Working with Prepositional Phrases

Layered Prepositional Phrases

Directions:

Click on each underlined prepositional phrase and then the word it modifies.

?1.

The files \on the desktop \of this computer seem to have disappeared!

?2.

The pudding \on the top shelf \of the refrigerator is for your grandfather.

?3.

You should water the flowers \with the water \from the rain barrel.

?4.

The papers \at the bottom \of that stack \of newspapers are the oldest.

Adjective or Adverb Prepositional Phrases

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.

?5.

In ancient Egypt, cats were sometimes mummified and buried in their owners' tombs.

?6.

We were all tired from our long hike into the mountains.

?7.

The man in the wheelchair lost his leg in a car accident.

?8.

The voice on the phone sounded like my mother.

Placement Problems and Dangling Prepositions

Directions:

Highlight the misplaced phrase.

?9.

Edward in the washing machine loaded the laundry.

?10.

The teacher said between classes we should go to our lockers.

?11.

We sat and looked at pictures from our vacation in the family room.

?12.

The kitten meowed pitifully at the vet in the cardboard box.

Troublesome Prepositions

Directions:

Choose the best word to correctly complete each sentence.

?13.

Even though we used the same research, my essay is very different from/different than your essay.

?14.

The house beside/besides mine used to belong to my grandparents.

?15.

I realize you are angry with/angry at me, but I didn't do it on purpose.

?16.

You were between/among the first five students to finish the project.

Commas with Prepositional Phrases

Directions:

Decide whether the underlined adjective prepositional phrases are restrictive (no commas necessary), or nonrestrictive (commas needed). Commas have been intentionally left out.

?17.

Jessica in the middle of the crowd couldn't see our group.
restrictive / nonrestrictive

?18.

The streets in San Francisco are steep and winding.
restrictive / nonrestrictive

?19.

My car with its dented bumper no longer looks new.
restrictive / nonrestrictive

?20.

The nurse in the purple scrubs is my cousin.
restrictive / nonrestrictive

Directions:

Decide whether the underlined phrase needs a comma or not. If it could go either way, choose no comma.

?21.

On my hamburger I like ketchup and lettuce.
comma / no comma

?22.

Before showering Michaela needs to get the towels out of the dryer.
comma / no comma

?23.

On the streets of our town many people like to go for walks in the evenings.
comma / no comma

?24.

With soup you also get crackers and a salad.
comma / no comma

Idiomatic Verbs

Directions:

Identify each set of underlined words as either an idiomatic verb or a verb with a prepositional phrase following it.

?25.

Make sure you back up all the files on your computer in case it dies.
idiomatic / preposition

?26.

It is not safe to hang out the bus window.
idiomatic / preposition

?27.

I hope my mother does not find out where we hid her present.
idiomatic / preposition

?28.

My cat has been known to run off dogs ten times her size.
idiomatic / preposition