Grammar
Prepositional phrases: meaning and sentence position
Compare these details: The keys are in the drawer. The keys are on the drawer. One small word changes where the listener should look.
Find the preposition and its complement in a prepositional phrase, then use the phrase to add a clear detail about place, time, direction, or another relationship.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
The keys are in the drawer beside the door. /ðə kiːz ɑːr ɪn ðə drɔː bɪˈsaɪd ðə dɔː/
The short answer
A prepositional phrase has a preposition followed by its complement. It can add a detail about place, time, direction, method, reason, or a relationship. Choose the preposition from the meaning you need, and keep the phrase close to the word or action it describes.
The keys are in the drawer beside the door.
Why it works: In starts the phrase, and the drawer beside the door tells the listener where the keys are.
4 more examples
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We met after the workshop near the station.
After the workshop places the meeting later than the workshop.
Not this:We met
during the workshopnear the station. What changes: During places the meeting within the time of the workshop. -
She is interested in learning more about the course.
The phrase follows interested and uses an -ing form after the preposition in.
Not this:She is interested
in the course. What changes: Here, the complement is a noun phrase. Both patterns use in after interested. -
The manager spoke to the new interns about the schedule.
To the new interns names the people who received the manager's words.
Not this:The manager spoke
about the new internsat the meeting. What changes: About the new interns names the topic. The people are not necessarily listening. -
With a little patience, the problem became easier to solve.
This opening phrase gives the condition or method that helped the situation change.
Not this:
Without a little patience, the problem felt harder to solve. What changes: Without reverses the relationship and says that patience was missing.
Read the full guide
A phrase such as after the meeting may look small, but it can answer an important question in a sentence. It tells us when something happens. In a sentence such as The bus stopped near the library, near the library answers where. Read the sentence first, ask what extra detail is needed, and then choose a phrase that gives that detail.
Find the complete phrase
Do not stop after the preposition. A prepositional phrase includes the preposition and the words that complete it. In the box, across the busy road, and after a long meeting are complete phrases. Mark the whole group before you decide what it means.
The receipt is under the blue folder.
Under is the preposition. The blue folder is the complement, so under the blue folder is the whole phrase.
Which words form the prepositional phrase in 'The café across the road opens early'?
Across the road is the prepositional phrase. It gives more information about which café.
Choose the relationship you mean
Prepositional phrases often show place, time, direction, or a connection between people and things. The same noun can take different prepositions when the relationship changes. Ask a practical question such as where, when, where to, or connected with what.
The train leaves at six.
At six gives one point in time. It answers when the train leaves.
The train leaves from platform six.
From platform six gives the starting place. The number is the same, but the phrase answers a different question.
Use a noun, pronoun, or -ing form after the preposition
A preposition is commonly followed by a noun phrase or pronoun: for the team, with her, and after breakfast. When the next idea is an action, English often uses an -ing form: before leaving, by asking, and without waiting. Check the phrase as a group instead of choosing each word separately.
Before leaving the office, I saved the document.
Leaving is an -ing form after before. The phrase says what happened first.
Choose the natural completion: 'She succeeded by ____ carefully.'
Use planning carefully. By is followed by the -ing form planning in this phrase.
Put the phrase next to what it describes
A prepositional phrase can describe a noun or an action. Put it close to the word it modifies so the reader can follow the meaning. If the phrase describes an action, it often comes after the verb or at the beginning of the sentence. If it identifies a noun, it usually follows that noun.
The student with the red backpack asked a question.
With the red backpack identifies which student asked the question.
With the red backpack, the student walked home.
At the beginning, the phrase describes how the student walked home.
Separate position from movement
Some close pairs show the difference between a position and movement toward a position. Use in, on, or at when you describe where something is. Use into or onto when you show movement to the inside or surface. The verb often helps: sit describes a position, while walk and put can show movement.
The children are in the garden.
In describes their current location inside the garden area.
The children ran into the garden.
Into shows their movement from outside to inside the garden area.
Which form fits movement to a chair: 'She sat on the chair' or 'She sat onto the chair'?
Use sat on the chair for the usual description of position. Use onto with a clear movement verb, such as She climbed onto the chair.
Learn common word-and-preposition patterns
Some prepositions are chosen by a word that comes before them. We say interested in, responsible for, good at, and a reason for. These patterns are not always predictable from translation, so save the whole combination with an example.
I am responsible for sending the reminder.
Responsible is followed by for in this common pattern, and sending is an -ing form after the preposition.
They are good at explaining difficult ideas.
Good at is another fixed pattern. Explaining follows at as an -ing form.
Before you go
Remember this
Find the preposition first, then include the words that complete it. Ask what the phrase adds: place, time, direction, method, reason, or another relationship. Choose by meaning, and keep the phrase near the noun or action it describes. When a verb, adjective, or noun needs a particular preposition, learn that combination together.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Prepositional phrases: meaning and sentence position"
What is a prepositional phrase?
A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and includes the words that complete its meaning. In the office, after dinner, and with my friend are examples. The phrase can add information about place, time, direction, method, reason, or a relationship in the sentence.
The keys are in the drawer beside the door.
How do I find a prepositional phrase in a sentence?
Look for a preposition such as in, on, at, after, before, with, or from. Then include its complement, which is often a noun phrase, pronoun, or -ing form. In 'under the table,' under alone is not the complete phrase; under the table is.
The keys are on the drawer beside the door.
Can a preposition be followed by an -ing form?
Yes. English often uses an -ing form after a preposition when the complement names an action. You can say before leaving, by checking, without waiting, and interested in learning. The preposition and the -ing form work together as part of the phrase.
We met after the workshop near the station.
What is the difference between in and into?
In usually describes a position inside an area or container, while into often shows movement from outside to inside. Compare 'The children are in the garden' with 'The children ran into the garden.' The verb and the intended movement help you choose the form.
We met during the workshop near the station.
Why do some adjectives and verbs need a particular preposition?
Many English words are normally used with a particular preposition, such as interested in, good at, responsible for, and speak to someone about something. These combinations are learned as patterns. Save a complete example with the word and preposition, then use it in a new sentence.
She is interested in learning more about the course.