The Prepositional Phrase

Recognize a prepositional phrase when you see one.

At the minimum, a prepositional phrase will begin with a preposition and end with a

noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause, the "object" of the preposition.

(Simmons 1997-2015)

We often use prepositions in common phrases where little variation is possible.

Some prepositions go with groups of similar words:

At- at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner, at supper

For- for example, for instance

In – in a dress, in pyjamas, in a pair of jeans.

On – on e-mail, on the phone

Prepositions can combine to make compound phrases:

Out of date, out of fashion.

Words with related meanings often go with different prepositions:

In cash – dollars – by credit card

On earth – in the world

By accident – on purpose

At the bottom – in the bottom left-hand corner

At the door – on the phone

By car – on foot

On holiday – at work

In a loud voice - at the top of his voice.

In the beginning or at the beginning?

In the beginning (not usually with of) means “near the start of an event”:

In the beginning the South hand some success.

At the beginning of means “at the very start of an event”:

At the beginning of the Civil War, the fort was attacked.

At the end or in the end?

At the end (of) refers to the final part (of a period of time, a road, a book, a film, etc.):

He`s leaving at the end of October.

Their house is at the end of the road.

In the end means “finally”:

We waited and waited; in the end, we decided to go back home.

By bus or the bus?

By bus refers to using buses as a means of transport:

I usually go to work by bus.

We can use on the bus for specific journeys to particular destinations:

I came home on the bus.

If we go there on the bus, we`ll have more time to chat.

Made of, made out of or made from?

We use made of when it is obvious what substance has been used to make something:

A little doll made of wood.

We use made out of when we emphasize the substance from which something is made:

It`s made out of wood, not plastic.

We use made from to say what ingredients have been used:

Bread is made from flour, water and yeast.

(Walter s.f.)

Referencias

Simmons, Robin L. Grammar Bytes. 1997-2015.

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/prepositionalphrase.htm.

Walter, Michael Swan- Catherine. «The Good Grammar.» En The Good Grammar, de

Michael Swan- Catherine Walter, 254 - 255. OXFORD -LONGMAN, s.f.

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO

FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACION HUMANAS Y

TECNOLOGIAS

ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS

NAME:

CLASS: DATE:

OBJECTIVE: To know what is the differences between some prepositional phrases

that have different meaning and use.

INSTRUCTION: Fill the blank spaces with the correct preposition that we learnt.

TIME: 10 minutes

TEST

1. I will be there ……….. breakfast.

2. I give you present ……... your birthday.

3. I am talking ……. general.

4. My house is …………………. of the road.

5. They fight and fight ………………… they decided to give up.

6. I came home …………………

7. I go to the university …………………

8. My sweater is ……………. wool.

9. It is ………………………. wool, not leather.

10. The mayonnaise is ………………….. eggs, oil, lemon and salt.

ACTIVITIES

1. My mother is …… work.

2. My house is located ….. the west.

3. I didn’t study methodology ………………………. I lost the semester.

4. I will be there ……….. breakfast.

5. I give you present ……... your birthday.

6. I am talking ……. general.

7. My house is …………………. of the road.

8. They fight and fight ………………… they decided to give up.

9. I came home …………………

10. I go to the university …………………

11. My sweater is ……………. wool.

12. It is ………………………. wool, not leather.

13. The mayonnaise is ………………….. eggs, oil, lemon and salt.

Answers

1. At

2. In

3. In the end

4. At

5. For

6. In

7. At the end

8. In the end

9. On the bus

10. By bus

11. Made of

12. Made out

13. Made from