Spot the Prepositional Phrase - ELA Worksheets - SplashLearn - Free Printable

Let's solve this prepositional phrases worksheet step by step. We'll go through each sentence in Part A and Part B, identify the prepositional phrase, and determine what word it modifies (or where it should be placed).

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🔹 What is a Prepositional Phrase?

A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition (like *to*, *in*, *on*, *with*, *for*, *under*, etc.) and includes the object of the preposition. It often tells us where, when, how, or why something happens.

Example:
- "in the library" → prepositional phrase
- It modifies the verb "find" → tells where you can find the book.

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## ✔ PART A: Circle the prepositional phrase and underline the word it modifies

1. Using GPS, we found our way to the hotel.
- Prepositional phrase: to the hotel
- Modifies: found (tells where they found their way)
→ Circle: *to the hotel*
→ Underline: *found*

2. I used a needle and some thread to mend the dress.
- Prepositional phrase: to mend the dress
*(Note: "to mend" is an infinitive, not a preposition. But “to” here is part of the infinitive, not a preposition.)*
Wait — actually, "to mend" is not a prepositional phrase. There is no prepositional phrase in this sentence.
But wait — let’s check:
The only possible prepositional phrase might be "to mend the dress" — but again, "to" is part of the infinitive verb, not a preposition.
So — no prepositional phrase?
Actually, there is no prepositional phrase here.
But maybe we're missing something...
Let’s re-analyze:
- "used a needle and some thread" — object of "used"
- "to mend the dress" — purpose (infinitive phrase), not prepositional.
✘ No prepositional phrase in this sentence.
However, if we consider "to mend" as incorrect, then perhaps the intended answer is "to mend the dress" as a whole? But that’s not correct grammar-wise.

✔ Correct analysis: This sentence has no prepositional phrase.
But since the instructions say to circle one, perhaps there's a mistake?

Wait — "a needle and some thread" — are those objects? Yes, but not prepositional.

Let’s look again — maybe "to mend" is being treated as a preposition? No, it's not.

✔ Conclusion: Sentence 2 has no prepositional phrase.

But perhaps the intended answer is "to mend the dress" — but that’s not a prepositional phrase.

🚫 No valid prepositional phrase in sentence 2.

But let's move on and see if others make sense.

3. You can find the research book in the library.
- Prepositional phrase: in the library
- Modifies: find (tells where you can find the book)
→ Circle: *in the library*
→ Underline: *find*

4. The tabby cat crept slowly through the bushes.
- Prepositional phrase: through the bushes
- Modifies: crept (tells where the cat crept)
→ Circle: *through the bushes*
→ Underline: *crept*

5. The sophisticated woman in the red dress is my aunt.
- Prepositional phrase: in the red dress
- Modifies: woman (describes which woman)
→ Circle: *in the red dress*
→ Underline: *woman*

6. On Friday, he told us he had won the lottery.
- Prepositional phrase: On Friday
- Modifies: told (tells when he told us)
→ Circle: *On Friday*
→ Underline: *told*

7. I found only dust bunnies and cat toys under the sofa.
- Prepositional phrase: under the sofa
- Modifies: found (tells where I found them)
→ Circle: *under the sofa*
→ Underline: *found*

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✔ Summary for Part A:

| Sentence | Prepositional Phrase | Modifies |
|--------|----------------------|---------|
| 1 | to the hotel | found |
| 2 | ✘ None (no prepositional phrase) | N/A |
| 3 | in the library | find |
| 4 | through the bushes | crept |
| 5 | in the red dress | woman |
| 6 | On Friday | told |
| 7 | under the sofa | found |

> ⚠️ Note: Sentence 2 likely has a typo or misunderstanding. "To mend the dress" is an infinitive phrase, not a prepositional phrase. So unless the teacher considers "to" as a preposition (which it isn't), this sentence does not have a prepositional phrase.

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## ✔ PART B: Circle the prepositional phrase and draw an arrow to the correct placement

We now need to identify the prepositional phrase and draw an arrow from it to the word it modifies — meaning, show where it correctly belongs in the sentence.

But note: sometimes prepositional phrases are misplaced, so we must correctly place them.

Let’s analyze each:

1. My sister is the girl walking the dog in the red skirt.
- Prepositional phrase: in the red skirt
- Currently, it seems to modify dog, but that doesn’t make sense (the dog isn’t wearing the skirt).
- It should modify girl — the girl is wearing the red skirt.
→ So, the phrase is misplaced.
→ Correct: *"My sister is the girl in the red skirt walking the dog."*
→ Circle: *in the red skirt*
→ Draw arrow from phrase to girl

2. Use glue with a broken leg to repair the chair.
- Prepositional phrase: with a broken leg
- Currently, it seems to modify glue, implying the glue has a broken leg — nonsense.
- It should modify you (the person using the glue).
→ So, misplaced.
→ Correct: *"Use glue to repair the chair with a broken leg."*
But that implies the chair has a broken leg — maybe acceptable.
Or better: *"With a broken leg, use glue to repair the chair."*
→ So, with a broken leg modifies the implied subject ("you")
→ Circle: *with a broken leg*
→ Draw arrow to use (or to the subject "you", but since not stated, point to "use")

3. They didn’t see the man leave the building in the blue suit.
- Prepositional phrase: in the blue suit
- Does it modify man or building?
If it's the man in the blue suit, then it should be:
*"They didn’t see the man in the blue suit leave the building."*
Otherwise, it could mean the building is in the blue suit — absurd.
→ So, misplaced — should modify man
→ Circle: *in the blue suit*
→ Arrow to man

4. The teacher gave to the students in the classroom the assignment.
- Prepositional phrase: in the classroom
- But the phrase "to the students" is also a prepositional phrase.
- The structure is awkward: *"gave to the students in the classroom the assignment"*
- Should be: *"The teacher gave the assignment to the students in the classroom."*
- So, "in the classroom" modifies students — where the students were.
→ Circle: *in the classroom*
→ Arrow to students

5. I made sugar cookies for the neighbor with pink frosting.
- Two prepositional phrases:
- for the neighbor
- with pink frosting
- Which one is misplaced?
- "for the neighbor" — who the cookies are for
- "with pink frosting" — describes the cookies
- But if we read: *"I made sugar cookies for the neighbor with pink frosting"*, it could mean the neighbor has pink frosting — nonsense.
- So, "with pink frosting" should describe the cookies, not the neighbor.
→ Misplaced!
→ Should be: *"I made sugar cookies with pink frosting for the neighbor."*
→ Circle: *with pink frosting*
→ Arrow to cookies

6. The little boy ate the cake in the red cap.
- Prepositional phrase: in the red cap
- Could mean:
- The cake was in the red cap → possible
- The boy wore a red cap → more likely
- But "ate the cake in the red cap" — ambiguous
- If the cake was in the cap, then it's fine
- But if the boy wore a red cap, then the phrase should modify boy
→ So, likely misplaced
→ Should be: *"The little boy in the red cap ate the cake."*
→ Circle: *in the red cap*
→ Arrow to boy

7. I discovered the wedding dress my mom wore in the attic.
- Prepositional phrase: in the attic
- Modifies what?
- "my mom wore" — did she wear it in the attic?
- Or did I discover the dress in the attic?
- The sentence says: *"I discovered the wedding dress... in the attic"*
But the clause *"my mom wore"* is attached to "dress" — so it's describing what dress
- So: *"I discovered the wedding dress [that] my mom wore in the attic."*
→ Does "in the attic" modify "wore" or "discovered"?
- If "wore in the attic" — means she wore it in the attic → plausible
- If "discovered... in the attic" — then the dress was in the attic → also plausible
- But grammatically, the phrase "in the attic" is attached to the relative clause
- So: *"my mom wore [the dress] in the attic"* → means she wore it in the attic
- But the discovery location is not specified — only that the dress was worn in the attic
- So, "in the attic" modifies wore
→ But if we want to say the dress was discovered in the attic, we need:
*"I discovered the wedding dress in the attic that my mom wore."*
→ So, current version has "in the attic" modifying wore
→ Circle: *in the attic*
→ Arrow to wore

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✔ Final Answers:

#### PART A: Circle prepositional phrase; underline modified word

1. to the hotel → modifies found
2. ✘ No prepositional phrase
3. in the library → modifies find
4. through the bushes → modifies crept
5. in the red dress → modifies woman
6. On Friday → modifies told
7. under the sofa → modifies found

> 💡 Note: Sentence 2 may be incorrectly written or mislabeled. "To mend the dress" is not a prepositional phrase.

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#### PART B: Circle phrase; draw arrow to correct placement

1. in the red skirt → arrow to girl
2. with a broken leg → arrow to use (or implied subject)
3. in the blue suit → arrow to man
4. in the classroom → arrow to students
5. with pink frosting → arrow to cookies
6. in the red cap → arrow to boy
7. in the attic → arrow to wore

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✔ Summary of Key Concepts:

- Prepositional phrases start with prepositions and tell where, when, how, why.
- They modify verbs, nouns, or adjectives.
- Misplaced modifiers can cause confusion — always check what the phrase logically refers to.
- Always circle the phrase and connect it to the word it modifies.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or visual arrows drawn!