Educational worksheet focusing on identifying and understanding prepositional phrases in sentences.

Here is the step-by-step solution to fill in the blanks and identify the functions of the prepositional phrases.

Part 1: Definition Blanks

Let's look at the definition box at the top.
* Definition: A phrase is a group (or *set*) of words that stands together as a single (or *grammatical*) unit, typically as part of a clause or a sentence.
* Function: A prepositional phrase, as a unit, always functions as either an adjective or as an adverb.

*(Note: In grammar, prepositional phrases act like adjectives when they describe nouns, and like adverbs when they describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.)*

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Part 2: Identifying Prepositional Phrases and Functions

We need to find the prepositional phrase in each sentence and decide if it acts as an Adjective (describing a noun) or an Adverb (describing the verb/action).

1. Before Jack left home, he ate the cupcake on the table.
* Phrase: "on the table"
* Analysis: Which cupcake? The one *on the table*. It describes the noun "cupcake."
* Function: Adjective

2. Over the last few months, we’ve had to learn new technical platforms.
* Phrase: "Over the last few months"
* Analysis: When did we have to learn? *Over the last few months*. It tells us when the action happened.
* Function: Adverb

3. The young man in the middle is the best singer.
* Phrase: "in the middle"
* Analysis: Which young man? The one *in the middle*. It describes the noun "man."
* Function: Adjective

4. Yesterday, my entire family took the ferry across the Long Island Sound.
* Phrase: "across the Long Island Sound"
* Analysis: Where did they take the ferry? *Across the Long Island Sound*. It describes where the action of taking the ferry happened.
* Function: Adverb

5. The grocery store on Midway Road has the best fruit selection.
* Phrase: "on Midway Road"
* Analysis: Which grocery store? The one *on Midway Road*. It describes the noun "store."
* Function: Adjective

6. After we ran the race, Jackson and Javier met at Chick-fil-A.
* Phrase: "at Chick-fil-A"
* Analysis: Where did they meet? *At Chick-fil-A*. It describes where the meeting happened.
* Function: Adverb

7. Henry mentioned that Southold filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court.
* Phrase: "in New York State Supreme Court"
* Analysis: Where was the lawsuit filed? *In New York State Supreme Court*. It describes where the filing happened.
* Function: Adverb

8. Too many eggs were needed for Christina’s recipe, so we couldn’t make it.
* Phrase: "for Christina’s recipe"
* Analysis: Why were eggs needed? *For Christina’s recipe*. It explains the purpose/reason for the action.
* Function: Adverb

9. Do not eat the cookies from your grandmother until you finish your dinner.
* Phrase: "from your grandmother"
* Analysis: Which cookies? The ones *from your grandmother*. It describes the noun "cookies."
* Function: Adjective

10. Angel thinks he knows the policeman with the radio.
* Phrase: "with the radio"
* Analysis: Which policeman? The one *with the radio*. It describes the noun "policeman."
* Function: Adjective

11. For tomorrow’s birthday celebration, Pat decided to bake the large ham.
* Phrase: "For tomorrow’s birthday celebration"
* Analysis: Why did Pat decide to bake? *For tomorrow’s birthday celebration*. It explains the reason/purpose.
* Function: Adverb

12. First, the baseball coach tugged on his ear before he gave the true signal.
* Phrase: "on his ear"
* Analysis: Where did he tug? *On his ear*. It describes where the action of tugging happened.
* Function: Adverb

13. Blake should have told his brothers about the missing painting.
* Phrase: "about the missing painting"
* Analysis: What did he tell them about? *About the missing painting*. This modifies the verb "told" (told what?).
* Function: Adverb

14. During the final quarter, three passes were intercepted, and both quarterbacks were sacked.
* Phrase: "During the final quarter"
* Analysis: When were the passes intercepted? *During the final quarter*. It tells us when the action happened.
* Function: Adverb

15. The hospital was built in the 1950’s and drastically needs to be updated.
* Phrase: "in the 1950’s"
* Analysis: When was it built? *In the 1950’s*. It tells us when the building happened.
* Function: Adverb

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Final Answer:

Definition Box:
A phrase is a group of words that stands together as a single unit...
A prepositional phrase... functions as either an adjective or as an adverb.

Sentence Analysis:

1. on the table: Adjective
2. Over the last few months: Adverb
3. in the middle: Adjective
4. across the Long Island Sound: Adverb
5. on Midway Road: Adjective
6. at Chick-fil-A: Adverb
7. in New York State Supreme Court: Adverb
8. for Christina’s recipe: Adverb
9. from your grandmother: Adjective
10. with the radio: Adjective
11. For tomorrow’s birthday celebration: Adverb
12. on his ear: Adverb
13. about the missing painting: Adverb
14. During the final quarter: Adverb
15. in the 1950’s: Adverb