Prepositional Phrases

The most common type of phrase is the prepositional phrase. You'll find these phrases in sentences, clauses, and even within other phrases. Each prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (examples: in, of, by, from, for) and includes a noun or pronoun that is the object of the preposition.

in the room

of the people

by the river

from the teacher

for the party

The object of a preposition can have its own modifiers, which also are part of the prepositional phrase.

in the smoky, crowded room

of the remaining few people

by the rushing river

from the tired and frustrated teacher

for the midnight victory party

Prepositional phrases function as either adjectives or adverbs.

The woman in the trench coat pulled out her cell phone.

The prepositional phrase in the trench coat acts as an adjective describing the noun woman.

Most of the audience dozed during the tedious performance.

The prepositional phrase during the tedious performance acts as an adverb modifying the verb dozed.