- “number of colonies” → “colony number” (brief noun string, or an attributive noun plus a noun)
- “without delay” → “immediately” (adverb)
- “was a reflection of” → “reflected” (verb)
- “efficacy of the drug” → “drug's efficacy” (possessive)
What is the effect of prepositional phrases?
Prepositional phrases
modify nouns and verbs while indicating various relationships between subjects and verbs
. They are used to color and inform sentences in powerful ways. Keep reading to learn more about prepositional phrases and how they function in a sentence.
Why are prepositional phrases bad?
Sometimes prepositional phrases
aren't really necessary
, especially when you use them (instead of an apostrophe + s) to denote possession of an object. Also, try to avoid using too many prepositional phrases in a single sentence, since they can obscure the main subject and action of a sentence.
Why do prepositional phrases matter?
Prepositional phrases are modifiers. They add additional information to nouns like “burger” in “burger with cheese” and to verbs like “meet” in “we'll meet at the restaurant.” That makes prepositional phrases similar to adjectives and adverbs:
They modify other words
.
How do you avoid unnecessary prepositional phrases?
- Eliminate Prepositions by Using Active Voice. …
- Substitute an Adverb for a Prepositional Phrase. …
- Use a Genitive in Place of a Prepositional Phrase. …
- Omit Prepositions by Eliminating Nominalizations. …
- Delete Prepositional Phrases. …
- Keep learning!
What are 5 examples of prepositional phrases?
Common prepositional phrase examples include
about, after, at, before, behind, by, during, for, from, in, of, over, past, to, under, up, and with
.
How do you explain prepositional phrases?
A prepositional phrase is a group of words consisting of a preposition, its object, and any words that modify the object. Most of the time, a prepositional phrase modifies a verb or a noun. These two kinds of prepositional phrases are called adverbial phrases and adjectival phrases, respectively.
How do you identify a prepositional phrase in a sentence?
Prepositions are part of a group of words called a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun. Examples of prepositional phrases are “
in our house”
and “between friends” and “since the war.”
Can you remove prepositional phrases?
Delete the Phrase
Depending on the context,
you can simply eliminate some prepositional phrases
. In the example above, “about the company” is unnecessary because the reader can infer from the rest of the sentence that the reports pertain to a company.
Can you have 2 prepositional phrases in a sentence?
When two or more prepositional phrases
follow each other, they may modify the same word
, or one phrase may modify the object in the preceding phrase: They arrived at the airport on time. (Both phrases modify “arrived”; “at the airport” tells where and “on time” tells when.)
Can I end a sentence with a preposition?
The best-known rule about prepositions is
that you shouldn't end a sentence with one
. … Although it is not permissible to end Latin sentences with prepositions, in fact English speakers have been (not incorrectly) ending their sentences with prepositions for quite some time.
What are infinitive phrases?
An infinitive phrase is
a group of words consisting of an infinitive
, a modifier or the use of pronouns, direct objects, indirect objects or complements of action or state expressed in the infinitive.
Should you use prepositional phrases?
Sometimes prepositional phrases
aren't really necessary
, especially when you use them (instead of an apostrophe + s) to denote possession of an object. Also, try to avoid using too many prepositional phrases in a single sentence, since they can obscure the main subject and action of a sentence.
Is it OK to start an essay with a preposition?
It has been said that prepositions should never start or end a sentence. … The best way to start a sentence with a preposition is
in an introductory phrase
. When you do this, you should usually place a comma after the phrase.
What are excessive prepositional phrases?
Some writers have a tendency to overuse prepositional phrases, repeatedly stringing together four, five, or even more
in a row
. They are often motivated by the desire to convey a lot of information quickly, but the result can be a meandering sentence structure that is difficult to follow.
Are prepositions bad?
A sentence with too many prepositions is like a
weak chain
. There are links upon links of prepositional phrases, often held together by only one weak verb. Put too much pressure on it, and it will break. What's more– all of the components of a chain are the same size; they aren't distinguishable from one another.
