Finding Prepositional Phrases�&�Distinguishing Prepositions from Adverbs - 3a

a team review activity after introductory lessons

modified from Grammar for Writing Workbook, McDougal Littell/Houghton Mifflin, page 124

all photographs from creative commons

preposition: shows relationship between a noun or a pronoun & another word in the sentence

What’s a prepositional phrase?

• a preposition always has an object
• that object is always a noun or a pronoun
• a prepositional phrase contains the preposition, the object, and any modifiers between them
• if there is not an object, then the word is an adverb, not a preposition

find prepositional phrases in the next 6 sentences

Dogs have been trained to perform a wide variety of jobs.

find the prepositional phrase

1

Dogs have been trained to perform a wide variety of jobs.

find the prepositional phrase

1: key

Watchdogs protect their owners’ homes from burglars.

find the prepositional phrase

2

Watchdogs protect their owners’ homes from burglars.

find the prepositional phrase

2: key

Guide dogs help their owners walk across the street.

find the prepositional phrase

3

Guide dogs help their owners walk across the street.

find the prepositional phrase

3: key

Police dogs smell drugs inside suitcases and help catch criminals.

find the prepositional phrase

4

Police dogs smell drugs inside suitcases and help catch criminals.

find the prepositional phrase

4: key

Hunting dogs lead hunters to wild game for a successful outing.

find the 2 prepositional phrases

find 2

5

Hunting dogs lead hunters to wild game for a successful outing.

find the 2 prepositional phrases

5: key

Dogs are good companions for older people who may be lonely.

find the prepositional phrase

6

Dogs are good companions for older people who may be lonely.

find the prepositional phrase

6: key

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

What’s the difference?

• a preposition is the first word in a prepositional phrase & contains an object at the end of the phrase; that object is a noun or a pronoun
• an adverb has no object

for next 6 sentences, determine if there is an adverb or a preposition (or both)

A great formation of geese were flying north.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

hint: if there’s a prepositional phrase, it is a prep, not an adverb

1

A great formation of geese were flying north.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

of is a preposition because of geese is a prepositional phrase (geese is a noun)

1- key

As they flew over, we heard their wild cries.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

Hint: is there a prepositional phrase? If not, it’s an adverb.

2

As they flew over, we heard their wild cries.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

No prepositional phrase, so it’s an adverb (tells where).

2- key

Please tell the children to come inside because of the storm.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

hint: there is one of each

3

Please tell the children to come inside because of the storm.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

hint: there is one of each (but one is not a directional term)

3- hint

Please tell the children to come inside because of the storm.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

3- key

With all that lightning, they’ll be safer inside the house.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

Hint: there are 2 (but one is not a directional term)

4

With all that lightning, they’ll be safer inside the house.

Are they prepositions or adverbs?

Hint: both have objects so they are preps

4- key

After years on the bench, the judge decided to step down.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

Hint: there are 3

5

find 2

After years on the bench, the judge decided to step down.

contains a preposition & an adverb

after has an object: years; on has an object: bench;

down tells where & has no object

5- key

Alice fell down the rabbit hole.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

6

Alice fell down the rabbit hole.

Is it a preposition or an adverb?

down has an object: hole

6- key

That’s all, folks.

the end