Identify prepositional phrases

preposition is a connecting word. It comes before a noun or pronoun and connects it to the rest of the sentence. The main noun or pronoun that comes after the preposition is called the object of the preposition.

I will call you after dinner.

The preposition is after. It connects the object, dinner, to the rest of the sentence.

We walked around our neighborhood.

The preposition is around. It connects the object, neighborhood, to the rest of the sentence.

prepositional phrase is a group of words that starts with the preposition and ends with the object of the preposition.

I will call you after dinner.

We walked around our neighborhood.

Most prepositions tell about time, place, or movement, but some do not.

Time:I will call you after dinner.
Place:The sunglasses on the table are mine.
Movement:We walked around our neighbourhood.
Other:Did you read the book about wolves?

Some common prepositions are about, above, across, after, along, around, at, behind, below, beside, by, down, during, for, from, in, inside, into, near, of, on, outside, over, through, to, under, up, and with.

Learn with an example

  • Carl gave his dessert to her.

The preposition is to. It connects the pronoun her to the rest of the sentence. The prepositional phrase is to her.

Carl gave his dessert to her.

  • We watched the evening news on  television.

The preposition is on. It connects the noun television to the rest of the sentence. The prepositional phrase is on television.

We watched the evening news on television.

  • Read a book after dinner.

The preposition is after. It connects the noun dinner to the rest of the sentence. The prepositional phrase is after dinner.

Read a book after dinner.

let’s practice!