Prepositional Phrases

What is preposition
• A preposition is a word which is used before a noun or pronoun
to show how it joined to some other word in the sentence.
• Prepositions are word like :-
in, on, into, over, under, up, at, above, after, across, against,
before, behind, between, by, with, down, during, for, from,
through, until, upon, etc.
• Examples :-
1. The book is on the desk.
2. The book is in the desk.
3. The book is near the desk.
4. The book is under the desk.
 Preposition phrases
• A preposition phrase is a constituent that has a
preposition as its head.
• A prepositional phrases consists of a preposition
and the word (s) that follow it.
• The most common words that follow
prepositions are nouns and pronouns :
-sleep on the floor
-comparisons between Clinton and Kennedy.
• We also can use -ing forms, adverbs or wh- clauses after
prepositions:

Example :-
-As well as helping us to move into the house, John
bought us a great present.

- Please don’t interfere in any way with what I have

written in the introduction.
• A prepositional phrase can include a
determiner before the noun or ing form:
Example :-
The head teacher doesn’t approve of his
arrangements with a local band.
Adjective Phrases
 What is adjective?
• An adjective is a word used with a noun to tell
something more about the noun, it is a
describing-word.
• It describes the person or thing which the
noun names.
• Examples :-
1. The angry dog is barking.
2. The good girl is reading a book.
3. The poor man is sitting down.
 Adjectives usually come before the nouns they describe,
Examples :-
1. That is a red car.
2. She is a good girl.
3. It is a small house.

 But sometimes the adjective comes after the

noun.
Examples :-
1. The car is red.
2. The girl is good.
3. The house is small.
 Types of adjective
• There are many type of adjectives.
• For example :-
Participal adjectives
Equatives
Superlatives
Comparatives
Proper adjectives
 Participial Adjectives

• Participial adjectives are adjectives that end

with –ing or –ed.
• They usually describe feelings or reactions.
• The two forms have different meaning.
• For examples: -
a) The last Star Wars movie was amazing!
b) I know. I was amazed by the special
effects.
 Equatives
 You can use equative (as+ adjective + as) to compare
people, places and things.
Example : -

The Trax bike is as expensive as the Gardo.

(The Trax costs a lot of money. The Gardo costs
the same amount of money.)
 Superlative

 Use the superlative from the adjectives to single

out people, places and things from other, places and
things.
 Examples :-
 You are the best parents in the world.
 You are the most wonderful girlfriend I’ve
ever had.
 COMPARATIVES

 Use the comparative -form of

adjectives to focus on a difference
between people, places and things.
 Examples :-
 The new menu is bigger than the
old menu.
 The new waiters are more
experienced than the old waiters.
 PROPER ADJECTIVES
 Adjectives formed from Proper Nouns
are generally called Proper Adjectives. They
should be spelt with a capital letter at the
beginning like Proper Nouns.

 Proper noun : England, China

 Proper adjective : English, Chinese
 Adjective phrases
• An adjective phrases is a constituent which
has an adjective as its head.
• Examples :-
1. The very tall girl is my sister.
(very tall is an adjective phrase with tall as
its head. )
2. Your brother was angry about the results.
(angry about the results is an adjective
phrase with angry as its head.)
Adverbial Phrases
 What is adverbs?
• An adverb is a word that adds to the meaning
of a Verb, an Adjective or Adverb.
• This means, it is a word that says something
more about a Verb, an Adjective or another
adverb.
Example :-
He came yesterday.
(came = verb)
(yesterday = adverb )
 Types of Adverbs
• There are many kinds of adverb.
1. Adverb of manner. This shows how an
action or something is done, e.g.
-He speaks loudly.
-She walks quickly.
-He reads well.
2. Adverb of place. This shows where an action or
something is done or happens, e.g.
-He is standing outside.
-She came in.
-They walked out.
3. Adverb of time. This shows when an action or
something is done or happens, e.g.
-He comes always.
-She is eating now.
-He told me then.
3. Adverb of Degree or Quantity. This answers
the question, “To what degree?” or “How
much?” e.g.
-He reads much.
-She shouts too much.
-You are almost right.
 Adverb Phrases
• An adverb phrase is a constituent that has an
adverb as its head.
• For example :-
Fred played the music very slowly.
(very slowly is an adverb phrase with
slowly as its head.)
• Postmodifiers are not common with adverb
phrases, but they can exist.
• For example :-
He is talking strangely for a teacher.
(for a teacher is a postmodifier of the head
strangely)
Activities….
i. Underline the prepositional phrases in the following
sentences.
Example : The game for the championship had the
entire city excited.
1. The Cardinals from the east side had an outstanding
center.
2. He stood six feet nine inches in his bare feet.
3. The Eagle coach came up with a plan.
4. The Eagles had pulled within one point.
5. The main problem for the Eagles was rebounding.
 References….
David H. Deterding and Gloria R. Poedjosoedarmo. 2001. The
Grammar of English. Singapore. Prentice Hall.
Norwood Selby and Pamela S. Bledsoe. 2003. Essential College
English. United State. Longman.
Mary Laine Yarber and Robert E. Yarber. 2001. Reviewing Basic
Grammar. Longman.
Adjectives & Adverbs with Direct and indirect speech.
2002.Malaysia. Pelanduk Publications.
Milon Nandy. Good English. Malaysia. Kumpulan Rusa Bhd. Sdn.
Mark Foley & Diane Hall. 2003. Advanced learners’Grammar.
China. Pearson Education Limited.