Building Your Portfolio
Sentence Workshop
Expanding Sentences: Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (a word such as above, across, behind, between, during, from, in,
into, like, of, on, over, to, under, with) and ends with the object of that preposition. It may also contain words that modify the object of the preposition. Prepositional phrases are usually used the same way as adjectives or adverbs.
A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun is an adjective
phrase. An adjective phrase tells what kind or which one.
EXAMPLES
1. “At 7:30 the couple in the next room began to quarrel. . . .” [which one?]
—O. Henry, “Springtime à la Carte”
2. “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny. . . .” [which one?]
—Shirley Jackson, “The Lottery”
An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. An adverb phrase tells
how, when, where, why, or to what extent (how long or how
far).
EXAMPLES
1. “Her face was gnarled around a beautiful sharp nose.” [where?]
—Louise Erdrich, “Snares”
2. “She had filled the room with magnolia blossoms . . .” [how?]
—Zora Neale Hurston, “Spunk”
Try It Out
Expand these empty sentences by adding prepositional phrases that answer the questions in brackets. Underline the prepositional phrases in your sentences.
1. The woman waited. [When and where?]
2. One is missing. [Which one and from where?]
3. Some cheered. [Which ones and how?]
4. The driver stopped. [Which one, how, where, and when?]
5. The couple began to move. [Which one, where, and how?]
Writer’s Workshop Follow-up: Revision
Usually you elaborate on your sentences during the revision process. Look at an autobiographical incident you wrote for another assignment. Find at least three sentences that you can expand with further details supplied by prepositional phrases.
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