A preposition and prepositional phrase form an essential part of sentence structure, connecting words and indicating place, position, direction, motion, or time while functioning as an adjective or adverb.
What Is a Preposition?
A preposition shows the relation between a word and a noun or pronoun that follows. It indicates:
- Place and position: across, above, below, between, behind, beyond.
- Direction and motion: in, toward, out of, about, around, through, by, down, over.
- Time: at, before, after, during, since, until.
Exercise: Give the correct answer.
1. Feeling terribly sorry (about, over, for) one’s self is not good for his health.
Show answer
for
2. To distinguish (between, at, among) an adjective and an adverb is not easy.
Show answer
between
3. Joyce Allen was born (in, on, at) October 14, 1993.
Show answer
on
4. My friend lives (at, in, on) 143 San Jose Del Monte Bulacan.
Show answer
at
5. Our memory fades (across, behind, beyond) the time.
Show answer
beyond
Commonly Used as Preposition
| Above | at | by | into | toward |
| About | before | down | like | through |
| Across | behind | during | near | under |
| After | below | except | of | until |
| Against | beneath | for | off | up |
| Among | between | from | since | with |
| Around | but | inside | to | within |
What Is a Prepositional Phrase?
A prepositional phrase is a phrase that functions as an adjective or an adverb. Structurally, a prepositional phrase consists of the preposition and the object of the preposition.
A phrase is a group of words without a subject and predicate that functions as a single part of speech.
We went up the highest hill.
The woman with long hair is a swimmer.
Types of Prepositional Phrase
Adjective phrase
An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It is often the equivalent of an adjective.
The chemical inside the drum is leaking.
The prepositional phrase is the group of words inside the drum. The phrase functions as an adjective because it modifies the noun chemical.
The view across the river is breathtaking.
The prepositional phrase is the group of words across the river. The phrase functions as an adjective because it modifies the subject view.
Adverbial phrase
An adverbial phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. Like the adverb, the adverbial phrase answers the questions: when? where? how? and to what extent? It expresses time, place, manner and degree.
My classmate lives on Ayala Avenue.Expresses place — on is used to indicate names of streets, avenues, etc.
My classmate lives in Canada.Expresses place — in is used to indicate the names of cities, provinces, countries and continents.
My classmate lives at 111 Ayala Avenue, Pasig City.Expresses place — at is used to indicate a specific address.
The Correct Use of Prepositions
Around & about
Around means encircling. About often means approximately. Do not use around when you mean approximately.
Correct: The book costs about $99. He weighed about 250 pounds. You can tie a rope around its belly.
Incorrect: The book costs around $99. He weighed around 250 pounds. You can tie a rope about its belly.
Agree to & agree with
One agrees to a proposal, but agrees with a person.
Correct: We agree with you. We agree to his suggestion.
Incorrect: We agree with his suggestion.
Beside & besides
Beside means by the side of. Besides means “in addition to”.
Correct: Can Angelo sit beside you?
Incorrect: Can Angelo sit besides you?
Between & among
Between is used when referring to two.
Among is used when referring to more than two.
Correct: Mikoy and Ramen divided the money between them. The thirty students divided the money among themselves.
Incorrect: Mikoy and Ramen divided the money among them. The thirty students divided the money between themselves.
Differ with & differ from
One differs with a person in a matter of opinion. A person or thing differs from another in certain respects; that is, the person or thing is unlike another in certain respects.
I differ from you on the matter of how we should proceed.Incorrect — differ in opinion
I differ with you on the matter of how we should proceed.Correct — differ in opinion
Cebu differs with Manila in many ways.Incorrect — in certain respects
Cebu differs from Manila in many ways.Correct — in certain respects
Different from
Different from is correct. Do not use “different than”, which is incorrect.
Correct: Her testimony in court was different from what she told me.
Incorrect: Her testimony in court was different than what she told me.
In & into
The preposition in indicates location or motion within a place.
The preposition into indicates motion toward the inside from the outside.
The swimmer jumped into the pool.Motion from the outside
She is swimming in the pool.Motion within a place
Over & more than
Over expresses the idea of place. More than expresses the idea of quantity.
Correct: The box contains more than one hundred apples.
Incorrect: The box contains over one hundred apples.
In regard to
Do not say in regards to or with regards to. The correct expressions are in regard to and with regard to.
Correct: In regard to your request, we are sending the package.
Incorrect: In regards to your request, we are sending the package.
Key Takeaways
- Prepositions show the relation between a word and a following noun or pronoun, indicating place, position, direction, motion, or time.
- A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and its object, functioning as either an adjective or an adverb.
- Adjective phrases modify nouns or pronouns, while adverbial phrases modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.
- Using correct prepositions (like between vs. among, or in vs. into) ensures grammatical accuracy.
Quick Practice
Test your knowledge! Choose the correct preposition and write your answers in the comments below:
1. The money was divided _________ the two brothers. (between / among)
Show answer
between
2. She jumped _________ the swimming pool. (in / into)
Show answer
into
FAQ
What is the difference between a preposition and a prepositional phrase?
A preposition is a single word showing relationship (like in, on, at), whereas a prepositional phrase is a group of words consisting of the preposition and its object that functions as an adjective or an adverb.
How do adjective phrases and adverbial phrases differ?
An adjective phrase modifies a noun or pronoun, while an adverbial phrase modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb by expressing time, place, manner, or degree.
When should you use ‘between’ versus ‘among’?
Use between when referring to two entities, and use among when referring to more than two entities.
Master English Grammar in 30 Days
Browse all 30 lessons
- Day 1 Grammar Lesson
- Parts of Speech Lesson
- Pronoun Classification
- Pronoun with Examples
- Verbs Lesson
- Tenses of Verbs
- Six Tenses of Verb
- Progressive Forms of Verbs
- Group of Verbs
- Subject-Verb Rules
- Active and Passive Voice
- Agreement of Subject and Verb
- Special Cases of Agreement
- Complements Lesson
- Prepositions Lesson
- Cases of Nouns and Pronouns
- Uses and Kinds of Adjective
- Adjectives have Comparison
- Kinds of Adverb
- Preposition and Prepositional Phrase
- Conjunction with Charts
- Clauses Lesson
- Adjective Clauses Lesson
- Classifying Sentences Based on Clauses
- Verbals Lesson
- Verbal Analogy Tests
- Gerund and Split Infinitive
- Punctuation Rules
- More About Punctuation
- List of Troublesome Words
More Lessons to Try
Continue improving your English grammar and writing skills with these related lessons:
- Adjective Clauses
- Adjectives have Comparison
- Agreement of Subject and Verb
- Cases of Nouns and Pronouns
- Classifying Sentences Based on Clauses
- Explore All Grammar Lessons on english-grammarblog.blogspot.com
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