Generic Phrases
Help with prepositional phrases?
I know what a preposition is, but I need help knowing the difference between an adverbial preposition phrase and an ajectivial phrase.
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- Adjective Phrases An adjective phrase is any phrase which modifies a noun or pronoun. You often construct adjective phrases using participles or prepositions together with their objects: I was driven mad by the sound of my neighbour's constant piano practising. In this sentence, the prepositional phrase "of my neighbour's constant piano practising" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "sound." My father-in-law locked his keys in the trunk of a borrowed car. Similarly in this sentence, the prepositional phrase "of a borrowed car" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "trunk." We saw Peter dashing across the quadrangle. Here the participle phrase "dashing across the quadrangle" acts as an adjective describing the proper noun "Peter." We picked up the records broken in the scuffle. In this sentence, the participle phrase "broken in the scuffle" modifies the noun phrase "the records." Adverb Phrases A prepositional phrase can also be an adverb phrase, functioning as an adverb, as in the following sentences. She bought some spinach when she went to the corner store. In this sentence, the prepositional phrase "to the corner store" acts as an adverb modifying the verb "went." Lightning flashed brightly in the night sky. In this sentence, the prepositional phrase "in the night sky" functions as a adverb modifying the verb "flashed." In early October, Giselle planted twenty tulip bulbs; unfortunately, squirrels ate the bulbs and none bloomed. In this sentence, the prepositional phrase "in early October" acts as an adverb modifying the entire sentence. We will meet at the library at 3:30 P.M. In this sentence, the prepositional phrase "at 3:30 P.M." acts as an adverb modifying the verb phrase "will meet." The dogs were capering about the clown's feet. In this sentence, the prepositional phrase "about the clown's feet" acts as an adverb modifying the verb phrase "were capering."
- an adverbial prepositional phrase answers the questions: why? We worked how? where? just the same as an adverb does: adverbial preposition phrase: We worked into the night. We worked when? into the night. adverb: we worked late. when did we work? late. An adjectival preposition phrase, like an adjective answers the question: which one? or how much or how many? In the following sentence "The red house was being repainted. Which house? the red house I bought two sweaters in that style. how many sweaters? two. when its an adjectival prepositionphrase, it will look like this: The house on the corner was being repainted, which house? the house on the corner. "on the corner" describes the house, tells you which one. I hope this helps
