Prepositional Phrases used as Adjectives and Adverbs
A prepositional phrase is a group of words made up of a preposition and a noun or pronoun object. Whole prepositional phrases function either as adjectives by modifying nouns and pronouns or as adverbs by modifying verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Like one-word adjectives and adverbs, prepositional phrases functioning as adjectives and adverbs add important details to sentences. The location of a prepositional phrase will help you identify it as either an adjective or adverb phrase.
I. Prepositional Adjective Phrases
If a prepositional phrase modifies a noun or pronoun it is called an adjective phrase . A prepositional phrase functioning as an adjective modifies like a one-word adjective by telling what kind or which one .
Location.
An adjective phrase usually comes directly after the noun or pronoun it modifies.
After the subject noun:
The pretty girl in the red convertible waved. ( in the red convertible tells which girl.)
After a predicate noun:
Excessive speed is one cause of motor accidents . ( of motor accidents tells which cause.)
After a direct object:
We saw the jackrabbit with long ears . ( with long ears tells which jackrabbit.)
After an indirect object:
The judges gave the poodle with the pink bow first prize. ( with the pink bow tells which poodle.)
If two prepositional phrases are located together, with one right after the next, most of the time , the second phrase will modify the object of the first phrase: We built a house on the side of the hill. (on the hill tells which side)
More than one adjective phrase may be used to modify the same noun:
The pumpkin on the porch by the door is scary. ( on the porch and by the door tell which pumpkin.)
Note: Sometimes the prepositional phrase that comes directly after the direct object will not modify the direct object, but will modify the verb :
We saw the jackrabbit with our binoculars . ( with our binoculars does not tell which jackrabbit.)
In this sentence, the prepositional phrase with our binoculars tells how we saw the jackrabbit: with our binoculars. (Always check to see if the prepositional phrase describes the noun it follows by answering an adjective question. If it does not make sense, then it could modify another noun or a verb.)

II. Prepositional Adverb Phrases
If a prepositional phrase modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb, it is called a prepositional adverb phrase. A prepositional phrase functioning as an adverb modifies like a one-word adverb by telling how, when, where, or why.
Location.
A prepositional adverb phrase can be located at the beginning of the sentence, directly after the verb, or it can be separated from the word it modifies by being located somewhere else in the sentence. It can also follow another prepositional phrase.
Our team plays in the tournament.
( in the tournament tells where our team played.)
Sam broke his bat during the game . ( during the game tells when Sam broke his bat.)
At the game Joe hit a home run. ( At the game tells where Joe hit a home run.)
The car headed down the street toward the bridge. ( toward the bridge tells where the car headed.)
Put parentheses around each prepositional phrase and write Adj.
or Adv.
above each phrase to tell whether it is functioning as an adjective or an adverb phrase. Then write the word each phrase modifies in the blanks below the sentence and tell if it tells which one or what kind as and adjective would, or if it tells how, when, where, or why as an adverb would.
1. The children on the back row clapped loudly after the performance.
_____________________, _____________________
2. Eric finished his homework for English and math during study hall.
_____________________, _____________________
3. During the tour we will visit the homes of the stars.
_____________________, _____________________
4. During art class Jeremy easily sketched a dog with a huge hat on its head.
_____________________, _____________________, _____________________