Prepositional Phrases with Types and Examples • Englishilm

Prepositional phrases are a key part of English grammar. They help us add more detail about place, time, and direction in a sentence. In this blog post, you will learn what prepositional phrases are, how they are used in daily English, and explore many simple examples to understand them better. Practice questions are also included to help you remember and use them correctly in everyday speaking and writing.

If you want to improve your grammar skills, explore our grammar category for more helpful lessons.

Table of Contents

What are Prepositional Phrases?

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun. It gives more information about place, time, reason, or direction.

Examples:

She sat on the chair.
The book is under the table.
We went to the park.
He walked through the forest.
The cat slept beside the bed.

Examples of Prepositional Phrases

Here are some common prepositional phrases:

At home
In the morning
On the bus
Under the bed
After the party
Before dinner
By the window
With a smile
Without fear
Over the bridge

Types of Prepositional Phrases

There are two main types of prepositional phrases:

Adjective Phrases – Describe a noun
Adverb Phrases – Describe a verb, adjective, or another adverb

Adjective Phrase Example:

The man with the hat is my uncle.
(“with the hat” describes “man” – a noun)

Adverb Phrase Example:

She ran across the street.
(“across the street” tells where she ran – describing the verb)

Types of Prepositional Phrases with Examples

Adjective Phrases	Adverb Phrases
in the garden	in the evening
with brown hair	on Sunday
next to the window	after the movie
under the blue sky	before lunch
in a red dress	by the river
with a long tail	at night
near the lake	during the storm
on the roof	across the road
behind the curtain	around the corner
of strong metal	without a doubt

How to Use Prepositional Phrases in Sentences?

Using prepositional phrases is simple. Place them after a noun or after a verb to add more detail.

Examples:

The girl with the backpack is my sister.
We will meet after school.
He jumped over the fence.
The keys are on the table.
They sat under the tree.

Comparison Between Prepositional Phrases

Phrase	Type	Function
on the table	Adverb Phrase	Tells where something is
with blue eyes	Adjective Phrase	Describes a person or thing
after the show	Adverb Phrase	Tells when something happened
near the school	Adjective Phrase	Describes location of a place
by the fireplace	Adverb Phrase	Tells where someone is

Practice Exercise for Prepositional Phrases

Identify the prepositional phrase in each sentence:

The cat slept under the couch.
We went to the zoo.
She smiled with joy.
He waited at the bus stop.
The ball is behind the door.
They live near the park.
I found it in the drawer.
She sang with passion.
We walked through the tunnel.
The painting on the wall is beautiful.
The cookies in the jar are tasty.
He spoke without fear.
The boy by the gate is my cousin.
They sat around the table.
I will call you after dinner.
She danced under the stars.
He ran across the field.
The gift is for you.
He works at night.
The girl with the red dress is my friend.

FAQs about Prepositional Phrases

1. What is a prepositional phrase in simple words?
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and tells more about a noun or verb.

2. What are 5 examples of prepositional phrases?

In the morning
Under the bed
On the chair
With a smile
After lunch

3. How do you identify a prepositional phrase?
Look for a preposition followed by a noun or pronoun. It gives extra information about place, time, or reason.

4. What is the difference between adjective and adverb prepositional phrases?
Adjective phrases describe nouns. Adverb phrases describe verbs or tell when, where, or how something happens.

5. Can a sentence have more than one prepositional phrase?
Yes! Example: She sat on the sofa with her dog.