English Language Arts
Grade 8
15 min
Identify prepositional phrases
Identify prepositional phrases
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define a prepositional phrase and its components.
Accurately identify prepositions within sentences.
Locate the object of a preposition in various sentence structures.
Correctly bracket entire prepositional phrases in complex sentences.
Distinguish prepositional phrases from other types of phrases.
Explain the basic function of an identified prepositional phrase (adjectival or adverbial).
Apply identification skills to improve sentence clarity and structure.
Ever wonder how words connect to create vivid pictures or precise instructions? 🗺️ Prepositional phrases are like the hidden pathways in our language, guiding us through sentences!
In this lesson, you'll become an expert at spotting these crucial phrases. Learning to identify prepositional phr...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PrepositionA word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun (its object) and another word in the sentence. It often indicates location, direction, time, or manner.The cat slept *under* the blanket. ('under' shows the relationship between 'cat' and 'blanket')
Object of the PrepositionThe noun or pronoun that follows the preposition and completes the meaning of the prepositional phrase. It answers the question 'what?' or 'whom?' after the preposition.She walked *to the store*. ('store' is the object of the preposition 'to')
Prepositional PhraseA group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition), along with any modifiers of that o...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Prepositional Phrase Structure Rule
A prepositional phrase always begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition).
To identify a prepositional phrase, first find a preposition, then look for the noun or pronoun that directly follows it and acts as its object. All words between the preposition and its object (including the object itself) form the phrase.
The 'No Verb as Object' Rule
The object of a preposition can *never* be a verb. It must be a noun or a pronoun.
If you see a word that looks like a verb after a preposition, it's likely a gerund (a verb acting as a noun, ending in -ing) or you've misidentified the preposition. For example, 'before eating' is a phrase where 'eating' is a geru...
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Challenging
In the sentence "For a better view, the hikers climbed with great care up the steep mountain trail," which prepositional phrase answers the question 'how?'
A.For a better view
B.with great care
C.up the steep mountain trail
D.the hikers climbed
Challenging
Using your knowledge of prepositional phrases to improve clarity, which sentence is constructed most effectively to show that the telescope was used for viewing?
A.The astronomer saw a new comet with a powerful telescope.
B.With a powerful telescope, the astronomer saw a new comet.
C.new comet was seen by the astronomer with a powerful telescope.
D.The astronomer with a powerful telescope saw a new comet.
Challenging
Consider the sentence: "The painting of the stormy sea hung above the fireplace." Which option correctly identifies a prepositional phrase and its function?
A."of the stormy sea" is an adjectival phrase modifying 'painting'.
B."above the fireplace" is an adjectival phrase modifying 'sea'.
C."of the stormy sea" is an adverbial phrase modifying 'hung'.
D."The painting of" is an adjectival phrase modifying 'sea'.
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