A phrase does not contain a complete subject and a complete verb. 1. It may have a complete subject and no verb. Example: 2. It may have no subject and a complete verb. Example: 3. It may have a complete subject and a half verb. Example: 4. It may have no subject and a half verb. Example: 5. It may have no subject and no verb. Example:
Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun object. Example: (In an earlier part) (of this century), a seventeen-year-old Hawaiian girl married a young man (of Chinese descent) and was denied the right to take calabashes and quilted heirlooms (to her new home) (in Honolulu) (as a result) (of her controversial marriage) (to a man) (of another race). A sentence can end with a preposition. Example: Ashamed of not having a quilt to cover her bed, the young woman went to a local store and bought materials for the purpose of making one but had no pattern to make it with. Note: In the preceding example, to make it is not identified as a prepositional phrase since make is a verb. To directly followed by a verb plus a noun or pronoun object creates a verb phrase. Examples: To followed by a noun or pronoun creates a prepositional phrase. Example: There is also an implied prepositional phrase. Example: With all (the other young married women) displaying handsewn quilts to their friends, the humiliated young bride felt isolated from her peers. The implied prepositional phrase is of the married women.
Single Word Prepositions
about | around | beside | during | like | over | under |
above | as | between | except | near | past | until |
across | at | beyond | for | of | since | up |
after | before | but | from | off | through | upon |
against | behind | by | in | on | throughout | with |
along | below | despite | inside | onto | to | within |
among | beneath | down | into | outside | towards | without |
A prepositional phrase may begin with a group preposition with multiple words.
Example:
After going to bed one night and dreaming about a fresh new design, the young woman got (out of her bed)(due to her desire) to capture the essence of her idea (in accordance with her dream) and (in spite of the lack) of a pre-drawn paper pattern proceeded to cut her motif (out of colored cloth) in order to baste it onto the background material before going back to sleep.
Group Prepositions
according to | by means of | in accordance with | instead of |
ahead of | by way of | in addition to | on account of |
as for | contrary to | in favor of | out of |
as to | due to | in front of | rather than |
as well as | except for | in place of | together with |
aside from | exclusive of | inside of | with reference to |
because of | for the sake of | in spite of | with the exception of |
A prepositional phrase will usually not be the subject of a sentence.
Example:
O Pua, of Pua, was said by the woman helping her married friend to finish her dream inspired quilt by giving it the full name of Ka La'i o Pua meaning The Calm of Pua Lane.