Quiz for Lessons 181 - 185
Parts of the Sentence - Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phraseA prepositional phrase starts with a preposition, ends with an object, and may have modifiers between the preposition and the object of the preposition.
Source: Lesson 176
may be used as an adjectiveAdjectives modify or affect the meaning of nouns and pronouns and tell us which, whose, what kind, and how many about the nouns or pronouns they modify. They come before the noun or pronoun they modify except for the predicate adjective which comes after a linking verb and modifies the subject. Source: Lesson 151
telling which or what kind and modifying a noun or pronoun. An adjective prepositional phrase will come right after the noun or pronoun that it modifies. If there are two
adjective prepositional phrases together, one will follow the other.
A prepositional phrase may be used as an adverbAdverbs are words that modify (1) verbs, (2) adjectives, and (3) other adverbs. They tell how (manner), when (time), where (place), how much (degree), and why (cause). Source: Lesson 161 telling how, when, where, how much, and why and modifying the verb and sometimes an adjective. Adverb prepositional phrases can come anywhere in the sentence and can be moved within the sentence without changing the meaning.
Only adjective prepositional phrases modify the object of the preposition in another prepositional phrase. Notice that some prepositional phrases may be adverbs or adjectives because of their location in the sentence.
Instructions: Pick out the prepositional phrases in these sentences, identify what they tell us, and what they modify.
1. The librarian took from her desk a new edition of one of the classics.
- from her desk modifies took (telling where)
- of one modifies edition (telling which)
- of the classics modifies one (telling what kind)
2. It was placed in the display case in the corner of the library.
- in the display modifies was placed (telling where)
- in the corner modifies case (telling which)
- of the library modifies corner (telling which)
3. Many books of mysteries and detective stories are found in the library.
- of mysteries and detective stories modifies books (telling what kind)
- in the library modifies are found (telling where)
4. One story about magic appears in our literature book.
- about magic modifies story (telling what kind)
- in our literature book modifies appears (telling where)
5. This story contains clues to the solution of the mystery.
- to the solution modifies clues (telling which)
- of the mystery modifies solution (telling which)
6. I have read many stories by Arthur Conan Doyle about Sherlock Holmes.
- by Arthur Conan Doyle modifies stories (telling which)
- about Sherlock Holmes modifies stories (telling what kind)
7. A wall of ancient Pompeii was discovered accidentally by an ordinary peasant.
- of ancient Pompeii modifies wall (telling which)
- by an ordinary peasant modifies was discovered (telling how)
Related links: Lessons 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, and 185.