shows position:
a. box of crackers
b. man from Mars
c. car behind us
Many prepositions show relationships in
position.
POSITION: in, on, by, under, below,
beneath, above, over, beside, behind,
across, against, etc.
Which preposition shows position:
a. box of crackers
b. man from Mars
c. car behind us
Some prepositions show direction.
DIRECTION: to, from, toward, down,
up, at
The rock rolled down the mountain.
The preposition down shows the
_________ in which the rock rolled.
Some prepositions show direction.
DIRECTION: to, from, toward, down,
up, at
The rock rolled down the mountain.
The preposition down shows the
_direction_ in which the rock rolled.
A few prepositions show relationships
in time.
TIME: before, during, after, until, till
a. Brush your teeth…meals
b. Park your car…the corner.
Which sentence requires a preposition
that will show a time relationship?
(a or b?)
A few prepositions show relationships
in time.
TIME: before, during, after, until, till
a. Brush your teeth…meals
b. Park your car…the corner.
Which sentence requires a preposition
that will show a time relationship?
(a or b?)
Still other prepositions, such as of,
for, about, with, except and but
(when it means except), show many
different kinds of relationships
between the words they relate.
EXAMPLES:
a pound of tea
a letter for me
a story about war
a cake with frosting
Each of the underlined words is a
___________.
Still other prepositions, such as of,
for, about, with, except and but
(when it means except), show many
different kinds of relationships
between the words they relate.
EXAMPLES:
a pound of tea
a letter for me
a story about war
a cake with frosting
Each of the underlined words is a
preposition.
The noun or pronoun that follows a
preposition is called its object.
The man in the next seat was a doctor.
The preposition is in; the object of
the preposition is the noun
__________.
The noun or pronoun that follows a
preposition is called its object.
The man in the next seat was a doctor.
The preposition is in; the object of
the preposition is the noun
___seat___.
A group of words that begins with a
preposition and ends with its objet is
a prepositional phrase.
The cause of this sudden explosion remains
a mystery.
The prepositional phrase begins with
the preposition of and ends with its
object ___________.
A group of words that begins with a
preposition and ends with its objet is
a prepositional phrase.
The cause of this sudden explosion remains
a mystery.
The prepositional phrase begins with
the preposition of and ends with its
object _ explosion _.
We need prepositional phrases to express
meanings that cannot be expressed by a
single adjective or adverb.
a glass for water
a water glass
a glass for milk
a milky glass
Which adjective does not have the
same meaning as the corresponding
prepositional phrase—water or
milky? _______
We need prepositional phrases to express
meanings that cannot be expressed by a
single adjective or adverb.
a glass for water
a water glass
a glass for milk
a milky glass
Which adjective does not have the
same meaning as the corresponding
prepositional phrase—water or
milky? _milky__
We walked with care.
We traveled by train.
We walked carefully.
We traveled trainly.
The adverb carefully can be substituted
for the prepositional phrase with care.
Is there a proper adverb that can
take the place of the phrase by
train? (yes, no)
We walked with care.
We traveled by train.
We walked carefully.
We traveled trainly.
The adverb carefully can be substituted
for the prepositional phrase with care.
Is there a proper adverb that can
take the place of the phrase by
train? (yes, no)
Most prepositional phrases are used as
modifiers—either as an adjective or as
an adverb.
A prepositional phrase which—like an
adjective—modifies a noun or pronoun is
called an adjective phrase.
An adjective phrase does the
work of an ________.
Most prepositional phrases are used as
modifiers—either as an adjective or as
an adverb.
A prepositional phrase which—like an
adjective—modifies a noun or pronoun is
called an adjective phrase.
An adjective phrase does the
work of an _adjective_.
the corner house
Because corner modifies the noun house,
it is an adjective.
the house on the corner
Because the prepositional phrase on the
corner also modifies the noun house, it
is an ________ phrase.
the corner house
Because corner modifies the noun house,
it is an adjective.
the house on the corner
Because the prepositional phrase on the
corner also modifies the noun house, it
is an _adjective_ phrase.
the corner house
the house on the corner
The adjective comes before the noun it
modifies.
The adjective phrase comes (before,
after) the noun it modifies.
the corner house
the house on the corner
The adjective comes before the noun it
modifies.
The adjective phrase comes (before,
after) the noun it modifies.
Adjective phrases—just like adjectives—
are often used after linking verbs such
as subject compliments.
a. The lilacs are beautiful.
b. The lilacs are in full bloom.
In which sentence is an adjective phrase
used as a subject complement? a or b
Adjective phrases—just like adjectives—
are often used after linking verbs such
as subject compliments.
a. The lilacs are beautiful.
b. The lilacs are in full bloom.
In which sentence is an adjective phrase
used as a subject complement? a or b
In all but one of these sentences, the
linking verb is followed by an adjective
phrase used as a subject compliment.
a. The plane was on time.
b. The piano seems in tune.
c. The crops were dry.
d. The ring is of no value.
The one sentence in which the linking
verb is not completed by an adjective
phrase is sentence ___.
In all but one of these sentences, the
linking verb is followed by an adjective
phrase used as a subject compliment.
a. The plane was on time.
b. The piano seems in tune.
c. The crops were dry.
d. The ring is of no value.
The one sentence in which the linking
verb is not completed by an adjective
phrase is sentence _c_.
A prepositional phrase can also be used as
an adverb.
spoke proudly
Because proudly modifies the verb spoke,
it is an adverb.
spoke with pride
Because the phrase with pride also
modifies the verb spoke, it is an
________ phrase.
A prepositional phrase can also be used as
an adverb.
spoke proudly
Because proudly modifies the verb spoke,
it is an adverb.
spoke with pride
Because the phrase with pride also
modifies the verb spoke, it is an
__adverb_ phrase.
Like the verbs they resemble, adverb
phrases answer the questions When?
Where? and How? about verbs.
The car turned at the next intersection.
Which question does the adverb phrase
answer:
When?
Where?
How?
Like the verbs they resemble, adverb
phrases answer the questions When?
Where? and How? about verbs.
The car turned at the next intersection.
Which question does the adverb phrase
answer:
When?
Where?
How?
During the night it snowed.
Which question does the adverb phrase
answer:
When?
Where?
How?
During the night it snowed.
Which question does the adverb phrase
answer:
When?
Where?
How?
We mended the picture with paste.
Which question does the adverb phrase
answer:
When?
Where?
How?
We mended the picture with paste.
Which question does the adverb phrase
answer:
When?
Where?
How?
An adverb phrase can also answer the
question Why? about a verb.
a. I often read science fiction for a change.
b. I often read science fiction for a few days.
In which sentence does the adverb phrase
explain Why? in regard to the verb?
a or b?
An adverb phrase can also answer the
question Why? about a verb.
a. I often read science fiction for a change.
b. I often read science fiction for a few days.
In which sentence does the adverb phrase
explain Why? in regard to the verb?
a or b?
An adverb phrase—just like an adverb—
can often be moved from one position
to another in the sentence.
My friend takes a nap after dinner.
After dinner my friend takes a nap.
The fact that a prepositional phrase can
be moved shows that it is an
_______ phrase.
An adverb phrase—just like an adverb—
can often be moved from one position
to another in the sentence.
My friend takes a nap after dinner.
After dinner my friend takes a nap.
The fact that a prepositional phrase can
be moved shows that it is an
_adverb_ phrase.
a. They have improved the design of the car.
b. A crowd was standing around the car.
In one sentence the phrase can be moved;
in the other it can’t.
Which sentence contains an adverb phrase?
a or b?
a. They have improved the design of the car.
b. A crowd was standing around the car.
In one sentence the phrase can be moved;
in the other it can’t.
Which sentence contains an adverb phrase?
a or b?
An adverb phrase can usually be shifted
about. Therefore it can be several
words away from the verb it modifies.
a. On the first automobiles, solid rubber
tires were used.
b. Solid rubber tires were used on the first
automobiles.
The adverb phrase is farthest from the verb
it modifies in sentence. ____
a or b?
An adverb phrase can usually be shifted
about. Therefore it can be several
words away from the verb it modifies.
a. On the first automobiles, solid rubber
tires were used.
b. Solid rubber tires were used on the first
automobiles.
The adverb phrase is farthest from the verb
it modifies in sentence. ____
a or b?
A pot of stew was simmering on the stove.
This sentence contains both an adjective
phrase and an adverb phrase.
The adverb phrase is the (first, second)
phrase.
A pot of stew was simmering on the stove.
This sentence contains both an adjective
phrase and an adverb phrase.
The adverb phrase is the (first, second)
phrase.
We saw through the telescope the
outline of a slip.
The adverb phrase is the (first, second)
phrase.
We saw through the telescope the
outline of a slip.
The adverb phrase is the (first, second)
phrase.
When we have two (or more)
prepositional phrases in a row, each
phrase can modify a different word.
We put a drop of water under the microscope.
The phrase of water modifies the noun
drop.
Which word does the adverb phrase under
the microscope modify? _______
When we have two (or more)
prepositional phrases in a row, each
phrase can modify a different word.
We put a drop of water under the microscope.
The phrase of water modifies the noun
drop.
Which word does the adverb phrase under
the microscope modify? __put__
Two (or more) prepositional phrases
can also modify the same word.
Dad flew to Houston on Friday.
The phrase to Houston modifies the verb
flew.
Which word does the phrase on Friday
modify? _______
Two (or more) prepositional phrases
can also modify the same word.
Dad flew to Houston on Friday.
The phrase to Houston modifies the verb
flew.
Which word does the phrase on Friday
modify? __flew__
A prepositional phrase can modify the
object of the preceding
prepositional phrase.
The family lived on the edge of a great forest.
The phrase on the edge modifies the verb
lived.
Which word does the phrase of a great
forest modify? ________
A prepositional phrase can modify the
object of the preceding
prepositional phrase.
The family lived on the edge of a great forest.
The phrase on the edge modifies the verb
lived.
Which word does the phrase of a great
forest modify? __edge___
Remember—
A prepositional phrase that modifies a
noun or a pronoun is called an
adjective phrase.
A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb
is called an _______ phrase.
Remember—
A prepositional phrase that modifies a
noun or a pronoun is called an
adjective phrase.
A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb
is called an _adverb_ phrase.
In the following frames, each sentence
contains two prepositional phrases in
various combinations—two adjective
phrases, two adverb phrases, or one
of each.
Before classifying each phrase, ask
yourself, “Does this phrase describe
a noun or pronoun, or does it answer a
question about the verb.
Write the answers on your
own sheet of paper.
After each letter, indicate whether the
corresponding phrase is an adjective or
an adverb phrase. (Notice that only one
of these phrases can be moved to
another position.)
The TV program brings the services (a) of
a great university (b) into your home.
1. a ___________ phrase
2. b ___________ phrase
After each letter, indicate whether the
corresponding phrase is an adjective or
an adverb phrase. (Notice that only one
of these phrases can be moved to
another position.)
Our mayor is a person (a) with a reputation
(b) for great honesty.
3. a ___________ phrase
4. b ___________ phrase
After each letter, indicate whether the
corresponding phrase is an adjective or
an adverb phrase. (Notice that only one
of these phrases can be moved to
another position.)
(a) In several states, the smoke (b) from
this forest fire could be clearly seen.
5. a ___________ phrase
6. b ___________ phrase
After each letter, indicate whether the
corresponding phrase is an adjective or
an adverb phrase. (Notice that only one
of these phrases can be moved to
another position.)
The invention (a) of the automobile has
changed American life (b) in many ways.
7. a ___________ phrase
8. b ___________ phrase
After each letter, indicate whether the
corresponding phrase is an adjective or
an adverb phrase. (Notice that only one
of these phrases can be moved to
another position.)
(a) At feeding time, a large crowd always
gathers (b) around the lion’s cage.
9. a ___________ phrase
10. b ___________ phrase
Some words can be used as either
prepositions or adverbs. These words,
such as before, behind, after, past,
through, down, and around, generally
refer to direction. To decide how such
a word is used, look for an object. If
you find an object, the word in question
is a ( preposition, adverb ).
11. ____________
a. The dog trotted behind.
b. The dog trotted behind the car.
In which sentence is behind a
preposition because it is followed
by an object? (a, b)
12. _____
a. Ralph fell down the stairs.
b. Ralph fell down.
In sentencee a, down is a preposition
because it is followed by the object
stairs.
13. In sentence b, down is an adverb
that modifies the verb _______.
a. The farmers stood around and
chatted.
b. The farmers stood around the
courthouse.
14. In which sentence is around a
preposition because it is
followed by an object?
________
a. The bus went by without stopping.
b. The bus went by the corner without
stopping.
15. In which sentence is by a
preposition because it is
followed by an object?
________
You are done!!!