Module 7, Prepositions, Lesson 8:

Adjective or Adverb Prepositional Phrases

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Adjective prepositional phrases follow the nouns they modify, unlike adjectives which generally go immediately before the nouns they modify. Like adjectives, they tell which one, what kind, how much, or how many.

The show \on television tonight is about snow leopards \in Asia.
On television tells us which show. In Asia tells us which leopards.

Adverb prepositional phrases that modify adjectives and adverbs must go after the words they modify. Like intensifiers, they tell to what extent. They can also tell why or in what way or in what circumstances.

I am hungry \because of this diet. (Because of this diet tells why I'm hungry.)
You can run pretty quickly \in those high heels. (In those high heels tells when you run quickly.)

Adverb prepositional phrases that modify verbs can move about the sentence, just as adverbs do. Like adverbs they can tell where, when, how, and to what extent. Since they use more than one word, they can also tell why.

We will go snowboarding \in the winter. (In the winter tells when we will go snowboarding.)
\In the winter, we will go snowboarding.
We will, \in the winter, go snowboarding.
Hint:
Sometimes a prepositional phrase could make sense either as an adjective phrase modifying the noun before it or as an adverb phrase modifying the verb. In this case, it is usually considered an adjective phrase.
The plant \in the window gets lots of sunlight. (Tells which plant.)
\In the window, the plant gets lots of sunlight. (Tells where the plant gets lots of sunlight.)
The plant gets lots of sunlight \in the window. (Tells where the plant gets lots of sunlight.)

Practice What You've Learned

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Directions:
Using the toolbar, mark the prepositional phrases in the following sentences as adjective or adverb phrases. First click on the type of phrase in the toolbar, then click on the preposition, and lastly the object of the preposition.
1.
I bought the dress with the blue stripes for the party.
2.
The man with the mustache raises horses on his farm.
3.
Before the next storm, we need to cut the damaged branches in that tree.
4.
The snow on the trees turned the forest into a wonderland.
5.
The little brick house between the skyscrapers was built in the 1800s.
6.
The car with the damaged bumper is owned by the man in the yellow house.
7.
The questions on that test were taken from student suggestions.
8.
The players on each team gathered in their locker rooms.
9.
The dolphins in that park were born in captivity.
10.
After breakfast we will go to the store.
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