19 · Phrases

Prepositional phrases

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and includes the phrase that completes it. In of the wood, of is the preposition and the wood completes it. A prepositional phrase may also sit inside another one.

Determiner · determinerNoun · headNoun phrase · subjectVerb · intransitive verb · headPreposition · headPreposition · headDeterminer · determinerNoun · headNoun phrase · complementPrepositional phrase · complementPrepositional phrase · adverbialVerb phrase · predicateSentenceThefoxcameoutofthewood.
The outer PP is headed by out. Its complement is the inner PP of the wood, whose own head is of and whose complement is the wood.

This course analyzes out of as two linked prepositions, not as one two-word preposition: out takes of the wood. Other grammars may group such expressions differently. The diagram and the course labels use the nested analysis shown here.

Separate the inner and outer phrases

  1. Replace the noun-phrase complement: out of the wood → out of it.
  2. Keep of with the replacement, which leaves the inner PP intact.
  3. Then try the larger run in a phrase-sized position: Out of the wood came the fox.

These operations support the boundaries in this example. Failed fronting does not disprove a phrase boundary, and English can leave a preposition behind in some questions and relative clauses.

After finding the phrase, find what it belongs to.

A prepositional phrase can describe an event, modify a noun, or complete another phrase. Its internal form stays the same while its relationship to the larger sentence changes.

Ten sentences from this lesson, one decision at a time.