Phrases

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase is a preposition plus its object. In a diagram it hangs below the word it modifies: the preposition on a diagonal line, the object on a horizontal line at the bottom of that diagonal.

The Diagonal + Horizontal

“A porter carried our baggage to the car.”

Step 53 — adverbial prepositional phrase 'to the car' modifies verb 'carried'

Adjectival vs. Adverbial

A prepositional phrase modifying a noun (adjectival) hangs from that noun. One modifying a verb, adjective, or adverb (adverbial) hangs from that element.

“They can't read the teacher's handwriting.”

Step 49 pattern — 'teacher's' modifies 'handwriting', not 'read'

“Beth eats too fast for the rest of us.”

Step 56 — adverbial phrase 'for the rest of us'; nested: 'of us' modifies 'rest'

Compound Objects of a Preposition

When a preposition has two objects joined by a conjunction, both objects appear on parallel horizontal lines branching from the bottom of the diagonal, joined by the broken-vertical conjunction notation.

“He is of sound mind and body.”

Step 55 — compound object 'mind and body' under single preposition 'of'