The Function of Prepositional Phrases in English
When learning the English language, it is important to have an understanding of the grammar. One area that requires understanding is the function of prepositional phrases. Prepositions are words that have just one possible form which introduces the object of the prepositional phrase.
A few commonly used prepositions in English include: about, above, across, after, against, along among, despite, down, during, around, toward, under, underneath, until, with, withinetc. The prepositions role is to demonstrate a plausible, time-connected, or spatial relationship between the object of the prepositional phrase and the other parts of the sentence.
For instance:
The man is sitting on the chair.
The prepositional phrase on the chair shows a spatial relationship between the subject man and the object chair
The child has not been to the pool since almost drowning.
The prepositional phrase since almost drowning shows a time-connected relationship between has not been to the pool and almost drowning.
The woman lost weight despite eating junk food.
The prepositional phrase despite eating junk food shows a plausible relationship between losing weight and eating junk food.
Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition and an object of a preposition and perform a number of sentence functions that include: Particles, Heads The Prepositional Phrases, Complements of Phrases, Adverb Modifying a Verb, Adjective Modifying a Noun, or functioning as nouns but are not real nouns and are referred to as Nominals.
1.) Particles
Particles consist of a phrasal verb followed by a preposition.
mess up
jump in
The prepositions up and in, act as particles in the phrasal verbs mess up and jump in.
2.) Heads The Prepositional Phrases
in the office
after the movie
in and after precede the prepositional phrases.
3.) Complements of Phrases
Prepositional phrases balance noun phrases, adjective phrases, and verb phrases.
Dogs depend on their owners,
The star of the play just left.
Prepositional phrases are on their owners and of the play
4.) Adverb modifying a Verb
The dog chases after the cat.
The toilet overflowed despite the plumbing repair.
The plant grew without using special plant food.
5.) Adjective modifying a Noun
Please give me the book next to the computer.
I see the car with the large dent.
Stop the car at the railroad tracks.
6.) Functioning as Nominals
The store is next to the bank.
The office is between a restaurant and a gift shop.
The encore is after the concert has finished.
The Nominal performs this function in sentences when they are used in conjunction with the designated verb.
7.) Adjuncts
Prepositional phrases working as adjuncts frame an entire clause.
For my part, I enjoyed learning to swim.
With all due respect, you are not my boss.
The prepositional phrases are for my part and with all due respect.
When learning the English language, understanding the rules and meanings of sentence phrases that includes such functions as prepositional phrases will go a long way in mastering both the spoken and written language.