The prepositional phrase includes the preposition and the object of the preposition as well as any modifiers related to either.
A list of common prepositions:
| above across after* against among |
around at according to before* behind below |
beneath beside besides between beyond |
by because of by way of down during |
except for from in inside |
into in addition to in front of in place of |
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| in regard to in spite of instead of like |
near of off on |
out outside over on account of out of |
since through throughout to |
toward under until* up |
upon with without |
[In the following examples, the preposition is bold and the prepositional phrase is underlined.]
- The flying saucer appeared above the lake before it disappeared into space.
ABOVE is not an adverb because it has an object to complete its meaning; therefore, ABOVE is a preposition and the entire phrase is an adverb phrase.
- Crystal could hear her sister snoring across the room.
Objects usually answer the question what. Therefore, we can ask across what? to determine the object of the preposition.
- Christine discovered a pile of books hidden under the staircase.
UNDER is not an adverb because it alone does not answer where about the verb.
- You should consider reading the notes before class.
BEFORE is not an adverb because it alone does not answer where about the verb.
- You should consider reading the notes before you come to class.
BEFORE is not a preposition because is not followed by an object that it links to the clause. It is followed by another clause that is subordinate in meaning to the independent clause; therefore, it is a subordinate conjunction.
- Alix walked down the ramp to the beach.
DOWN is not an adverb because it alone does not answer where about the verb.
- Alix fell down.
DOWN is an adverb answering where about the verb. There is no object, so it cannot be a preposition.
