How do prepositional phrases work?

Answer 1

Prepositional phrases work by giving additional information. For example we could write a sentence, The dog ran. Then we could add under the fence. The dog ran under the fence. The dog ran under the fence. The phrase under the fence gives additional information about the word ran. A prepositional phrase can be dropped from a sentence without hurting the sentence. The original form also makes sense.

Some students sometimes get a prepositional phrase confused with an indirect object. It is possible to check that by changing the position.

He gave the book to harry. In that case he is the subject, gave is the verb, book is the direct object and to harry is the indirect object. To harry looks like a prepositional phrase because to can be used as a preposition. In this case it is not. It can be checked by changing the sentence around and seeing if it makes sense.

He gave to harry the book. It works. We change it farther. He gave harry the book.

English is positional. When the indirect object precedes the direct object it does not require a to or something else in front of it.

Now let's add a description to the book.

He gave harry the book with the dark cover. Let's see what happens if we change the position of the phrase.

He gave harry with the dark cover the book. It does not work. Harry does not have a dark cover.

A prepositional phrase modifies a word. It can act like an adjective or an adverb. It can be dropped. It must follow the word it modifies. The dog ran under the fence, across the road, and into the house, carrying the ransom note.

The last phrase is a verbal phrase. It works exactly like a prepositional phrase.

Answer 2

Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and end with a noun, pronoun, or gerund. They function as modifiers to provide additional information about nouns or pronouns in a sentence. Prepositional phrases can indicate relationships in terms of time, place, direction, manner, or possession.