Prepositional Phrases

what are phrases

a group of words that do not contain a subject and a predicate

what is a preposition

a word that shows a physical relationship between two objects

participial phrase: Eighteen school children boarded the bus, crawling all over each other, which left the parking lot in a hurry, carrying all the children to the Museum.

crawling all over each other, carrying all the children

what does paraphrase mean

to use different words to restate the text

preposition examples

to, around, under, over, behind, with, outside

prepositional phrase: She placed the flower pots along the windowsill over the sink.

along the windowsill, over the sink

preposition: She placed the flower pots along the windowsill over the sink.

along, over

appositive or infinitive and identify: My teacher, Ms. Martin, is excited about visiting the Egyptian exhibit at the art museum

appositive, ms martin

appositive or infinitive and identify: The books, both old and new, on the bookcase were in disarray because the students were in a rush to put them back.

appositive- both old and new. infinitive- to put them back

where does a comma come in an infinitive phrase

before the subject

where do participial phrases take place

beginning

when can a prepositional phrase come

beginning, middle, or end of the sentence

preposition: A new dining room was built beside the old one

beside

prepositional phrase:A new dining room was built beside the old one

beside the old one

all phrases; Fearing the worst, Margaret climbed the hill, her hair dragging behind her in braids. Participial, absolute, prep, prep

fearing the worst- participial phrase. her hair dragging-absolute. behind her- prep, in braids- prep

participial phrase: Gary Trout bought six candles, glowing in the window front of Marshall Field's

glowing in the window

participial phrase: The actress walked through the mall with heels that were as tall as a building, growing into the sky.

growing into the sky

absolute phrase: Bonnie seized the chocolate, her eyes dripping with desire.

her eyes dripping with desire

absolute phrase: He fell to the floor, his foot fearing the worst as it rested awkwardly on the ground.

his foot fearing the worst

absolute phrase: Without hesitation, he leaped toward the mugger, his head aching with anxiety.

his head aching with anxiety

appositive or infinitive and identify: As she walked into school, she went to the office to drop off her survey.

infinitive, to drop off her survey

appositive or infinitive and identify: I try to eat well to stay healthy.

infinitive, to eat well, to stay healthy

what does an absolute phrase end in

ing or ed

what is an absolute phrase

it is a noun or pronoun, verb ending in ing or ed and any description. It can come at the beginning or end of the sentence. It modifies the whole sentence. Always set off by commas

what is a participial phrase

it is a verb in past or present with description. These phrases come at the beginning of the sentence and act as an adjective for the subject. You separate the phrase from the sentence with a comma

what is an infinitive phrase

it is the word "to" plus a verb and any extra information. It can come at the beginning middle and end of a sentence. It only get set off by commas if it comes before the subject

where can an absolute phrase NOT take place

middle of the sentence

prepositional phrase: The stamp show begins on Monday during vacation from school.

on monday, during the vacation, from school

preposition: The stamp show begins on Monday during vacation from school.

on, during, from

what is the preposition in the sentence; The ticket holders waited patiently outside the theater.

outside

what is the prepositional phrase in the sentence; The ticket holders waited patiently outside the theater.

outside the theater

absolute phrase: The book folded open, she lay on the couch closing the weekend with Jane Austin

the book folded open

prepositional phrase: The telephone book is under the table in the living room.

under the table, in the living room

preposition: The telephone book is under the table in the living room.

under, in

which part of the prepositional phrase requires a comma

when the prepositional phrase is in the beginning