Learn on PengiElements of Language, 3rd CourseChapter 3: The Phrase: Prepositional, Verbal, and Appositive Phrases

Lesson 1: Prepositional Phrases

In this Grade 6 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 3rd Course, students learn to identify and use prepositional phrases, including the preposition, its object, and any modifiers. The lesson covers three key types: basic prepositional phrases with compound objects, adjective phrases that modify nouns and pronouns, and adverb phrases that modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. Practice exercises guide students in recognizing how each type answers specific grammatical questions such as which one, how, when, and where.

Section 1

Prepositional Phrase and Its Object

Definition

A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, the object of the preposition, and any modifiers of that object. The noun or pronoun in a prepositional phrase is called the object of the preposition.

Explanation

This is a mini-phrase starting with a preposition (like in, on, under, for) and ending with a noun or pronoun, which is its object. It's like a location or time tag, telling you where, when, or how. Everything between the preposition and its object is part of the phrase!

Examples

  • In the garage, I located the toolbox.[Garage is the object of the preposition in.]
  • She looked behind the sofa and a lamp.[Sofa and lamp form the compound object of the preposition behind.]
  • The paper flags fluttered in the breeze from the north.[Breeze is the object of the preposition in. North is the object of the preposition from.]

Section 2

Adjective Phrase

Definition

A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun is called an adjective phrase.

Explanation

Think of an adjective phrase as a super-adjective! It's a prepositional phrase that does the job of describing something specific. It almost always follows the noun or pronoun it modifies and answers questions like What kind? or Which one?.

Examples

  • We watched a documentary by Ken Burns about the Civil War. [The phrases describe which documentary.]
  • The bicycle with the flat tire on the front is mine. [The phrase with the flat tire describes which bicycle, and on the front describes which tire.]
  • Someone left the keys to the car on the hook. [The phrase describes which keys.]

Section 3

Adverb Phrase

Definition

A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb is called an adverb phrase.

Explanation

An adverb phrase is a multitasking prepositional phrase! It tells you how, when, where, why, or to what extent an action happens. Unlike adjective phrases, these can pop up almost anywhere in a sentence. REMEMBER: This phrase must modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb, not a noun or pronoun.

Examples

  • In the first chapter, the author introduces the hero.[The adverb phrase tells when the author introduces the hero.]
  • Because of the storm, the power in the whole town went out. [This is an adverb phrase explaining why the power went out.]
  • David was brilliant in his final performance. [The phrase modifies the adjective brilliant, telling how he was brilliant.]

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Chapter 3: The Phrase: Prepositional, Verbal, and Appositive Phrases

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    Lesson 1: Prepositional Phrases

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Participial Phrases

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Gerund Phrases

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Infinitive Phrases

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Appositive Phrases

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Prepositional Phrase and Its Object

Definition

A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, the object of the preposition, and any modifiers of that object. The noun or pronoun in a prepositional phrase is called the object of the preposition.

Explanation

This is a mini-phrase starting with a preposition (like in, on, under, for) and ending with a noun or pronoun, which is its object. It's like a location or time tag, telling you where, when, or how. Everything between the preposition and its object is part of the phrase!

Examples

  • In the garage, I located the toolbox.[Garage is the object of the preposition in.]
  • She looked behind the sofa and a lamp.[Sofa and lamp form the compound object of the preposition behind.]
  • The paper flags fluttered in the breeze from the north.[Breeze is the object of the preposition in. North is the object of the preposition from.]

Section 2

Adjective Phrase

Definition

A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun is called an adjective phrase.

Explanation

Think of an adjective phrase as a super-adjective! It's a prepositional phrase that does the job of describing something specific. It almost always follows the noun or pronoun it modifies and answers questions like What kind? or Which one?.

Examples

  • We watched a documentary by Ken Burns about the Civil War. [The phrases describe which documentary.]
  • The bicycle with the flat tire on the front is mine. [The phrase with the flat tire describes which bicycle, and on the front describes which tire.]
  • Someone left the keys to the car on the hook. [The phrase describes which keys.]

Section 3

Adverb Phrase

Definition

A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb is called an adverb phrase.

Explanation

An adverb phrase is a multitasking prepositional phrase! It tells you how, when, where, why, or to what extent an action happens. Unlike adjective phrases, these can pop up almost anywhere in a sentence. REMEMBER: This phrase must modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb, not a noun or pronoun.

Examples

  • In the first chapter, the author introduces the hero.[The adverb phrase tells when the author introduces the hero.]
  • Because of the storm, the power in the whole town went out. [This is an adverb phrase explaining why the power went out.]
  • David was brilliant in his final performance. [The phrase modifies the adjective brilliant, telling how he was brilliant.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 3: The Phrase: Prepositional, Verbal, and Appositive Phrases

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 1: Prepositional Phrases

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Participial Phrases

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Gerund Phrases

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Infinitive Phrases

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Appositive Phrases

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