A prepositional phrase is a group of words built around a preposition, usually followed by a noun phrase or pronoun called its complement. It shows relationships between words and ideas, such as location, time, direction, and association.
Consider this sentence:
Maya found her missing notebook beneath the passenger seat.
The prepositional phrase beneath the passenger seat tells us where Maya found the notebook. The preposition beneath introduces the relationship, while the passenger seat identifies the location.
Prepositional phrases can also identify people or things and complete the meaning of certain verbs, adjectives, and nouns.
How Is a Prepositional Phrase Formed?
The most familiar structure is:
Preposition + Complement
The complement is often a noun phrase containing a noun, determiner, and any accompanying modifiers.
Leo discovered an old photograph inside a wooden storage box.
The highlighted phrase has two main parts.
| Element | Words | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Preposition | inside | Introduces the relationship |
| Complement | a wooden storage box | Identifies the location |
| Complete phrase | inside a wooden storage box | Tells where the photograph was found |
The noun box is the head of the complement noun phrase. The words a, wooden, and storage belong to that noun phrase.
The complement may contain several words, so the prepositional phrase often extends beyond the first noun.
What Can Follow a Preposition?
A preposition is most commonly followed by a noun phrase or pronoun, but other constructions can also serve as complements.
Noun phrase:
The visitors gathered near the main entrance.
Pronoun:
Everyone agreed with her.
-ing construction:
Daniel finished the repairs without replacing the entire unit.
In the third example, without introduces the construction replacing the entire unit.
English also uses multiword prepositions such as because of, in front of, and in spite of.
The concert continued in spite of the heavy rain.
Here, in spite of works as a multiword preposition.
A preposition is the central element of a prepositional phrase, but it is not always the first word. An adverb may appear before it:
The train arrived shortly after midnight.
The adverb shortly modifies after. The full expression shortly after midnight can be analyzed as a prepositional phrase.
When Is To a Preposition?
The word to can introduce a prepositional phrase or an infinitive construction.
Compare:
Amelia hopes to attend the workshop.
Amelia looks forward to attending the workshop.
In the first sentence, to attend the workshop is an infinitive construction.
In the second, to is a preposition followed by the -ing construction attending the workshop.
This explains why looks forward to attending is correct, while looks forward to attend is not standard English.
The distinction depends on how to functions in the expression, not simply on the word that follows it.
What Do Prepositional Phrases Do in Sentences?
A prepositional phrase may modify a noun, provide information about an event, or complete the meaning of another word.
1. Describe or Identify a Noun
A prepositional phrase can help identify a particular person or thing.
The passenger with the red suitcase asked for assistance.
The phrase with the red suitcase identifies which passenger asked for help. It belongs to the larger noun phrase the passenger with the red suitcase.
Another example:
The research notes from last week’s experiment are still being reviewed.
The prepositional phrase identifies which research notes are being discussed.
This use is often described as an adjectival function because the phrase provides information about a noun.
2. Add Information About an Action or Event
Prepositional phrases can express a wide range of relationships. Some identify circumstances surrounding an event, while others connect people, objects, or ideas.
| Relationship | Example |
|---|---|
| Time | The lights failed during the rehearsal. |
| Place | The parcel remained on the loading dock. |
| Direction | The cyclists rode through the tunnel. |
| Means | The artist created the design with a digital pen. |
| Cause | The outdoor exhibition closed because of strong winds. |
| Purpose | The documents were saved for future reference. |
| Topic | The discussion about the revised policy continued. |
| Comparison | Unlike the previous model, this one has a removable battery. |
| Exception | Everyone attended except for Daniel. |
| Condition | The equipment operates under normal circumstances. |
The same preposition can express different relationships depending on the context. For example, under indicates physical position in under the table but describes a condition in under normal circumstances.
When a prepositional phrase modifies an action or event, it performs an adverbial function.
For a closer look at this use, see prepositional phrases as adverbial phrases.
3. Complete the Meaning of Another Word
Certain verbs, adjectives, and nouns take prepositional complements.
The final decision depends on the inspection results.
The phrase on the inspection results identifies what the decision depends on.
An adjective can also take a prepositional complement:
Olivia was disappointed with the revised schedule.
The phrase explains what Olivia was disappointed with.
A similar relationship occurs with nouns:
The committee recognized the need for additional testing.
Here, for additional testing identifies what is needed.
Why Does the Choice of Preposition Matter?
Some words conventionally occur with particular prepositions.
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| depend on | The outcome depends on several factors. |
| responsible for | Marcus is responsible for the equipment inventory. |
| interested in | Sophie is interested in environmental science. |
| belong to | These records belong to the local museum. |
| aware of | The manager was aware of the scheduling conflict. |
You cannot always replace one preposition with another simply because the intended relationship seems similar.
Incorrect:
Sophie is interested on environmental science.
Correct:
Sophie is interested in environmental science.
The adjective interested conventionally takes in when identifying the subject of someone’s interest.
Learning these combinations as complete expressions helps avoid mistakes that cannot be resolved by memorizing individual prepositions.
When Is a Prepositional Phrase Necessary?
Some verbs need an expression identifying a location, destination, or other required element. A prepositional phrase may supply that information, but it is not always the only possible construction.
Compare:
The curator placed the sculpture on a padded stand.
The curator cleaned the sculpture after closing time.
In the first sentence, placed normally needs a location or destination complement. The phrase on a padded stand supplies it.
The location could also be expressed differently:
The curator placed the sculpture there.
The word there completes the construction without forming a typical preposition-plus-noun-phrase expression.
In the second sentence, after closing time adds optional information about when the cleaning happened.
Removing it leaves a complete sentence:
The curator cleaned the sculpture.
Whether an additional expression is required depends partly on the verb and how it is being used.
How to Identify Prepositional Phrases in Sentences
To identify a prepositional phrase, look for the preposition, the complete complement, and the relationship the phrase expresses. Longer complements may contain smaller phrases of their own.
Consider:
The librarian kept the historical atlas on the highest shelf of the archive room.
The highlighted group is one larger prepositional phrase containing a smaller one.
| Word Group | Grammatical Role |
|---|---|
| on | Main preposition |
| the highest shelf of the archive room | Complement noun phrase |
| shelf | Head noun of the complement |
| of the archive room | Smaller prepositional phrase modifying shelf |
| the archive room | Noun phrase following of |
The complement of on is the entire noun phrase the highest shelf of the archive room.
Within it, of the archive room identifies which shelf is meant. Stopping at on the highest shelf would leave out part of the intended larger expression.
A sentence may also contain separate prepositional phrases performing different functions.
Before the presentation, Nora placed the signed documents inside a secure folder.
The phrase before the presentation tells us when Nora acted, while inside a secure folder identifies where she placed the documents.
Both are prepositional phrases, even though they appear in different positions.
Can a Prepositional Phrase Have More Than One Meaning?
Sometimes a phrase is easy to recognize, but its relationship to the rest of the sentence is unclear.
Consider:
The editor reviewed the manuscript in the library.
One interpretation is that the editor reviewed the manuscript while in the library.
In the library, the editor reviewed the manuscript.
Another possibility is that the manuscript being discussed was located there.
The editor reviewed the manuscript stored in the library.
The original sentence allows both interpretations.
This is called prepositional phrase attachment ambiguity. The phrase’s structure remains the same, but the words it relates to can change.
Context often resolves the ambiguity. When it does not, a small change in wording can make the intended meaning clearer.
Prepositional Phrase vs. Adverb Phrase
Prepositional phrases and adverb phrases can express similar meanings while having different grammatical structures.
Compare:
The interpreter explained the change with remarkable patience.
The interpreter explained the change remarkably patiently.
Both expressions describe how the interpreter explained the change.
| Expression | Phrase Type | Head |
|---|---|---|
| with remarkable patience | Prepositional phrase | with |
| remarkably patiently | Adverb phrase | patiently |
The first expression is built around the preposition with, followed by the noun phrase remarkable patience.
The second is headed by the adverb patiently, modified by remarkably.
Both perform an adverbial function, but only the second is structurally an adverb phrase.
Prepositional Phrases and Subject–Verb Agreement
A prepositional phrase can make subject–verb agreement confusing when it contains a noun that differs in number from the head of the subject.
Consider:
The collection of handwritten letters belongs to the university archive.
The complete subject is the collection of handwritten letters.
Its head noun is collection, which is singular. That is why the verb is belongs, not belong.
Incorrect:
The collection of handwritten letters belong to the university archive.
Correct:
The collection of handwritten letters belongs to the university archive.
The plural noun letters belongs to the modifying prepositional phrase. It does not determine agreement in this sentence.
The head of the subject noun phrase normally determines the verb form, although some English constructions also allow agreement influenced by meaning.
Can a Sentence End With a Preposition?
Yes. Ending a sentence with a preposition is grammatically acceptable in English.
In questions and certain other constructions, a preposition may appear separately from its understood complement.
Consider:
Which department did you send the request to?
This is natural in everyday English.
A more formal alternative is:
To which department did you send the request?
Both are correct.
The first places to at the end. The second places it before which department.
This construction is called preposition stranding. It is common in English and is not inherently a grammatical mistake.
The same pattern appears in relative clauses:
That’s the position Maya applied for.
Moving the preposition is possible in some constructions, but the resulting sentence may sound more formal.
There is no general rule requiring every English sentence to avoid a final preposition.
Practice: Identify and Use Prepositional Phrases
Try identifying the phrases and explaining what each one does before checking the answers.
Question 1: Identify the Complete Phrase
The caretaker stored the spare keys in the small cabinet beneath the staircase.
Identify the complete prepositional phrase beginning with in. Does it contain a smaller prepositional phrase?
Question 2: Identify the Function
The instructions for the new software were printed on recycled paper.
Find both prepositional phrases. Which one modifies a noun, and which one identifies the medium on which the instructions were printed?
Question 3: Required or Optional Information?
Compare:
Elena placed the documents inside the locked drawer.
Elena reviewed the documents inside the conference room.
Which highlighted phrase supplies the location needed by the verb construction, and which adds optional information?
Question 4: Resolve an Ambiguous Sentence
The photographer noticed the bird on the balcony.
Explain two possible interpretations of on the balcony. Rewrite the sentence to make each meaning clear.
Answers and Explanations
1. In the small cabinet beneath the staircase
The complete prepositional phrase begins with in and has the noun phrase the small cabinet beneath the staircase as its complement.
Inside that noun phrase is the smaller prepositional phrase beneath the staircase, which identifies the cabinet.
2. For the new software; on recycled paper
For the new software modifies the noun instructions, identifying which instructions are being discussed.
On recycled paper identifies the medium on which the instructions were printed.
The phrases share the same structural classification but have different functions.
3. Inside the locked drawer; inside the conference room
In the first sentence, inside the locked drawer supplies the location required by placed in this construction.
In the second, inside the conference room tells us where Elena reviewed the documents.
The second sentence remains complete without the phrase:
Elena reviewed the documents.
4. Two possible interpretations
The original sentence could mean that the bird was on the balcony.
A clearer version is:
The photographer noticed the bird perched on the balcony.
Alternatively, the photographer might have been on the balcony while noticing the bird.
That meaning becomes clearer as:
From the balcony, the photographer noticed the bird.
The two interpretations involve the same prepositional structure but different relationships within the sentence.
Prepositional phrases can identify nouns, describe circumstances, or complete the meaning of another word. Recognizing the complete complement and understanding what the phrase relates to makes it easier to interpret even longer or potentially ambiguous sentences.
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