This tutorial will explain, for your easy understanding, the two most common prepositional phrase functions in the English language.
As usual, I am going to make the explanation of prepositional phrase functions very simple for you to understand. Our only goal here is to make sure that you are able to state the correct grammatical function of a prepositional phrase in any sentence.
But before we go to that, let’s first be clear about what exactly a prepositional phrase is.
The prepositional phrase
Back in school many years ago, my English Grammar lecturer taught me this.
A prepositional phrase is that group of words which is made up of a preposition and a noun/pronoun or noun phrase. In almost every case, the preposition comes first. The noun/pronoun or noun phrase comes after the preposition.
Prepositional Phrase Examples
That means the following groups of words are all prepositional phrases.
At the zoo
By the fireside
Across the valley
Beyond those mountains
From Lagos
To Liberia
Before Banjul
Inside Accra
In Freetown
On my car
Under this very bridge
Towards their own house
For the money
With two little children
Beneath a grey rug
Behind your back
Out onto the streets
Above me
Of my conscience
At ease
To her
For them
Into his mouth
Well, I can go on and on but let me stop here. Why don’t you quickly try some examples of your own. It will definitely be an exercise worth your time.
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Functions of the Prepositional Phrase
Just like prepositions, prepositional phrases show position in relation to a noun/noun phrase.
In addition, the prepositional phrase also shows position in relation to a verb/verb phrase.
Therefore, a prepositional phrase may be an adjectival phrase or an adverbial phrase.
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The Difference Between a Phrase and a Clause
Function #1. Qualifying a Noun or Noun phrase
This is when the prepositional phrase is behaving in the sentence like an adjectival phrase or an adjective. When this happens, we often state its grammatical name as adjectival phrase.
Here are some examples for you.
The fish in his mouth is big.
Chief Nanga is a man of the people.
Give me that box behind the computer.
Six men from Lagos visited the house.
She lives in a town beyond Banjul.
Function #2. Modifying a Verb/Verb Phrase
This is when the prepositional phrase is behaving in the sentence like an adverbial clause, adverbial phrase or an adverb. When this happens, we usually state its grammatical name as adverbial phrase.
The following examples should help you to get this.
She works for the money.
They live across the valley.
I will be migrating to Liberia.
He is living with two little children.
Just look beyond those mountains.
People like you must be thrown into the zoo.
20 Examples of the Function of the Adverbial Clause
Sometimes it can get a bit tricky.
Please note that in some cases you will need to consider the context within which the prepositional phrase appears in order to be sure if it is an adjectival phrase or an adverbial phrase.
Take a look at these sentences.
Kanayo shot the girl in the car.
There is an ambiguity here. The sentence is open to at least two different interpretations.
- One interpretation:
The girl Kanayo shot was the one who was inside the car, not the girl in the house nor the one by the roadside, for example.
In this case, you can conclude that in the car is an adjectival phrase qualifying the noun phrase, the girl.
- Another interpretation:
The place Kanayo shot the girl was inside the car; not behind it, nor on a tree, for example.
In a case like this, you should not have any difficulty in stating the correct grammatical function of the prepositional phrase. It will have to be adverbial phrase modifying the verb, shot.
Here is my reason for saying this.
We answer questions of this nature based on the context within which the sentence containing the prepositional phrase occurs.
In your case as a WASSCE (or other similar exam) candidate, there is a whole passage before you. The meaning of this passage should be able to clarify things for you.
Moreover, there are preceding events stated in the preceding sentences before that particular one. These should give you enough clues to know what the right grammatical function is.
Photo by Clarissa Watson on Unsplash
Ralph Nyadzi is the Director of Studies at Cegast Academy. He is a qualified English tutor with decades of experience behind him. Since 2001, he has successfully coached thousands of High School General Arts WASSCE candidates in English, Literature and related subjects. He combines his expertise with a passion for lifelong learning to guide learners from varying backgrounds to achieve their educational goals. Ralph shares lessons from his blogging journey on BloggingtotheMax. He lives with River, his pet cat, in the Central Region of Ghana.
