Improving your
writing skills is essential for IELTS test takers as it can help them boost
their learning skills and increase their chances of acing the IELTS writing
sub-test. Aside from enrolling in an IELTS package,
you can also look for the best writing tips that can help enhance your writing
skills. One practical tip that you can use is learning how to use prepositional
phrases.
What are prepositional phrases?
Prepositional
phrases are group of words providing additional information about a noun, verb,
adjective, or an adverb in a sentence. Although these words are classified as
prepositions, they can also act as adverbs or adjectives.
Parts of prepositional phrases
Every
prepositional phrase consists of two essential parts: the preposition and the
object of a preposition.
1. Preposition –
A prepositional phrase always begins with a preposition that links one part
of a sentence with another.
Example: The cat is on the table
Sometimes,
these phrases may also include more than one preposition
Example: The toy is made out of plastic.
Prepositional
phrases might also consist of more than one preposition separated by a
conjunction.
Example: She bumps her head going up and down the stairs.
2. Object
of a preposition – It
can be a word or phrase that gives a preposition its meaning. An object of a
preposition tells something about the time, place, manner, or intention of the
idea or phrase it modifies.
Example: Marco went to the bank.
When the object
of a preposition is a pronoun, it is always in the objective case.
Example: Joy gave it to me.
Types of prepositional phrase
As these words
can be used to provide all sorts of information about a noun, a pronoun, or a verb,
most prepositional phrases fall into one of the following types that you can
practice using during your one-day IELTS review:
·
Who? – Some prepositional phrases can be used to tell who did
something or who received something in a sentence.
Example: Dad gave the car to my sister.
(Who received it?)
·
What? – Other prepositional phrases state what is used to
complete an action in a sentence.
Example: John washed his car with a hose.
(What is used?)
·
Whom? – When mentioning that someone does something with another
person, a prepositional phrase is sometimes used.
Example: Gordon prepared the entrée with his
assistant, (With whom?)
·
When? – The best way of expressing an event that happens is using
a prepositional phrase.
Example: The
movie will start at exactly three o’clock. (When exactly?)
·
Where? – Prepositional phrases can also be used when specifying
where something is.
Example: The spare key is hidden under the
doormat. (Where exactly?)
·
Why? – Explaining reasons for activities can also be expressed
with prepositional phrases.
Example: Steven studied all night for the final
examination. (Why perform the action?)
So what are you
waiting for? Get more writing tips and review strategies by enrolling in any IELTS package.
REFERENCES:
"Prepositional
Phrase: Examples and Definition." EnglishSentences.com. Oct. 10, 2017.
Accessed April 19, 2018. http://englishsentences.com/prepositional-phrase/.
"What are
Prepositional Phrases? Free Examples & Exercises." Ginger Pages.
Accessed April 19, 2018. http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/preposition/prepositional-phrases/.
"What is a
Prepositional Phrase? Prepositional Phrase Examples and Definition.” K12reader.
Accessed April 19, 2018. http://www.k12reader.com/term/prepositional-phrase/.
