Prepositional phrases
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition (such as "in", "on", "at", "by") and ends with a noun, pronoun or gerund, called the object of the preposition. It shows relationships of place, time, direction, manner or reason, and functions as an adjective or adverb in a sentence, for example "in the morning" or "under the table".
Types of prepositional phrases
Prepositional phrases of place
Show where something is located or happening.
e.g. on the table, near the station, between the buildings
Prepositional phrases of time
Show when something happens.
e.g. at midnight, since 2020, during the meeting
Prepositional phrases of direction/movement
Show motion towards or away from something.
e.g. towards the exit, into the room, across the bridge
Prepositional phrases of manner or means
Show how something is done or by what method.
e.g. by bus, with great care, in silence
Prepositional phrases as adjectives/adverbs
Function grammatically to modify a noun (adjectival) or a verb, adjective or another adverb (adverbial).
e.g. the book on the shelf (adjectival), she arrived in time (adverbial)
Rules to remember
- A prepositional phrase always starts with a preposition and ends with a noun, pronoun or gerund (the object); it never contains a subject or a finite verb of its own.
- The object of a preposition must be in the objective form, so use 'me', 'him', 'her', 'us' or 'them', not 'I', 'he', 'she', 'we' or 'they'.
- When a verb follows a preposition, it must take the '-ing' form (gerund), not the base form or infinitive: 'interested in learning', not 'interested in learn' or 'interested to learn' unless the fixed pattern requires the infinitive.
- Adjectival prepositional phrases modify nouns and are placed directly after the noun they describe; adverbial ones modify verbs, adjectives or adverbs and can often move to the front or end of a sentence.
- Certain adjectives, verbs and nouns pair with specific prepositions by convention (collocations), such as 'afraid of', 'depend on', 'reason for'; these must be learned individually because there is no single logical rule.
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| The keys are on the kitchen counter. | Prepositional phrase of place modifying the verb 'are' (adverbial). |
| We will meet before the conference starts. | Prepositional phrase of time functioning as an adverbial. |
| The man in the blue jacket is my uncle. | Adjectival prepositional phrase modifying the noun 'man'. |
| She travelled across the country by train. | Two prepositional phrases: direction and means. |
| He apologised for being late. | Preposition followed by a gerund as its object. |
| This gift is from her, not from me. | Pronouns after prepositions take the objective case. |
| Despite the rain, they continued walking. | Prepositional phrase of concession placed at the start of the sentence. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: This letter is for I.
Correct: This letter is for me.
Incorrect: She is good in solve problems.
Correct: She is good at solving problems.
Incorrect: He arrived to the airport late.
Correct: He arrived at the airport late.
Why this matters for IELTS
Using varied and accurate prepositional phrases (of time, place, manner and reason) allows you to add detail and complexity to sentences without needing more complex clauses, which examiners reward under Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Precise preposition choice, especially in fixed collocations like "responsible for" or "interested in", also signals natural, idiomatic control of English, helping you avoid the small but frequent errors that cap scores at Band 6 or below.
Frequently asked questions
What is a prepositional phrase in simple terms?
It is a preposition plus its object (a noun, pronoun or gerund), such as 'in the garden' or 'without thinking', that adds information about place, time, manner or reason to a sentence.
Can a prepositional phrase be the subject of a sentence?
No, a prepositional phrase cannot act as the subject; it can only function as an adjective or adverb, describing a noun or modifying a verb, adjective or adverb.
What is the difference between a prepositional phrase and a phrasal verb?
A prepositional phrase (preposition plus object) adds descriptive detail, while a phrasal verb combines a verb with a particle to create a new meaning, such as 'give up' or 'look after', and the particle is part of the verb itself, not a separate modifying phrase.
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